Yaquina Bay Lighthouse --  Circa: 1871 -- Decommissioned: 1874

Facts: 40' Tower   •   Focal Plane 161'   •   Visibility: 14 Miles   •     Signal: unknown
Latitude:  44 00.00 N   •   Longitude:  124 00 W
5th Order Lens French Lens by: L. Sauter
National Register of Historic Places #73001692  •   Listed: May 1, 1974

Have you ever visited Newport's oldest existing building? If you haven't, you owe it to yourself to spend some time pondering what living and working were like for the Yaquina Bay's only keeper, Charles Peirce, his wife Sarah, and their children.

The 40 foot lighthouse, now framed by large shore pines, is located on a promontory overlooking the entrance to Yaquina Bay. The Light House Service erected it in 1871 to provide a range light for assisting mariners entering and leaving the harbor. As Oregon's only fifth order light along the coast, it operated between November 3, 1871 and October 1, 1874. When the Yaquina Head Lighthouse, a first order station, was commissioned in 1873, it became the primary beacon for mariners along the central coast.

Could you live in a house without running water, electricity, or a television? That's what life was like in the state's last wooden, and second oldest remaining lighthouse. As you enter through the front door, you step back in time. The first thing you notice is the lighthouse interior with its turn of the century furnishings.

As you explore the lighthouse try to imagine what it might have been like to actually live here. The small dining room had to serve a nine-member family. If you needed water, it was necessary to pump it from a cistern. Could you prepare a meal on a wood burning stove? What about the small storage area in the pantry?

The downstairs location of the museum store/video room was the basement that probably doubled as an area for storing meats and vegetables and for drying laundry during wet and cold weather.

Walk up the wooden staircase to view the bedrooms. The largest room was the bedroom of the keeper and his wife, and most likely a child or two. After viewing the rooms, continue to walk up another 14 steps to the watchroom. As you stand at the watchroom, the original iron ladder to the lantern room is still in place (closed to the public).

On December 7, 1996, the lighthouse had a re-lighting ceremony. It is now a private aid to navigation with a 250 mm acrylic lens displaying a fixed white light on a nightly basis. The lens is on loan from author and former keeper, Mr. Jim Gibbs, until a fifth order lens can be found.

When you visit the lighthouse remember to take a moment to close your eyes, and sense the bygone years. You can almost hear the children playing in the parlor, or picture Mrs. Peirce in the kitchen, and smell the freshly baked bread.

Historic News: The Morning Oregonian, November 20, 1889: "Thunder-Storm at Newport"
"The Old Lighthouse Building Struck by Lightning"
Newport, Or Nov 17--A severe thunder storm occurred here this morning accompanied by some hail. Lightning struck the old lighthouse building occupied by J.S. Polhemus, government engineer. The building was badly splintered and the furniture demolished. Mrs. Polhemus and child narrowly escaped. They were sitting near the window."

Visitor Hours: Memorial Day through September
11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Daily
October to Memorial Day: Noon to 4 pm Daily

Yaquina Bay Lighthouse is operated by Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Newport, Oregon

Gift Shop is operated by Friends of Yaquina Lighthouses