The Old Point Comfort Lighthouse is located on Fort Monroe, VA. This octagonal shaped tower overlooks Hampton Roads Harbor and the Chesapeake Bay. It was built in 1802 of sandstone and stands 54-feet high. It's spiral staircase is made of hand-cut stone. Several oil lanterns originally provided the light which could be seen for approximately 14 miles out to sea. Years later, the oil lanterns were replaced with a fourth-order Fresnel lens. The lighthouse is the oldest standing structure at Fort Monroe.
During the War of 1812, the tower was used as a lookout by British invasion forces while they attacked Washington.
The adjacent house was the light-keeper's quarters. It was built in 1891 to replace the original keeper's dwelling. After the lighthouse was automated in 1975, keepers discontinued occupation of the house and it became property of the Army.
At the time of my visit here in 2000, the lighthouse was still an active navigational aid and property of the U.S. Coast Guard.
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