~ This entry was posted on February 2, 2010
 Cape Blanco Fresnel Lens~ Photo by Lance & Cromwell Cape Blanco is the last stop on our Oregon Coast Lighthouse Tour… it’s located on the beautiful Southern Oregon Coast in the Cape Blanco State Park, 9 miles northwest of Port Orford, Oregon. There you will find the lighthouse and the Historic Hughes House open for tours from April to October. For your lodging needs, Port Orford has a wide selection of vacation homes featuring river, lake & ocean front views.
Sitting on top of a 200 foot tall white chalky colored cliff, Cape Blanco or White Cape got its name from the early Spanish explorers. Cape Blanco lighthouse has the distinctions of being the southernmost of Oregon’s lighthouses… the furthest point west in the state… the oldest continuously operating light in Oregon… sits on the highest focal plane above the sea at 256 feet and… had Oregon’s first woman keeper!
The light was proposed in 1864, and the first-order fixed (non-rotating) Fresnel lens was lit for the first time on December 20, 1870. In 1936 the original lens was replaced with a smaller, second order rotating Fresnel lens. In 1992, vandals broke into the lantern room and smashed several sections of the lens, including one of the eight bull’s-eyes. Two years later… Cape Blanco’s Fresnel lens shone again!
Cape Blanco is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. All tours are guided by trained volunteers, making your visit informative and memorable. NOTE: gates close when the final tour times are booked, about 3:15 
I hope you have enjoyed our blog tour of “Lighthouses of the Oregon Coast” as much as I have.
~ Thanks & have fun AT THE BEACH!
~ This entry was posted on December 18, 2009
 Photo by~ AZ Photoguy Our lighthouse tour for the Oregon Coast has included Tillamook Head, Cape Meares, Yaquina Head and Yaquina Bay, Heceta Head, Umpqua River and Cape Arago lighthouses. Let’s head to Bandon Oregon to visit Coquille River Lighthouse…
Beautiful “Bandon by the Sea” offers many fine places to stay, including beach front vacation rentals with amazing views and some of the finest golf in the world to enjoy during your visit! The lighthouse is located in Bullards Beach State Park just 2 miles north of Bandon, a family oriented park with yurts and equestrian camping too!
The historic Coquille River lighthouse construction began in 1891 on the short 40 ft. lighthouse tower that would house the Fourth Order lens. Due to many construction delays it was finally lit on February 29, 1896 and operated for just 43 years. In 1939, it was abandoned and its duties replaced with an automated beacon. Over the years it has survived nearly being hit by the schooner “Advance” after it ran aground and was one of only 16 building left after a forest fire had destroyed most of the town. After many years of neglect the lighthouse was renovated in 1976 by the US Army Corps and the Oregon State Parks department. In honor of the Centennial Celebration, a new light was lit in the tower in 1991. The revival of the lighthouse paralleled the revival of Bandon, which is now a popular seaside destination town.
Next stop… the lighthouse at Cape Blanco
~ Thanks & have fun AT THE BEACH!
~ This entry was posted on December 4, 2009
 Photo by Lonnie R. Peck~ Bearded Elf Productions So far… our lighthouse tour has included Tillamook Head, Cape Meares, Yaquina Head,Yaquina Bay, Heceta Head and Umpqua River lighthouses… next stop is Cape Arago lighthouse which is located between Coos Bay and North Bend. (Currently the lighthouse is closed to the public but you can get some great views from the Sunset Bay State Park, just south of Charleston).
This beautiful bay area also offers world-class fishing opportunities and sand dunes towering up to 500 feet, for all of you off-road enthusiasts! A host of State and County parks are also available for camping, hiking and site-seeing… Oh, and don’t forget the ocean & beach! To accommodate your stay… here’s a vacation rental that’s perfect for a group of 10 and has extra parking for your ATV’s and boats too!
The current Cape Arago lighthouse is the third building constructed for use as a beacon. The original structure was erected in 1866, octagonal shaped and made of wrought iron, it used a lantern for its light. The next building was made of wood and erected in 1908; it also was octagonal shaped and housed a fourth order Fresnel lens. The structure of today was built in 1934 and was made of reinforced concrete, in hopes it could better withstand the harsh coastal environment. This new tower houses the Fresnel lens from the second lighthouse. The lighthouse was automated in 1966 and although a fog horn remains, the lighthouse was decommissioned and on January 1, 2006 the light was turned off. The Coast Guard removed the Fresnel lens from the tower in 1993, and placed it on display for viewing at the Coast Guard Air Station North Bend.
