The Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, Newport (bobcat)

Bedroom in the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, Newport (bobcat)

• Hikes to this destination:
  • Newport Beach Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)
  • Newport Bayfront Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)

• Weather forecast: NWS/NOAA
• Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps
• Latitude, Longitude: 44.6242, -124.0630
• Elevation: 100 feet

Description

This wooden lighthouse, the only one of its kind in the Pacific Northwest, was completed in 1871 and is the oldest remaining building in Newport. However, the lighthouse only operated for three years because the construction of the Yaquina Head Lighthouse in 1873 made it redundant. The building fell into disrepair, but was refurbished and became the residence of John Polhemus, the Army Corps of Engineers' chief engineer for the construction of the North Jetty.

Later, the U.S. Lifesaving Service, later the U.S. Coast Guard, housed crews in the structure. The Coast Guard built the adjoining observation tower in 1915, but abandoned the property in 1933. In 1936, after the completion of the Yaquina Bay Bridge, Oregon State Parks built a restroom and picnic area here. In the 1940s, it was decided to demolish the building, but a multi-year campaign by the Lincoln County Historical Society saved it; however, it was not until 1974 that a full-blown restoration was undertaken. The light itself was put back into use in December, 1996, and serves as a Coast Guard beacon. It is one of seven working lighthouses remaining on the Oregon Coast (originally, there were 12).

There's a picnic area near the lighthouse and a viewpoint that overlooks the Yaquina Bay Bridge and the mouth of the Yaquina River. A covered display details shipwrecks in the area and a gazebo houses a memorial to local fishermen who have perished at sea.

The lighthouse is open to the public from 12:00 - 4:00 p.m most days of the week.

More Links

• Yaquina Bay State Recreation Site (Oregon State Parks)
• Yaquina Bay Light (Wikipedia)
• Yaquina Bay and Yaquina Head Lighthouses (Friends of Yaquina Lighthouses)
• Yaquina,OR (Lighthouse Friends)

Contributors

• bobcat (creator)