NEWPORT, Ore.—Shrouded in dense morning fog, the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse reached a milestone today as crews carefully hoisted its fully restored 11,000-pound lantern back into place. Despite the limited visibility, calm winds allowed the crane to complete the lift in less than five minutes—after a one-day delay due to high winds.
The lantern’s return marks the final major step in a $1.8 million exterior restoration of the 1871 lighthouse, the only remaining intact wooden lighthouse on the Oregon Coast and the last in the state to combine a beacon with living quarters. The lantern had been sent to Allen Architectural Metals in Alabama, a nationally recognized leader in cast metal restoration, before making its journey home.
Over the past months, workers have repaired roof framing, the chimney, brick foundation, siding, doors, and windows. They also replaced the roof, restored the lantern, and applied fresh paint to shield the more-than-150-year-old structure from Oregon’s harsh coastal elements.
“In the next couple of weeks, we will finish the remaining carpentry work, touch up paint, and remove the scaffolding,” said Brian McBeth, historic architecture project manager for the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD). “We’re excited to reopen the historic structure to visitors. This restoration will help protect the lighthouse for generations to come.”
OPRD maintains hundreds of historic buildings statewide, including four lighthouses: Cape Meares, Yaquina Bay, Heceta Head, and Coquille River. The department dedicates a portion of its project budget each biennium to preserving such landmarks. An upcoming restoration project will focus on the Cape Foulweather Gift Shop at Otter Crest.
For visitor hours and updates, see the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse park page. Photos and video of the restoration are available online.
