Oregon Lighthouses
OREGON’S SENTINELS
Oregon’s coastal lighthouses are visible links to the past—towering monuments to Oregon’s maritime heritage and to the hardworking people that kept the lighthouse beacons lit. Although unoccupied since the arrival of modern technology, these classic structures stand as a testament to the history of Oregon’s rugged coast.
Most of Oregon’s lighthouses were designed and built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers between 1870 and 1896. They were erected on prominent headlands or near major estuaries to support commercial fishing and shipping along the Oregon coast. The lighthouses were originally managed by the former U.S. Lighthouse Board, with the U.S. Coast Guard taking over stewardship duties in 1939.
After installing automated beacons in the 1960s, the Coast Guard began transferring its lighthouse holdings to other government
agencies. All nine of Oregon’s surviving lighthouse stations have been added to the National Register of Historic Places. They are visited by more than 2.5 million people each year.
EXPERIENCE THE PAST
Aided by interpretive displays, historical accounts and a little imagination, you can learn what life was like for the workers who lit the way for mariners navigating Oregon’s perilous coastline.
Climb to lantern or tower watch rooms and experience the panoramic sights once enjoyed by the light tenders from their perches high on the cliffs. Hear the sounds of seabirds, wind and waves that accompanied their isolation as they worked through the night to prevent ships from running aground on the rocks.
Most of Oregon’s lighthouses offer scheduled tours. See the reverse side for
TILLAMOOK ROCK LIGHTHOUSE
1 Tillamook Rock has a 62-foot-high tower and stands 133 feet above sea level on a basalt rock islet. Its exposure to fierce storm waves gave rise to its nickname–“Terrible Tilly.” Commissioned in 1881 to guide ships entering the Columbia River, it was replaced by a whistle buoy in 1957. At one time, it was used as a columbarium, a storage place for ashes of the deceased. There is no public access to Tillamook.
CAPE MEARES LIGHTHOUSE
2 This lighthouse stands 217 feet above the ocean, yet its 38-foot tower is the shortest on the Oregon coast. First illuminated in 1890, it was decommissioned in 1963. Visitors to the tower can view the original 1890 Fresnel lens. Nearby trails lead to views of sea bird nesting sites, sea lions and migrating whales. The lighthouse is open daily 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May through September. Admission and tours are free.
For more information call Cape Lookout State Park at 503-842-3182.
YAQUINA HEAD LIGHTHOUSE
3 Yaquina (yah-KWIH-nah) Head stands 162 feet above sea level. At 93 feet, its tower is the tallest on the Oregon coast. Yaquina Head was first illuminated in 1873; today it continues to aid navigation. The lighthouse is part of Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area, managed by the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
The Yaquina Head interpretive center is open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lighthouse tours are held daily during July and August only. Tours may be reserved ahead of time via recreation. gov. A daily or annual Yaquina Head pass, an Oregon Pacific Coast Passport, or a National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass is required. Information: 541-574-3100 or yaquinalights.org.
YAQUINA BAY LIGHTHOUSE
4 This is the second-oldest standing lighthouse on the Oregon coast. It was in service for only three years—1871 to 1874—before the brighter Yaquina Head Lighthouse replaced it. Yaquina Bay was re-lit and recognized as a privately maintained aid to navigation by the U.S. Coast Guard in 1996. The lens sits 161 feet above the ocean. Self-guided tours are free; donations accepted. The lighthouse is open seven days a week, except major holidays. Summer hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hours are reduced during nonsummer months.
For more info call 541-265-4560 or 541-265-5679.
more information, or call the State Parks Information Center at 800-551-6949.
YEAR-ROUND RECREATION
Many of Oregon’s lighthouses double as excellent wildlife viewing areas. They are great places to spot sea birds, seals and migrating Gray whales.
If you’re touring lighthouses, check out (or stay at!) a nearby state park.
HECETA HEAD LIGHTHOUSE
5 This iconic lighthouse sits on the west side of 1,000-foot-high Heceta Head, a nesting site for sea birds. Its 56-foot tower rests 205 feet above the ocean and was first illuminated in 1894. Today its beacon shines 21 miles from land and is the strongest light on the Oregon coast. The historic assistant light keeper’s house, built in 1893, is a bed and breakfast. (866-547-3696, hecetalighthouse.com)
The lighthouse is open year-round, weather and staffing dependent. Large groups may schedule a tour in advance by emailing heceta.h.lighthouse@oregon.gov. For more info call 541-5473416. A state parks day-use parking permit or Oregon Pacific Coast Passport is required.
UMPQUA RIVER LIGHTHOUSE
6 Umpqua is the second lighthouse to occupy this site. An earlier structure built in 1857 was the first lighthouse sited on the Oregon coast, but it succumbed to erosion in 1861. This lighthouse is nearly identical to the one at Heceta Head, and both lights were illuminated in 1894, but the Umpqua lens emits distinctive red-and-white automated flashes. The lighthouse structure and museum are open year-round 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A lighthouse tour is included with museum admission; $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 5 to 17. Children under five are free. For more info, call 541-271-1894.
CAPE ARAGO LIGHTHOUSE
7 Cape Arago stands 100 feet above the ocean on an islet just off Gregory Point. Its light is perched atop a 44-foot-high tower and was first illuminated in 1934. Although it is the newest lighthouse on the coast, earlier structures were built on the site in 1866 and 1908. Unfortunately, both buildings gave way to weather and erosion.
The lighthouse is closed to the public, but visitors can enjoy the best view of it from 1/4 mile south of the Sunset Bay campground entrance. Listen for the lighthouse’s unique foghorn.
COQUILLE RIVER LIGHTHOUSE
8 Coquille River lighthouse was commissioned in 1896 to guide mariners across a dangerous bar. It was decommissioned in 1939 following improvements to the river channel and navigation technology. The light shines from atop a 40-foot octagonal tower.
The interpretive center is open daily 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. May through eptember. There are no formal tours, but park hosts are vailable to answer questions. The lighthouse tower is closed to the public due to safety concerns. Information: 541-347-2209.
CAPE BLANCO LIGHTHOUSE
9 Cape Blanco’s conical tower is perched 245 feet above sea level on Oregon’s westernmost point. It is the oldest standing lighthouse on the Oregon coast, commissioned in 1870 to aid shipping generated by gold mining and the lumber industry.
Daily guided tours are offered 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April through October (closed Tuesdays). Information: capeblancoheritagesociety.com or 541332-6774.
All schedules are subject to change without notice. Please call the numbers provided or the Oregon State Parks Information line at 800-551-6949 to get the most up-to-date visitor information.
LIGHTHOUSE HELPERS
If you’d like to learn more about Oregon’s lighthouses and help with preservation and education efforts, you will be welcomed by any of these nonprofit organizations:
U.S. Lighthouse Society, Oregon Chapter Phone: 415-362-7255 oregon.uslhs.org
Friends of Yaquina Lighthouses 750 Lighthouse Dr. #7, Newport, OR 97365 | Phone: 541-574-3100 yaquinalights.org
Friends of Cape Meares Lighthouse and Wildlife Refuge P.O. Box 262, Netarts, OR 97143 | Phone: 503-842-2244 friendsofcapemeareslighthouse.com
Cape Blanco Heritage Society P.O. Box 1132, Port Orford, OR 97465 | Phone: 541-332-0521 capeblancoheritagesociety.com
Coquille River Lighthouse Keepers Foundation Inc. P.O. Box 21, Bandon, OR 97411