4 things to know about Yaquina Head Lighthouse as it turns 150
Corrections and clarifications: This article incorrectly stated the type of lighthouse and material it is made of, ticketing details, living quarters history, and viewing opportunities. It is a seacoast lighthouse and is made of brick. Lighthouse tour tickets are available on a first come, first serve basis. The living quarters are no longer standing, and it is not the only lighthouse in the state with living quarters attached. Due to renovations, visitors are not able to climb the lighthouse stairs to the watch room.
In 1873, head lighthouse keeper Fayette Crosby led the first lighting of the Yaquina Head Lighthouse. A century and a half later, the iconic coastal landmark will celebrate its 150-year anniversary this summer.
Nestled along the Oregon Coast, Yaquina Head Lighthouse has stood as a beacon above the sea and is still active today.
"I think it's a remarkable milestone. 150 years of service and it's still active to navigation today," Yaquina Head acting chief ranger Katherine Fuller said. "It beckons to mariners. As well as visitors from near and far who might not need it for navigation out on the sea, but it might help them learn a little bit more about the past of the country."
In a celebration of the lighthouse’s history, the Bureau of Land Management is set to mark the beacon's 150th anniversary on Saturday.
The event will kick off at 3 p.m. in front of the lighthouse, featuring the U.S. Coast Guard Honor Guard and a series of speeches from key partners and supporters of the landmark. Historical demonstrations will be featured throughout the celebration, including Victorian-era games and activities.
With its birthday celebration set, here are four things to know about the historic Oregon lighthouse.
'A nighttime aid to navigation'
The Cape Blanco Lighthouse in Curry County has Yaquina Head beat as Oregon's oldest operating lighthouse. Cape Blanco Lighthouse was first lit in 1870.
"It's lit 24 hours a day now," Fuller said. "It's still a nighttime aid to navigation ... that's been the case since electricity arrived here in the 1930s."
Restorations over the years
Construction on the lighthouse took a year and more than 370,000 bricks.
The building has withstood the test of coastal weather and time, but not without a few restoration and maintenance along the way. Recently, the lighthouse’s newest addition is a concrete patio and viewing deck near the base. The platform replaced an original wooden deck that had run its course.
Home to coastal wonders
Beyond its historical significance, Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area is also home to a range of coastal creatures and natural sights.
At low tide, the seafloor of Cobble Beach reveals many tidepools, which showcase multi-colored sea stars, sea urchins and green anemones. Bureau of Land Management staff and volunteers are often in the area and can serve as a guide for rules and information on exploring the pools.
The area is also a prime vantage point for spotting wildlife, including gray whales, harbor seals and a chorus of nesting seabirds.
Education and touring the lighthouse
Visitors can take guided tours of the lighthouse. These tours, led by interpretive guides, let visitors step into the past as they explore the inside of the lighthouse.
While the pandemic has brought a temporary closure to the top of the lighthouse, the tour has made a scaled back return this summer.
An interpretive display complete with a video about the lighthouse’s history is also featured in the basement.
The lighthouse is open from noon to 4 p.m. throughout the spring and summer, then from October to February it is closed on Monday and Tuesday.
Abigail Landwehr is an outdoors journalism intern for the Statesman Journal. She can be reached at alandwehr@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Yaquina Head Lighthouse celebrates 150 years on Oregon Coast
