Constant.

I love these Oregonians. They are serious about their craft beer, their environment, and their lighthouses. In the past couple weeks, we have seen a few more of the latter.

One area has two lighthouses, and a third was open for tours.  A fourth was the subject of a painting controversy, and the fifth is the picture perfect stereotype of a lighthouse standing tall.

In Newport, Oregon, there are two lighthouses. Yaquina Bay and Yaquina Head Lighthouse.

First up is Yaquina Bay Lighthouse.

This little lighthouse looks more like a private home. It was only used for three years and was discontinued in 1874 — ships approaching could not see its light because it was blocked by protruding headlands. I scratched my head at that one.

It is believed to be the oldest structure in Newport, Oregon.

 

 

 

On the grounds of the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse is a memorial for local fishermen who were lost at sea. There was no formality to it at all — just an enclosed area with some benches and this table in the center. The table contained personal items and memorial notices of those lost. I spent more time there than I did in the lighthouse. I found it to be quite moving.

Yaquina Headlands Lighthouse

The replacement to the Yaquina Bay light was the Yaquina Headlands lighthouse. Situated about three miles north, it sits high up on the headland. It’s the tallest lighthouse on the Oregon coast.

About half a mile down the road from the Yaquina Head Lighthouse is a very modern Interpretive Center. The group responsible for marketing the visitor center may have used a bit of hyperbole in the naming….Or maybe not. It really was outstanding.

Umpqua River Lighthouse

We stayed at the Umpqua Lighthouse Campground. This is one of the lighthouses that is open for tours.

Our tour group was led up the iron spiral staircase to each of the three levels. And yes, as we ascended to the upper levels, the stair steps got narrower and narrower. Yikes.

 

 

 

On the second level there was a cool display of the evolution of the light device over the years. It went from a wick system that used five gallons of kerosene a day, to an oil lamp that used one gallon of kerosene per day, to incandescent light, and now to halogen.

The coolest part, though, was that each of us got to step up and put our heads in the actual lens!

Each lighthouse has what’s called its uniqure “signature” so that it can be recognized by the navigators at sea. The Umpqua signature, for instance, is two white flashes followed by a red flash.

Coquille River Lighthouse

This was also adjacent to one of our campgrounds. It was not open to the public, nor did I see any volunteers working there. But what was interesting is that in about 2007 the lighthouse was restored and was all painted white. The locals disputed use of all white, and from what I could find online, they found historical photos showing that the base was originally red.

I didn’t find an updated news report, but on the day I visited, the base was red. Somehow the people got their way :-). Power to the Lighthouse People.

Cape Blanco Lighthouse

One of the most spectacular, perhaps because of its location. Cape Blanco is the westernmost point of Oregon and is second only to Cape Alava in Washington as the westernmost point in the continental US. The coast is rocky, the wind blows virtually non-stop, and it’s COLD.

I stopped by the lighthouse yesterday (Sunday), but didn’t take the tour. As I write this at 3:18 pm on Monday, I see that I cannot take the tour today. Or tomorrow. And we head southward tomorrow. So I guess I missed it. Boo.

It’s just picture perfect, standing up there all tall and constant.

So I think that’s it for the Oregon lighthouses. They are quite interesting  to see and be around. Even though GPS has rendered them largely obsolete, there is an absolute reverence for their heritage. The Coast Guard operates the navigational aids, but ownership and often operations have been assumed by local authorities working with preservation associations.

I noticed a distinct sense of awe on the part of the tour guides and many of the visitors.  I can only speak for myself, but when I was at each of the lighthouses, I spent a few minutes gazing out at the ocean.  I imagined the reliance that was placed on them by the navigators at sea. Reliance. Year after year. A constant.

In our turmoil-filled world of NOW, what some …most… all of us wouldn’t give for that.