Next up… Coquille River Lighthouse
~Thanks & have fun AT THE BEACH!
~ This entry was posted on November 10, 2009
 Photo by Alex Vosicka Our lighthouse tour has included the Tillamook Head, Cape Meares, Yaquina Head, Yaquina Bay and Heceta Head lighthouses. Next stop… the Umpqua River Lighthouse, located near the beautiful Reedsport/Winchester Bay area. Lodging accommodations include a lakeside resort featuring RV & tent camping sites, yurts, cabins and water sport activities.
During your stay in Reedsport area, drive 6 miles south to Umpqua River State Park and you’ll find the Umpqua River Lighthouse located above the entrance to Winchester Bay. The original lighthouse was built in 1857 and was located on the north spit of the river and had the unique distinction as the first lighthouse commissioned on the Oregon coast. In 1861 after the sand had eroded under it, the original lighthouse fell into the river and was rebuilt on the south side. The current structure is a 65 foot tall tower with the light sitting 165 feet above sea level. The Umpqua lighthouse uses a distinctive first order Fresnel lens that consists of 24 bulls-eyes that emit a pattern of two white flashes, followed by a red flash 24 hours a day.
While there, plan on spending some extra time and tour the Coastal History Museum adjacent the lighthouse, located in a historic US Coast Guard station. It features additional lighthouse information along with local history and US Coast guard history on the Umpqua River.
Next up is Cape Arago lighthouse located just south of the North Bend Coos Bay area….
~ Thanks & have fun AT THE BEACH!
~ This entry was posted on October 16, 2009
 Heceta Head Lighthouse from HWY 101 We have started in the north and we’re working our way south… exploring the Lighthouses of the Oregon Coast. Up to this point our lighthouse tour has included Tillamook Head, Cape Meares, Yaquina Head and the Yaquina Bay lighthouses.
Our next stop… “Heceta Head” lighthouse, located between the cities of Yachats & Waldport which are to the north, and Florence to the south. Plenty of ocean view vacation getaway options can be found between these cities… Yachats offers vacation rentals with views of the beautiful rocky coastline… Waldport which is close by has beach front & bay view rentals… Florence offers new bayfront condos… and be sure to check out this ocean view home Heceta House if you are traveling with a family.
Heceta Head lighthouse is located in Heceta Head State Park in a cove, at the mouth of Cape Creek. The park offers stunning views of the lighthouse with the Pacific Ocean in the background. You will soon see why it’s one of the most photographed lighthouses on the Oregon Coast!
The Heceta Head lighthouse was illuminated in 1894 and sits on the west side of the 1000 foot high Heceta Head. It stands 205 feet above sea level with its light on top of a 56 foot high tower. With a first order Fresnel lens containing eight panels and 640 prisms 2 inches thick, this lighthouse has the distinction of having the strongest light on the Oregon Coast which can be seen 21 miles out to sea.
The next stop in our adventure… the “Umpqua River” lighthouse located just south of the beautiful city of Reedsport Oregon.
~ Thanks & have fun AT THE BEACH!
~ This entry was posted on October 9, 2009
 Yaquina Bay Lighthouse ~ Photo by Kat Kellner So far our lighthouse tour has included Tillamook Head, Cape Meares and Yaquina Head lighthouse… and just in time for Halloween, our next stop is thought to be haunted… Yaquina “Bay” lighthouse. It’s only a few miles south of the Yaquina “Head” lighthouse… but if you haven’t spent the night in the area yet, here is a cozy ocean front rental for 2 (not haunted) on a private two acre parcel!
The Yaquina Bay lighthouse is located in the Bay State Recreation site on Hwy 101 at the north end of Yaquina Bay Bridge in Newport Oregon. As the second oldest lighthouse on the Oregon coast its service ran only from 1871 to 1874 when it was replaced by the nearby Yaquina Head lighthouse. The light is 161 feet above sea level and only 42 feet above the ground. Its signature light shines brightly with a steady white light from dusk till dawn. The Oregon State Parks department took over the lighthouse and with the help of many people restored this beauty to its original splendor. In 1996 with the help of the U.S. Coast Guard, the lighthouse was re-lit and is used to maintain aid to private navigation for Yaquina Bay. Its many distinctions include being the oldest structure in Newport, the only existing Oregon lighthouse with the living quarters attached and the only wooden lighthouse in Oregon that is still standing. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places… Haunted? You decide!
