Yaquina Bay Light facts for kids

The Yaquina Bay Light is an old lighthouse in Newport, Oregon. It was built in 1871, right after the city of Newport started. You can find it on the north side of Yaquina Bay. For a few years (1871-1874), this area was a very busy port along the coast between Washington and California.

History of Yaquina Bay Light

Building the Lighthouse

The side of the lighthouse

The Yaquina Bay Light was built by a person named Ben Simpson. Its light first shone on November 3, 1871. However, it was only used for three years. This happened because a bigger lighthouse, the Yaquina Head Light, was built in 1873. It was only about 3 miles (4.8 km) north of the Yaquina Bay Light.

So, the Yaquina Bay lighthouse was turned off on October 1, 1874. The newer Yaquina Head Light made it no longer needed. The special lens from the Yaquina Bay Light, called a fifth-order Fresnel lens, was then moved. It was put into the Yerba Buena Light in California, which opened in 1875.

Later Uses of the Lighthouse

The United States Army Corps of Engineers used the lighthouse next. From 1888 to 1896, it was their home. During this time, they were building big walls called jetties at the entrance of Yaquina Bay.

Later, the United States Coast Guard used the lighthouse. From 1906 to 1915, it was a lookout spot and a place for them to live. They then moved to a different building that was closer to the busy Newport bayfront. While they were there, the Coast Guard also built a tall, eight-story steel tower. This tower still stands next to the lighthouse today.

Becoming a State Park

In 1934, the Oregon State Highway Division bought the land around the lighthouse. They wanted to create a new state park. This park included the lighthouse, the Coast Guard tower, and many acres of forest, sand dunes, and beaches.

Lookout tower beside lighthouse, 2013.

Today, this area is called the Yaquina Bay State Recreation Area. It covers 32 acres and has many places for fun activities. You can find hiking trails, picnic spots, fishing areas, and beach access. About 1.7 million people visit the park every year.

Saving the Lighthouse

In 1946, there were plans to tear down the lighthouse. This led to the creation of the Lincoln County Historical Society. Their goal was to save the building. They worked for three years to raise money to save the old structure. This effort helped delay the demolition.

However, by 1951, the lighthouse was again scheduled to be torn down. Then, a man named Mr. L. E. Warford stepped in. He had just moved to Newport. He helped get the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse recognized as a historical site. The Historical Society then took care of it. It served as a county museum for 18 years, until 1970.

Restoration and Re-lighting

The lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. It was then restored in 1974 under the Historic Preservation Act. At that time, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department became its owner.

The light was turned back on on December 7, 1996. It now uses a modern light, which was borrowed from a lighthouse expert named James A. Gibbs. The lighthouse is now a navigation aid that is cared for by private groups. It shows a steady white light that can be seen for six miles. You can visit the lighthouse and take tours every day.

Unique Design

The Yaquina Bay lighthouse is special because its living quarters are in the same building as the light. It is the only lighthouse like this still standing in Oregon. Only a few lighthouses with this design were ever built on the entire Pacific coast.

Some people say the building is haunted. A local author even wrote a fictional book about it called The Lighthouse Ghost Of Yaquina Bay.

See also

• Yaquina Bay State Recreation Site
• List of lighthouses in Oregon