National Register of Historic Places listings in Lincoln County, Oregon facts for kids

The National Register of Historic Places is like a special list of important places in the United States. These places could be buildings, bridges, or even archaeological sites. They are chosen because they have a big story to tell about history, architecture, engineering, or culture. When a place is on this list, it means it's recognized as a valuable part of our shared past and should be protected. In Lincoln County, Oregon, there are many such amazing places!

Historic Places in Lincoln County

Lincoln County, Oregon, is home to many fascinating sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These sites help us learn about the past, from ancient Native American life to important structures built more recently.

Ancient Discoveries: Archaeological Sites

Many of the protected sites in Lincoln County are archaeological areas. These are places where scientists study the remains of past human life. Most of these sites have restricted addresses to protect them, but they tell us about the people who lived here long ago.

• The Ahnkuti Site: Near Toledo, this site holds the oldest known American Indian fish weir. A fish weir is a fence-like structure built in a river or stream to catch fish. This discovery helps us understand how early Native Americans lived and gathered food.

An image related to the Ahnkuti Site.

Several other archaeological sites are located near Yachats, Depoe Bay, and Otter Rock. These include:

• Archeological site 35LNC48
• Archeological site 35LNC63
• Archeological site 35LNC68
• Archeological Site No. 35-LNC-54
• Archeological Site No. 35-LNC-55
• Archeological Site No. 35-LNC-56
• Archeological Site No. 35-LNC-57
• Boiler Bay Site (35LNC45)
• Government Point Site
• North 804 Midden (35LNC72)
• Rocky Creek Site (35LNC43)
• Seal Rock (archeological feature)
• Smelt Sands Midden (35LNC65)
• Trail 804 Midden No. 3 (35LNC73)
• Yachats Trail 804 Midden (35LNC66)

These sites are important because they contain clues about ancient cultures and how people lived along the Oregon coast thousands of years ago.

Iconic Bridges

Lincoln County has several beautiful and historically important bridges. These bridges are not just ways to cross water; they are also examples of amazing engineering and design from their time.

• Chitwood Bridge: This bridge is located off U.S. Route 20 near Chitwood. It was added to the list in 1979.

The historic Chitwood Bridge.

• Depoe Bay Bridge No. 01388: Found on U.S. Route 101 in Depoe Bay, this bridge was listed in 2005. It's a key part of the scenic Oregon Coastal Highway.

The Depoe Bay Bridge, a landmark on the coast.

• Fisher School Bridge: This bridge is on Five Rivers Road near Fisher. It was recognized in 1979.

The Fisher School Bridge.

• North Fork of the Yachats Bridge: Located northeast of Yachats, this bridge was listed in 1979.

The North Fork of the Yachats Covered Bridge.

• Rocky Creek Bridge No. 01089: This bridge is on Otter Crest Loop Road, a frontage road for U.S. Route 101, near Otter Rock. It was added in 2005.

The Rocky Creek Bridge.

• Yaquina Bay Bridge No. 01820: A very famous bridge on U.S. Route 101 in Newport, the Yaquina Bay Bridge was listed in 2005. It's known for its beautiful design and connects the two parts of Newport across Yaquina Bay.

The impressive Yaquina Bay Bridge.

Lighthouses and Coastal Landmarks

The Oregon coast is famous for its lighthouses, which guided ships safely for many years. Lincoln County has two historic lighthouses.

• Old Yaquina Bay Lighthouse: Located in Yaquina Bay State Park in Newport, this lighthouse was listed in 1974. It's one of Oregon's oldest lighthouses and is now a museum.

The historic Old Yaquina Bay Lighthouse.

• Yaquina Head Lighthouse: Found at Yaquina Head, north of the Yaquina River entrance in Newport, this lighthouse was added to the Register in 1993. It's the tallest lighthouse in Oregon and offers amazing views.

The tall Yaquina Head Lighthouse.

• Cape Perpetua Shelter and Parapet: About 3 miles south of Yachats, this site was listed in 1989. It includes a stone shelter and a protective wall (parapet) offering views of the rugged coastline.

The stone shelter at Cape Perpetua.

• Depoe Bay Ocean Wayside: This spot on US 101 in Depoe Bay was listed in 2012. It's a popular place to watch whales and enjoy the ocean.

The whale watching center at Depoe Bay Ocean Wayside.

• Devil's Punch Bowl: Located on the Oregon coastline at Otter Rock, this unique natural area was listed in 1997. It's a large rock formation where waves crash into a bowl-shaped cave.

The unique Devil's Punch Bowl.

• The Look-Out on Cape Foulweather: This scenic viewpoint at 4905 Otter Crest Loop, near Otter Rock, was added in 2015. It provides incredible views of the Pacific Ocean.

The Look-Out on Cape Foulweather.

Historic Buildings and Communities

Beyond natural wonders and bridges, Lincoln County also has important buildings that tell stories about the people who lived and worked here.

• Dorchester House: Located at 2701 U.S. Route 101 in Lincoln City, this house was listed in 1980. It's an example of historic architecture in the area.

The historic Dorchester House.

• New Cliff House: This house at 267 NW Cliff Street in Newport was added to the Register in 1986.

The New Cliff House in Newport.

• Pacific Spruce Saw Mill Tenant Houses: These houses at 146, 162, 178, and 192 NE 6th Street in Toledo were listed in 1999. They show us what housing was like for workers at the old sawmills.

One of the Pacific Spruce Saw Mill Tenant Houses.

• Charles and Theresa Roper House: This house at 620 SW Alder Street in Newport was listed in 1981.

The Charles and Theresa Roper House.

• St. John's Episcopal Church: Located at 110 NE Alder Street in Toledo, this church was added in 1990. It's a beautiful example of historic church architecture.

St. John's Episcopal Church in Toledo.

• Siletz Agency Site: This very important site on Siletz–Logsden Road in Siletz was listed in 1976. Starting in 1855, the U.S. Army moved over 2,600 people from different Native American tribes to the Siletz Reservation. The government set up an agency here in 1857. Over time, many buildings were built, including a school, hospital, and homes. Even though some buildings are gone, the site is still very important to the members of the Siletz tribes today.

The Pow-wow grounds at the Siletz Agency Site.

• US Spruce Production Railroad XII, Spur 5: East of Yachats, this site was listed in 1989. It's a reminder of the logging industry's history in the area, especially during World War I when spruce wood was needed for airplanes.

Places No Longer on the List

Sometimes, places are removed from the National Register of Historic Places. This can happen if they are destroyed or if they no longer meet the requirements.

• Drift Creek Bridge: This bridge, southeast of Lincoln City, was removed from the list in 1998 because the original bridge was taken down in 1997.

The former Drift Creek Bridge.

• Elk City Bridge: Located on Cherry Street in Elk City, this bridge was removed in 1986 after it was destroyed by a storm in 1981.

• Sam's Creek Bridge: East of Siletz, this bridge was delisted in 1986.

• Tradewinds Kingfisher (cruiser): This boat, located in the Depoe Bay Boat Basin, was removed from the list in 2014. It was taken apart in 2013 because it was in very bad condition. Some parts were saved to be shown at the Pacific Maritime & Heritage Center in Newport.

The Tradewinds Kingfisher cruiser.

These places, even if they are no longer on the list, still have stories that are part of Lincoln County's rich history.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Oregon
• Listings in neighboring counties: Benton, Lane, Polk, Tillamook
• Historic preservation
• History of Oregon
• Lists of Oregon-related topics

External links

• Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, National Register Program
• National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places site