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

Charleston Charleston most commonly refers to: * Charleston, South Carolina * Charleston, West Virginia, the state capital * Charleston (dance) Charleston may also refer to: Places Australia * Charleston, South Australia Canada * Charleston, Newfoun ...

Oregon Oregon () is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of its eastern boundary with Idah ...

. It is located north of

Cape Arago Cape Arago State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Oregon, administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. Cape Arago is north of Bandon and 15 miles southwest of Coos Bay on Cape Arago Highway in Coos County. History In 15 ...

History

Cape Arago Lighthouse and Dwelling, 10-1944 - NARA - 298183

Starting in the mid-19th century,

Coos Bay Coos Bay 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 state lines. The Coos Bay watershed covers an area of abo ...

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

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...

. 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 developed by the French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel (1788–1827) for use in lighthouses. It has been called "the invention that saved a million ships." The design allows the ...

, 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. Wh ...

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 water flow or wind) that removes soil, rock, or dissolved material from one location on the Earth's crust, and then transports it to another location where it is deposited. Erosion is di ...

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 Carl W. Leick (1854 –June 10, 1939) was an architect who worked in the Northwest of the United States. He designed structures for 25 sites on the West Coast, including the Turn Point (1893), Patos (1908), and Lime Kiln (1914) lighthouse ...

, the new light was similar in design to

Mukilteo Light The Mukilteo Light is an operational navigation aid located on the east side of Possession Sound at Mukilteo, Snohomish County, Washington, in the United States. It is owned and operated by the City of Mukilteo as part of Mukilteo Lighthouse Park. ...

in the state of

Washington Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...

. 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 Na ...

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 Sunset Bay State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Oregon. Administered by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, it is about south of Cape Arago Lighthouse and outside the town of Charleston on Coos Bay. The park offers a cresce ...

and

Shore Acres State Park Shore Acres State Park is a state park south of Coos Bay in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is one of three state parks along the Cape Arago Highway, which runs along the Pacific Ocean west of U.S. Route 101. Sunset Bay State Park is about ...

, 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 United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artist ...

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