THE ADVENTURE COLLECTIVE® · Independent discovery and booking for outdoor travel
Bring maritime history into your living room: a one-hour virtual program from Preservation Virginia that teaches kids what life was like for 18th- and 19th-century lighthouse keepers and how lighthouses still protect coastlines today. Interactive demonstrations and teacher-friendly materials make this a great supplement to history or STEM lessons.
Bring maritime history into your living room: a one-hour virtual program from Preservation Virginia that teaches kids what life was like for 18th- and 19th-century lighthouse keepers and how lighthouses still protect coastlines today. Interactive demonstrations and teacher-friendly materials make this a great supplement to history or STEM lessons.
Book with Preservation Virginia
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Preservation Virginia · Richmond, Virginia
Preservation Virginia’s Cape Henry Lighthouse Kids Virtual Program takes young explorers inside the daily reality of 18th- and 19th-century lighthouse keepers from the safety of home. Presented by Preservation Virginia out of Richmond, Virginia, United States, this one-hour online session packs history, hands-on explanation of historic lighthouse technology, and a clear look at how lighthouses function in modern navigation.
The session opens with the human story: federal lighthouse keepers who lived and worked in remote towers, keeping lamps trimmed, lenses aligned, and logs precise through storms and long watches. Instructors guide children through the basic tools of the trade: oil lamps and wick trimming, early lens designs, and basic signal routines, while translating those details into relatable activities for a classroom or living room. The program balances social history with practical demonstrations so participants not only hear a story but see the mechanics that kept a light burning.
What makes this virtual offering distinct is its direct connection to Cape Henry Lighthouse, a named historic structure managed by Preservation Virginia. The session ties local maritime history to present-day coastal safety and technology, explaining how lighthouses evolved from lamp-and-lens systems to their role alongside buoys and GPS in a navigation network. It’s a compact, accessible way for kids to encounter a specific place and a broader story about coastal communities and federal service.
Practical takeaways include simple at-home experiments to demonstrate light, reflection, and signal timing; a short glossary of maritime terms; and guidance for families interested in visiting relevant sites in person. The format suits classrooms, homeschool groups, and curious families: the one-hour length minimizes screen fatigue while allowing time for questions. Admission runs $8 for the public, with Preservation Virginia members attending free.
Read this if you want a program that treats young learners as capable historians and scientists. It’s especially useful for teachers designing a unit on maritime life, early American jobs, or technology history. Because the presentation is virtual, geography isn’t a barrier—students anywhere can connect to a slice of Virginia’s coastal past while anchored by the credibility of Preservation Virginia.
Families can use the session as a springboard: follow-up activities suggested by instructors include building a model lighthouse lens, mapping historic coastal beacons, and comparing 19th-century navigation with modern systems. Teachers appreciate the clear learning objectives and alignment with U.S. history and STEM topics. Reserve a spot through the booking link and prepare flashlight and cardboard to make the lesson hands-on.
easy.
One hour.
No physical fitness required; suitable for classroom or home settings
The content is aimed at school-age children (elementary through middle school), but families can adapt activities for younger kids with adult help.
The program runs approximately one hour, including a short Q&A period.
Reserve a spot via the booking link; you’ll receive login instructions and a meeting link before the start time.
General admission is $8 per participant; Preservation Virginia members attend free.
Recordings may be available at the discretion of the organizers; check the booking confirmation or ask during registration.
Yes—teachers and homeschool co-ops can book for groups; contact Preservation Virginia through the booking page for group details.
Lighthouse keeping was once a federal job requiring long shifts, careful maintenance of lamps and lenses, and precise log keeping—this program highlights that service history.
Preservation Virginia emphasizes careful stewardship of historic coastal sites; visitors and participants are encouraged to practice Leave No Trace principles and support conservation-minded programming.
Preservation Virginia is a Richmond, Virginia-based organization that operates and interprets historic sites and educational programs across the state. The organization presents guided tours, hands-on workshops, documentary-style tours, and virtual programs that highlight Virginia’s colonial, revolutionary, and 19th-century history. Preservation Virginia’s portfolio of sites and programs includes Bacon’s Castle (built in 1665 and recognized as North America’s oldest brick home), the historic landing site at Cape Henry Lighthouse, Smith’s Fort with surviving earthworks and an 18th-century manor house, Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown—the remaining house of the famed orator—and the John Marshall House in Richmond. Programming spans in-person tours and remote learning: the John Marshall House offers a 45-minute tour; the Courtmaker Documentary Tour of the Marshall House provides an intimate look at family artifacts; the Beginners Genealogy Research Workshop at Bacon’s Castle is taught by genealogist Sarah Carson; and multiple virtual programs bring lighthouse history and Revolutionary War sea battles to students. Educational offerings also include the Augustus Hodges virtual program, focused on Willis Hodges—Cape Henry Lighthouse’s first African American keeper and abolitionist—and the Life of a Lighthouse Keeper kids program. Preservation Virginia’s events and tours emphasize primary sources, artifacts, architecture, and site-specific stories to connect visitors with Virginia’s past. All descriptions and program leaders are provided in third-person; visitors should consult Preservation Virginia’s official listings for booking and availability.
Book with Preservation Virginia