Yaquina Head Light Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Yaquina Head Light
Location	Newport, Oregon
Coordinates	44°40′36.4″N 124°4′45.9″W / 44.676778°N 124.079417°W / 44.676778; -124.079417
Year first lit	1873
Automated	1966
Deactivated	Active
Foundation	Brick on basalt rock
Construction	brick
Tower shape	Conical
Height	93 feet (28 m), 114 steps
Original lens	First order Fixed Fresnel lens. Lard Oil 1873 - 1887, Kerosene 1887 - ?, Vapor Oil ? - 1933, Electrified 1933-1939 with a solid white light (1 kW Halogen Bulb made by GE), 1939- 500 watt bulb blinking in pattern. Retrofitted with LED in January 2019.
Range	18.5 nautical miles (34.3 km; 21.3 mi)
Characteristic	Originally Solid White (non-rotating). After 1939: 2 seconds on, 2 seconds off, 2 seconds on, 14 seconds off

The Yaquina Head Light is a tall lighthouse on the Oregon Coast in the United States. It's also known as the Cape Foulweather Lighthouse. This famous lighthouse was built in 1873. You can find it near Newport at Yaquina Head in Lincoln County.

Standing 93 feet (28 m) tall, the Yaquina Head Light is the tallest lighthouse in all of Oregon. Lighthouses are like giant beacons that help ships find their way safely.

History of Yaquina Head Lighthouse
Yaquina Head Interpretive Center
Lighthouse in Movies and TV
Images for kids
See also

History of Yaquina Head Lighthouse

The main part of the Yaquina Head Light, its lens, was made in Paris, France, in 1868. It traveled a long way to Oregon! The lighthouse first shone its light on August 20, 1873.

In 1966, the lighthouse became "automated." This means machines took over most of the work that people used to do. Today, the light still works, blinking in a special pattern: two seconds on, two seconds off, two seconds on, then 14 seconds off. This unique pattern helps ships know exactly which lighthouse they are seeing.

Homes for the Lighthouse Keepers

When the lighthouse was first built, there was a two-story house for the lighthouse keepers. These keepers were the people who lived at the lighthouse and made sure it was working correctly. There was also a small building to store oil for the light.

Later, in 1923, a smaller, one-story house was added. Then, in 1938, the original two-story house was replaced. Sadly, by 1984, all the keepers' homes and other small buildings were taken down. Now, that area is a parking lot and a grassy hill.

Who Worked at the Lighthouse?

Usually, three people worked at Yaquina Head Lighthouse. There was a Head Keeper, a First Assistant, and a Second Assistant. The Head Keeper and the First Assistant often lived in the larger 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. Their job was to watch for any enemy ships that might be near the coast.

The Amazing Fresnel Lens

The Yaquina Head Lighthouse still uses its original lens from 1868! This special lens is called a First-order Fixed Fresnel lens. It's very powerful and can be seen from about 19 miles (31 km) out at sea.

In 1993, the lighthouse was recognized as an important historical place. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Yaquina Head Interpretive Center

The area around the lighthouse is a special place called the Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area. It covers about 100-acre (40 ha) of land. Congress made it an "Outstanding Natural Area" in 1980.

The Bureau of Land Management helps take care of this beautiful area, including the lighthouse. In 1997, the Yaquina Head Interpretive Center opened. This center has cool exhibits about the lighthouse's history. You can also learn about the amazing sea creatures that live in the tide pools and along the coast. There's even a gift shop!

Many groups work together to protect this area. The U.S. Coast Guard operates the lighthouse light. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service watches over the birds and other wildlife. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife manages the animals in the tide pools.

You can even take a tour inside the lighthouse! These tours have limited space, so it's best to sign up early at the Interpretive Center desk.

Lighthouse in Movies and TV

The Yaquina Head Lighthouse is so cool that it has appeared in movies and TV shows!

It was used as the "Moesko Island Lighthouse" in the 2002 movie The Ring. Before that, it was in the 1983 film Hysterical. It also showed up in an episode of The Nancy Drew Mysteries TV series in 1977. That episode was called "The Mystery of Pirate's Cove."