Now, let’s head south to Florence Oregon for our next lighthouse adventure…
~Thanks & have fun AT THE BEACH!
~ This entry was posted on October 2, 2009
 Yaquina Head Lighthouse Photo by Stuart Seeger After visiting the Tillamook Head and Cape Meares lighthouses… head south on Hwy 101 toward Newport Oregon where you’ll find 2 great lighthouses to explore…. For your overnight accommodations, you will want to check out these privately owned Newport vacation rentals and condos. You can find anything from a one bedroom condo, to a large home big enough for the entire family… This small beachfront house is even pet friendly!
Your destination is just three miles north of Newport Oregon, where you will find the first of these two lighthouses. The Bureau of Land Management operates the “Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area” where this stunning lighthouse is located. As the tallest lighthouse in Oregon at 93 feet, this tower stands 162 feet above the ocean on a narrow piece of land jutting into the Pacific Ocean.
This lighthouse started life in 1873 as an oil burning fixed white light that was operated from sunset to sunrise seven days a week. Today it is a fully automated Fresnel lens that is powered by a single 1000 watt globe light producing over 130,000 candlepower… For a passing ship to identify a lighthouse, each one has a unique pattern of flashes called a “signature”. The Yaquina Head lighthouse uses a 2 seconds on, 2 seconds off, 2 seconds on then14 seconds off pattern that operates 24 hours a day.
Yaquina Head Lighthouse… it’s a beautiful sight to see!
Next up located just a few miles to the south near the entrance to Yaquina Bay… let’s explore the “Yaquina Bay” lighthouse.
~ Thanks & have fun AT THE BEACH!
~ This entry was posted on September 24, 2009
 Oregon Coast Cape Meares Lighthouse Going south from Tillamook Head lighthouse you will find my favorite lighthouse near Cape Meares Oregon. The Oregon State parks system runs the Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint that is located 10 miles west of Tillamook Oregon. The beach is nearby in the Oceanside/Netarts area where you can find some great ocean view vacation rentals to stay in while enjoying your tour.
The Cape Meares Lighthouse stands 217 feet above the ocean but the tower itself is only 38 feet tall. You can walk up the spiral staircase inside, it offers one of the easiest and closest views of a first-order Fresnel lens that you will find anywhere. After standing next to the glass panes that make the structure of the lens, you will realize the power of a lighthouse!
This park offers some of the most spectacular views to be seen anywhere along the Oregon Coast so plan on spending some extra time walking and observing the viewpoints overlooking the offshore islets where you will find nesting sea birds and stellar sea lions. Don’t forget to hike up the secondary trail to view the enormous arms of a unique tree called the “Octopus Tree” and just beyond it… yet another awesome coastline view!
Don’t forget to stop at the Tillamook Cheese Factory Visitor’s Center… take the self-guided tour, sample some cheese, enjoy ice cream on a fresh waffle cone watch the “cheese makers” in action upstairs.
Next up… let’s head south to visit “Yaquina Head” lighthouse just north of Newport Oregon.
~Thanks & have fun AT THE BEACH!
~ This entry was posted on September 20, 2009
Oregon State has nine lighthouses along the coast that guarantee your next trip to the beach will be a memorable one… Let’s start in the north and work our way south exploring the Lighthouses of the Oregon Coast. There is plenty of lodging to choose from nearby in Seaside and Cannon Beach if you want to stay in the area before your next stop.
The Tillamook Rock Lighthouse or “Terrible Tilly” as it came to be known sits 1 mile west of “Tillamook Head” between Cannon Beach and Seaside Oregon. It was commissioned in 1881 to help guide ships entering the mighty Columbia River and operated until 1957 when it was replaced by a whistle buoy. Sitting on a basalt rock islet, the 62-foot tower displayed a first-order Fresnel lens that sat at 133 feet above sea level. Tillamook Rock Lighthouse is included on the National Register of Historic Places and is the only privately owned lighthouse along the Oregon Coast.
After it was decommissioned, it was sold several times to private investors, and was eventually used as a columbarium, a storage place for the ashes of the deceased. There is no public access but you can view this majestic lighthouse using a trail that runs from Ecola State park near Cannon Beach on the south to Seaside Oregon from the north that takes you around Tillamook Head. Remember, for access to Ecola State park, there is an Oregon State park day use fee or use your annual parking permit or Oregon Pacific Coast Passport.
Next up is my favorite lighthouse, Cape Meares near Tillamook Oregon…
~Thanks & have fun AT THE BEACH!
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