Cape Arago Lighthouse --  Circa: 1866 -- Decommissioned 2006

Facts: 44' Tower   •   Focal Plane 100' Visibility: 16 miles   •   Signal: Group Flash White, 20 seconds 3 Flashes Latitude: 43 20.5 N    •   Longitude: 124 22.5 W
4th Order Lens French Lens by: Barbier, Bernard & Turenne of Paris, France
National Register of Historic Places #73002338   •   Listed May 13, 1993

James Cook originally named Cape Arago Cape Gregory in 1778. William P. McArthur, a Naval Officer serving on the Coast Survey, charted the cape and named it Cape Arago on his 1850 maps. The actual islet the lighthouse station is situated on is also known as "Chief's Island" and "Lighthouse Island".

November 1, 1866, the second light station to be built in Oregon, was lit marking the busy channel into Coos Bay (then Marshfield). The light was a skeletal affair, built on the narrowest part of the island, where it received continuous pounding by stormy seas. Even after it was shored up, it was evident a new structure was required. The second lighthouse was a wood structure with the light rising from the center, located further back on the islet. This structure became the official light in 1909. Later because of continuing erosion by the sea, that structure was removed and replaced with a significant concrete structure in 1934, making it the youngest of Oregon's remaining lighthouse structures.

Cape Arago or Gregory Light Station as noted in early light lists, was the first lighthouse constructed after Oregon became a state in 1859. (Umpqua was built during the period of Oregon Territorial Government.) Lit with a fourth order Fresnel, Arago served as both a seacoast and a channel light.

This particular station had a life saving station, situated between the islet and the mainland. It had one official staff member, with the rest of the crew answering a warning bell and volunteering to assist with any necessary rescue.

Cape Arago Lighthouse is decommissioned. The lights, both historic (on display at the U.S. Coast Guard Station North Bend) and the modern light, were removed.

Cape Arago on ABC News!

Cape Arago Lighthouse is not open to the public.
View the lighthouse from a turnout near Sunset Bay State Park