Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, Newport, OR

The Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, Newport, OR, was built in 1871, when the port was very busy and ships needed the light to safely find the harbor. This more than 100 year-old lighthouse stands on the coast of Oregon - still watches over the harbor at Yaquina Bay overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

At the time the lighthouse was built, Yaquina Bay was seen to be the next San Francisco, a major sea port on the west coast. For a while, it was the busiest seaport between Puget Sound and the Californian city. In order to help ensure that it would develop in that direction, a lighthouse was quickly constructed there - on the north side of the harbor. It was a wood construction building and the lighthouse keeper's house was attached to the lighthouse - which was rare - and is only one of a few lighthouses ever to be constructed that way on the West coast.

Shortly afterward, the Commission that ordered the construction of the first lighthouse discovered that another location might actually be better for the light. The location of the new lighthouse, just a few miles away, was considered to be the ideal location. It was also decided that it should be more powerful than the first one. Its light would be capable of being seen up to 16 miles away, instead of just 6 - which was the limit of the first smaller lighthouse.

Once the new lighthouse was built and ready for operations, just three years later, the Yaquina Bay light was decommissioned, and its light removed. Since that time, the house has been used occasionally by various groups performing construction projects for the government - but the light never shined again until 1996. The old historic light keeper's home has since been renovated and is available for public tours.

The Yaquina Bay Lighthouse is the main feature of the Yaquina State Park and it is surrounded by a forest of spruce and pine trees. Although tourists can see the lighthouse keeper's house, and the lighthouse tower, the actual light room is closed to the public. The lighthouse is fully automated and does not need anyone attending it.

The light keeper's house is filled with period furniture, and is considered by some to be the best display of what life was like for a lighthouse keeper and his family. There is an excellent gift shop in the basement of the Lighthouse. Also, movies are shown in a theater that presents some of the history of the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse. It is a popular spot and many tourists travel to see the lighthouse while they are visiting the Park and Newport, OR.

Because of its mostly vacant history the lighthouse has had over the years, several ghost stories have arisen about the lighthouse. This has attracted many visitors to the lighthouse, and visitors are invited to read about some of them when they visit.

The lighthouse is located right off of the Yaquina Bay Bridge. Currently, there is no parking for tour buses available, and there is not any handicap accessibility, either. The lighthouse is open to the public and there is no charge for the tours, although donations will be asked for. The Yaquina Bay Lighthouse is open all year, and closed on major holidays.