Bring lighthouse life home: this interactive virtual program for kids turns lantern rooms, lenses, and keeper chores into hands-on lessons about optics, weather, and coastal safety. Small admission fee; members free—perfect for classrooms and curious families.
Bring lighthouse life home: this interactive virtual program for kids turns lantern rooms, lenses, and keeper chores into hands-on lessons about optics, weather, and coastal safety. Small admission fee; members free—perfect for classrooms and curious families.
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Preservation Virginia · Online, Virginia
easy.
30–45 minutes.
No special fitness needed; suitable for children and family groups
The program is designed for children and school groups; elementary-aged kids get the most from the hands-on elements, though families with older or younger children will also enjoy it.
Sessions are compact to fit school schedules; expect roughly 30–45 minutes depending on the host and any Q&A.
Sessions are presented live to allow interaction; check the booking page for any recorded follow-up materials the host may provide.
General admission is $5; preservationvirginia members attend free. Book through the provider's booking channel linked in the listing.
No specialized gear is required—simple household items like a flashlight or jar may be recommended for hands-on experiments.
Yes. The format supports group bookings and is suitable for classroom settings; contact the host through the booking channel for group logistics.
Lighthouse keeping was once a federal occupation; keepers logged weather and fog sightings daily and maintained lights essential to maritime commerce in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The program emphasizes observing wildlife from safe distances, following tide and access rules, and supporting preservation efforts that protect coastal heritage and habitats.
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