
Yaquina Bay Light - Newport, OR
Posted by:
silverquill
N 44° 37.433 W 124° 03.796
10T E 415651 N 4941719
This historic lighthouse was built in 1871, but operated for onloy three years. It is now part of a state park, restored and open to the public. A new light is operated as a stationary beacon visible for six miles.
Waymark Code: WMD1PJ
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 11/06/2011
Views: 11
The old
Yaquina Bay Light was first illuminated in 1871 but operated for only three years. A new lighthouse built on Yaquina Head to the north rendered this light obsolete and it was decommissioned in 1874.
Subsequently the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers used it for housing and from 1906-1915 the U.S. Coast Guard used it as a lookout and life saving station, building the adjacent lookout tower which still stands.
As early as 1934 the state of Oregon purchased the land for a state park, but the fate of the lighthouse was far from secure. Twice slated for demolition, the structure was finally saved through private efforts and served as a historical museum. In 1970 it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and fully restored in 1974. It remains open to the public for tours.
Situated on a pine covered bluff south of Yaquina Bay, this state park also offers beach access, hiking and fishing. There are many interpretive signs with information about the lighthouse and Yaquina Bay. The views of the bay and the historic
Yaquina Bay Bridge are outstanding. From other viewpoints one might catch a glimpse of migrating whales.