|
|
|
Yaquina Bay
Lighthouse
(November 3, 1871)
|
 The
lighthouse on Yaquina Bay is another popular lighthouse to
visit along the Oregon coast. You wouldn't imagine this
lighthouse was only in operation for three years, and was
nearly torn down several times. Nonetheless, it stood
the test of time and now offers a terrific place for visitors
to take a brief look into the past.
A number of people had wonderful expectations for Yaquina Bay
and the Newport
area. 
As
a result, this lighthouse was built to begin the expected
migration of settlers into this fertile land. The
lighthouse was lit for the first time on November 3, 1871.
Both before and after the completion of the Yaquina Bay
Lighthouse people argued over where the lighthouse should have
been built. As a result, the Yaquina
Head Lighthouse was built just two years later.
Then, just one year after that, on October 1, 1874, Yaquina
Bay's light was extinguished. Because of the short
amount of time that this lighthouse was in operation, there
are few stories to tell. However, there is a short
story
written by Lischen M. Miller that details a sea captain's
daughter who was never to be seen again after entering the
abandoned Yaquina Bay Lighthouse.
This story as well as the lighthouse's historical presence is
what kept it alive through the years, as this house
spent a number of decades in shambles. It wasn't until
1974 that Yaquina Bay Lighthouse was fully restored by the
Oregon State Park Group. Today, visitors from all
over visit this house. It is one of the few that are
open all year, and can be viewed from the inside.
Several of the rooms have memorabilia of Oregon's maritime
past that are on loan from the Oregon Historical Society.
Today you can visit the Yaquina Bay lighthouse by taking a
right off Highway 101 on the north side of the Yaquina Bay
Bridge. 
You
will see the signs for Yaquina Bay State Park. You will
also notice that they offer a terrific little store located in
the basement of the lighthouse. This lighthouse is free
to visit, but donations are appreciated. If you are in
the Newport area, make sure to visit this lighthouse as well
as the Yaquina
Head Lighthouse.
|
|
* Nelson, Sharlene & Ted.
Umbrella Guide to Oregon Lighthouses.
Epicenter Press Inc. 1994.
|
|
All rights reserved by NWcoast.com LLC
Contact NWcoast.com - Privacy Policy - Advertising - Link to Us
|
