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.
2 comments:
Anonymous, thank you for your comments. Best of luck on your blog.
Al
tks...wondered what it would be like across the bridge...
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