Bring lighthouse history to the living room with Preservation Virginia’s Lighthouse Families Virtual Program. A kid-friendly online session that explores the daily lives of keepers, families and pets—general admission $5, members free.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
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Difficulty
easy
Duration
30–60 minutes
Fitness Level
No special fitness required; suitable for children and adults.
Wildlife
History
Lighthouse families lived and worked as an integrated unit: keepers, spouses, children and pets all contributed to daily maintenance and safety, shaping coastal communities over generations.
Conservation
Preservation Virginia uses programs like this to reduce foot traffic at fragile sites while raising awareness; visitors are encouraged to follow site rules and pack out waste during in-person visits.
Preservation Virginia
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.
Location
Richmond, Virginia
Based in Richmond, VA
Tours Offered
10
Historic and virtual experiences
Featured Length
45 minutes
John Marshall House guided tour
Historic Sites
5
Bacon’s Castle and four more
Reserve guided tours, workshops, or virtual programs at Preservation Virginia sites and experience living history in Richmond and beyond.
Test your tech ahead of time
Run the video link and audio on your device before the session to avoid delays; a wired connection reduces dropouts.
Create a mini activity kit
Pack paper, crayons and a notebook so kids can sketch lantern rooms or take notes during stories.
Have questions ready
Encourage kids to ask one or two questions about daily life at a light station to make the program interactive.
Plan a local follow-up
If you visit a nearby lighthouse later, bring binoculars and sturdy shoes to safely explore the grounds after the virtual session.
Device with stable internet
Required to stream the virtual program smoothly.
Headphones or speakers
Improves audio clarity so kids hear historic anecdotes and readings.
Notebook and crayons
Helpful for sketching lighthouses, recording questions, or drawing scenes described during the talk.
Binoculars for follow-up visits
Useful for later, in-person visits to scan lenses, rooflines and shoreline features.