Steve's Photoblog
Yaquina Bay Lighthouse
Posted by Steve Rice (Olympia, United States) on 9 July 2009 in Architecture and Portfolio.
Only in operation from 1871-74, this lighthouse became obsolete when the Yaquina Head Lighthouse was commissioned. It's the only Oregon lighthouse with the keeper's quarters and lighthouse combined in one building. It's also the only wooden lighthouse in Oregon.
The story goes that the light and materials used for the Yaquina Head Lighthouse were intended for Cape Foulweather located eight miles (12.9 kilometers) north of Yaquina Head. Apparently, some maps of the day had Yaquina Head shown as Cape Foulweather which probably added to the confusion. At any rate, the construction supplies were landed on the wrong beach and the lighthouse constructed before the error was noticed. This was long before GPS. :-)
Another version of the story indicates it was a conscious decision to build on Yaquina Head because Cape Foulweather would have been much more difficult. At any rate, the Yaquina Bay light was made redundant.
The Yaquina Bay Lighthouse became a private aid to navigation in 1996.
Part of the Oregon Coast series.
Paco Díaz from Palma de Mallorca, Spain
This is spectacular! The firs house-lighthouse I have ever seen. Fantastic shot, great light and colors.
9 Jul 2009 5:33am
Sarito from Basingstoke, United Kingdom
Beautiful lighthouse... great light and colours!
9 Jul 2009 7:37am
MrsAmber from West Wickham, United Kingdom
Interesting story! Lovely shot, very well composed.
9 Jul 2009 9:15am
Esther K ~ from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, Malaysia
The colours are so vivid and the scene so inviting! I have always (and still do) liked white wooden houses with white picket fences so this is a very heart-warming sight for me :-) You composed this really well, Steve. Also, it is great to learn about the background of this lighthouse through your notes.
9 Jul 2009 1:31pm
Kiki from Ambert, Puy de Dôme, France
Il est très beau ce phare-maison en bois blanc (si j'ai bien compris la description ! )... c'est la première fois que j'en vois un comme celui-là...
9 Jul 2009 3:24pm
@Kiki: Yes, you understood the description correctly.
MARIANA from waterloo, Canada
Beautiful photograph of this lovely white lighthouse! Great framing !
9 Jul 2009 3:25pm
don from spokane, United States
I think you chose a fine viewpoint for this shot of the lighthouse. Fine, pristine looking picture. Interesting history too.
9 Jul 2009 4:04pm
bluechameleon from Vancouver, Canada
...I could live here :)
Such a beautiful shot...I love the white of the house against such a blue sky.
So pretty!
9 Jul 2009 8:20pm
Evelyne Dubos from Le Mans, France
An unusual lighthouse with a real house in the same time. Nice and interesting shot, well composed.
9 Jul 2009 9:07pm
Monique from Koh Samui, Thailand
Oh ... that's a beauty Steve ... taken from a great angle with beautiful colors and light ... would make a great decor for a movie!
10 Jul 2009 4:25am
Francesc B. from région parisienne, France
It's almost a house (a beautiful house) with a big light on the roof... lol... nice shot and composition as usual... and beautiful pines.
11 Jul 2009 8:27pm
