My Tour of Cape Arago Lighthouse

The Cape Arago Lighthouse sets on a piece of land detached from the main coast near the town of Coos Bay, OR. The Coos Indians formerly named the island Chief’s Island. Through the years, there were three lighthouses built on this island. The first lighthouse, built partially of wood in 1866, stood twenty-five feet tall and housed a fourth-order lens. A 1,300 foot-long wooden walkway linked the one-and-a-half-story keepers dwelling to the tower. Years later the tower was encased in bricks and then stucco.

Initially, access to the three acre island was by rowboats, until 1876 when a low bridge was built between mainland and the island. This bridge lasted approximately one year until it was destroyed in 1877 by a heavy storm. Fourteen years later, a cable tramway was built across the canyon between the two lands. The tramway proved to be inefficient and caused injury to personnel. Therefore, in 1898 a high bridge was constructed. 

Due to erosion threatening location of the first tower, a second lighthouse was constructed of wood in 1909. Its lantern room housed the fourth-order lens.

In 1934, the third lighthouse was built of concrete. The lighthouse was automated in 1966, and operation continued until the Coast Guard turned off the light in January 2006.

In the summer of 2005, myself and three other people were privileged to a private tour of this lighthouse by the U.S. Coast Guard. At the time of my visit, the lighthouse was the only building still standing on the island. (I invite you to enjoy the movie of my pictures taken during my visit to Cape Arago Lighthouse.) 

                                    

 

In 2012, the high bridge was torn down, and in 2013, the lighthouse and lands were turned over to the Confederated Tribes.

Bullards Beach State Park Preserves Oregon History

Coquille River Lighthouse is located on the north bank of the Coquille River in Bullards Beach State Park, Bandon, Oregon. The government bought several acres for $1,200 to locate a lighthouse and other buildings. In 1896, total cost for construction of the lighthouse, a fog signal, and station buildings, including the keeper’s house, was $50,000. Said house, a duplex, was located 650 feet away from the lighthouse. Each side of the house provided a kitchen, dining room, sitting room, and three bedrooms for each of the keepers and their families.

Note The Fog Over The River

The lighthouse, constructed of brick and covered in stucco, was built to provide navigational aid to ships carrying timber. Originally the lantern room housed a fourth-order lens which provided a fixed white light. 

In 1939, the U.S. Coast Guard took over responsibility from the Light House Service. Thereafter, they decommissioned the Coquille River Lighthouse after having made improvements to the river channel and other navigational aids. The keeper’s house was disassembled and the lighthouse abandoned. 

For twenty-four years, the vacated lighthouse was vandalized and neglected until officials at the Bullards Beach State Park took over responsibility. In 1979, after help from the state of OR and the Army Corps of Engineers, park officials completed restoration of the lighthouse for an interpretive center. The Park staff and volunteers provide guided tours up the 28 steps to the tower lantern room. A solar-powered system atop the 40 foot circular tower operates the light.