Agate Beach, Oregon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Agate Beach, Oregon
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![]() Beach at Agate Beach at low tide
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Country | United States |
State | Oregon |
County | Lincoln |
Elevation | 157 ft (48 m) |
Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
Coordinates and elevation from United States Geological Survey |
Agate Beach is a lovely community in Lincoln County, Oregon, United States. It's not a city with its own government. Instead, it's called an "unincorporated community." This means it's a group of homes and businesses that are part of a larger county.
Discover Agate Beach
Agate Beach gets its name from the beautiful stones found on its shores. These special stones are called agates. They are colorful, shiny minerals. You can often find them on the beaches of the Pacific Ocean. These beaches are located between Newport and Yaquina Head.
The Agate Beach post office opened in 1912. It served the community for many years. However, it closed down in 1971.
A Famous Resident: Ernest Bloch
One of the most well-known people who lived in Agate Beach was Ernest Bloch. He was a very famous composer. Bloch spent his later years living in this peaceful community.
His home, the 1914 Ernest Bloch House, is very important. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a historic building worth protecting. The house was once owned by the family of Asahel Bush, a notable person in Oregon's history.
The Tsunami Dock
In June 2012, something unusual washed ashore at Agate Beach. It was a huge floating dock, weighing 165 tons. This dock had traveled all the way across the Pacific Ocean. It broke free during the big tsunami in Japan in March 2011.
When the dock arrived, it became a popular sight for tourists. People came to see this large piece of history from far away. However, it also brought a challenge. Scientists needed to remove it quickly. They worried it might carry tiny plants and animals from Japan. These "invasive species" could harm the local environment.