The Cape Arago Lighthouse (formerly known as Cape Gregory Lighthouse) is a

lighthouse A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of physical structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lens (optics), lenses and to serve as a beacon for navigational aid for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways. Ligh ...

located in Charleston,

Oregon Oregon ( , ) is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is a part of the Western U.S., with the Columbia River delineating much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while t ...

. It is located north of Cape Arago.

History

Starting in the mid-19th century,

Coos Bay Coos Bay (Hanis language, Coos language: Atsixiis or Hanisich) is an estuary where the Coos River enters the Pacific Ocean, the estuary is approximately 12 miles long and up to two miles wide. It is the largest estuary completely within Oregon sta ...

had become an important shipping point on the west coast of the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. The amount of shipping at the time warranted the building of a light at the location, and in 1864, funds were given to build the harbor's light. In 1866, the first light was illuminated. This first tower, which housed a fourth-order

Fresnel lens A Fresnel lens ( ; ; or ) is a type of composite compact lens (optics), lens which reduces the amount of material required compared to a conventional lens by dividing the lens into a set of concentric annular sections. The simpler Dioptrics, d ...

, was nothing more than a octagonal tower with a skeleton base. This tower, located on the west end of an island, was connected to the keeper's residence via a wooden walkway. However, because of its location on the island, the light was greatly exposed to the elements along the Pacific and soon was in need of repairs. Over the next 35 years, much of the station's infrastructure had to be repaired or replaced. Several improvements were also made during this time, including the installation of a

fog signal A foghorn or fog signal is a device that uses sound to warn vehicles of navigational hazards such as rocky coastlines, or boats of the presence of other vessels, in foggy conditions. The term is most often used in relation to marine transport. ...

and a new boathouse. Cape Arago Lighthouse

However, sailor's demands for a better light and the threat of

erosion Erosion is the action of surface processes (such as Surface runoff, water flow or wind) that removes soil, Rock (geology), rock, or dissolved material from one location on the Earth's crust#Crust, Earth's crust and then sediment transport, tran ...

meant the end of the first tower, and in 1909, the second tower was lit. Located higher on the island, the new wooden tower stood tall and provided better illumination. Designed by Carl Leick, the new light was similar in design to Mukilteo Light in the state of

Washington Washington most commonly refers to: * George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States * Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A ...

. Erosion eventually threatened this light as well, and in 1934, the third light was illuminated. Containing the second light's fourth-order lens, the third tower was made from concrete to better withstand the inclement weather of the area. This light shared a basic design with

Point Robinson Light The Point Robinson Light is an operational aid to navigation and historic lighthouse on Puget Sound, located at Point Robinson, the easternmost point of Maury Island, King County, in the U.S. state of Washington. The site was listed on the Nati ...

in Washington. It was also at this time that the first tower, which still stood, was finally destroyed. The second light fared better. The tower was soon removed and the building was converted into an office. In 1966, the light was automated. Eventually, in 1993, the

was replaced with a modern lens. The light remained a beacon into

for the next 12 years, until its decommissioning on January 1, 2006. Today, only the third light remains standing, all other buildings having since been demolished. The site is not open to the public, and the entire area is fenced off. In 2012–2013 winter, the original wood bridge accessing the light was eroded away by the sea. The lighthouse is visible between Sunset Bay State Park and Shore Acres State Park, and from Bastendorff Beach County Park. In 1993, the light was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

References

External links

Discover Oregon Lighthouses: Cape AragoCape Arago Lighthouse entry at Lighthouse Friends.comOregon Encyclopedia on the Cape Arago Lighthouse
* * {{Authority control Lighthouses completed in 1866 Lighthouses completed in 1909 Lighthouses completed in 1934 Lighthouses on the National Register of Historic Places in Oregon Transportation buildings and structures in Coos County, Oregon National Register of Historic Places in Coos County, Oregon Historic American Engineering Record in Oregon 1866 establishments in Oregon

History

See also

References

External links