Lantern Returned To Yaquina Bay Lighthouse

Crane operators carefully lifted the 11,000-pound lantern to the top of Yaquina Bay Lighthouse early Tuesday morning, August 12th as part of the final stages of the historic building’s exterior restoration. The installation was scheduled to take place on Monday afternoon, but gusty winds prevented the lantern installation, so it was moved for safety sake to early morning Tuesday. Dense fog surrounded the lighthouse, but there was no wind to impede the lantern’s progress to the top. It took less than five minutes for the crane to place the lantern. Here is a video of the lantern installation

Stefanie Knowlton, public information officer for Oregon State Parks said the crews had to be very careful when moving the large lantern from the lighthouse. "This was one of the biggest pieces that had to be worked on for the restoration." She added, "You can't rush this you have to be careful with these historic structures." Crews secured the lantern to the lighthouse — its final resting place after traveling to Alabama and back for restoration. Knowlton said Allen Architectural Metals in Alabama is nationally renowned for its expertise in cast metal restoration.

Knowlton added that the $1.8 million complete exterior restoration project included repairs to the roof framing, the chimney, the brick foundation, siding, doors and windows as well as a new roof and exterior paint to protect the more than 150-year-old structure from the elements. "It's one of hundreds of historic buildings that we operate and maintain at Oregon State Parks. That is a part of our mission to be able to preserve those and share them with visitors and Oregonians."

The Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, built in 1871, is the only wooden lighthouse still intact on the Oregon Coast, and it’s the last example in the state of the combined lighthouse and living quarters“In the next couple of weeks, we will finish up the remaining carpentry work on the exterior, touch up small areas with paint and remove the scaffolding. We’re excited to reopen the historic structure to visitors,” said Brian McBeth, historic architecture project manager. “This restoration will help protect the lighthouse for generations to come."

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) maintains hundreds of historic buildings across the state, including four lighthouses: Cape Meares Lighthouse, Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, Heceta Head Lighthouse and Coquille River Lighthouse. OPRD’s mission includes maintaining historic structures like the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse for the enjoyment and education of current and future generations. Each biennium, the department spends a portion of its project funds on historic restoration and maintenance. Knowlton said they hope to have the rest of the work completed in the next couple of weeks and have the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse back open to the public by the end of August.