Yaquina Head Light facts for kids

The Yaquina Head Light is a famous lighthouse on the Oregon Coast in the United States. It is also sometimes called the Cape Foulweather Lighthouse. This lighthouse was first lit in 1873. It stands near Newport, Oregon at a place called Yaquina Head. The tower is 93 feet (28 m) tall, making it the tallest lighthouse in Oregon.

History of the Lighthouse

The Yaquina Head Light was built using parts made in Paris, France, in 1868. These parts were then shipped all the way to Oregon. The lighthouse first shone its light on August 20, 1873. It was later updated to work automatically in 1966. Today, it is still active. Its light pattern helps ships identify it: it shines for two seconds, turns off for two seconds, shines for two seconds again, and then stays off for 14 seconds.

When the lighthouse tower was built, a two-story house was also made for the lighthouse keepers. This house was where the people who looked after the light lived. In 1923, a smaller, one-story house was added nearby. Later, in 1938, a new one-story building replaced the original two-story home. All these houses and other small buildings were taken down in 1984.

Usually, three people worked at Yaquina Head as lighthouse keepers. There was a Head Keeper, a First Assistant, and a Second Assistant. The Head Keeper and the First Assistant often lived in the main house with their families. The Second Assistant was usually a single person. In 1939, the U.S. Coast Guard took over managing the lighthouse. During World War II, 17 service members were stationed there. They watched for any enemy ships.

The lighthouse still uses its original Fresnel lens, which was made in France in 1868. This special lens helps the light be seen from about 19 miles (31 km) out at sea. In 1993, the lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes important historical places in the United States.

Exploring Yaquina Head

In 1980, the area around the lighthouse, which is about 100-acre (40 ha), was named an Outstanding Natural Area by the government. The Bureau of Land Management now takes care of the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, including the lighthouse itself.

The Yaquina Head Interpretive Center opened in 1997. This center has cool exhibits about the lighthouse's history. You can also learn about the amazing sea creatures found in the tide pools and along the coast. There is even a gift shop where you can find souvenirs.

The U.S. Coast Guard operates the lighthouse lantern. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service watches over the bird nesting areas and other wildlife offshore. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife manages the animals living in the tide pools. The Oregon Department of State Lands is in charge of the land in the tide pool areas.

You can take tours inside the lighthouse! Space on these tours is limited. You can sign up for a tour at the Interpretive Center desk. It's first-come, first-served, so get there early!

Images for kids

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  Aerial view

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  Yaquina Head Lighthouse in 2004.

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  Yaquina Head from the north

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  First-order Fresnel lens

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  Interior view showing the building's iconic marble floor.

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  USLHS equipment inside the lighthouse.

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  The lighthouse in 2007

Lighthouse in Movies and TV

The Yaquina Head Lighthouse has appeared in several movies and TV shows. It was used as the "Moesko Island Lighthouse" in the 2002 film The Ring. It also appeared in an earlier movie called Hysterical from 1983. Plus, it was featured in an episode of The Nancy Drew Mysteries TV series in 1977. That episode was called "The Mystery of Pirate's Cove."

See also

In Spanish: Faro Yaquina Head para niños

• List of lighthouses on the Oregon Coast