Rehabilitation work on the historic Yaquina Bay Lighthouse is underway, focusing on exterior repairs to preserve the landmark for future generations. Built in 1871 and decommissioned in 1874, it is a rare West Coast example of a wood-framed lighthouse and is the only existing lighthouse in Oregon with attached living quarters. Despite being battered and corroded by the harsh coastal climate, this unique lighthouse has survived 150 years and is believed to be Newport’s oldest remaining structure. Owned and managed by the Oregon Parks & Recreation Department as part of the Yaquina Bay State Recreation Site, the lighthouse currently operates as a house museum, attracting thousands of visitors annually. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Hennebery Eddy’s historic preservation experts are working with Holmes structural engineers to design and oversee complete exterior restoration of the lighthouse’s historic elements while maintaining the integrity of the structure: a three-story, wood-framed tower supported by a two-story, wood-framed house with a masonry foundation. The rehabilitation involves reroofing, weatherproofing, window and door restoration, masonry and wood siding/trim repairs, and restoration of the cast iron “fourth-order” lantern.
Per the U.S. Lighthouse Establishment, lanterns in the first half of the 20th century came in standard sizes, labeled as “orders,” with the first order being the largest and the sixth being the smallest. The delicate lantern was assessed by our team to verify it could be separated from the anchor structure without damage, then was lifted out via crane and transported across the country for repair by one of the few craftspeople experienced in this work nationwide, at Allen Architectural Metals in Alabama.
Our team’s level of expertise and care will help the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse endure as a cherished part of the Oregon coastal community. The project is also supported by Pacific Tech Construction and Ness & Campbell Crane and Rigging and is expected to be completed by June 2025.
Read more about this project from Oregon Public Broadcasting and the Lincoln County Leader and learn more about Hennebery Eddy’s Historic Resources Group and portfolio.