This is Yaquina (ya -QUEEN- ah) Head Lighthouse in Newport, not to be confused with Yaquina Bay Lighthouse.
The 93 foot tower is located on a narrow point of land jutting due west, nearly 1 mile into the Pacific Ocean north of Newport, at Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area.
Winds and rain have buffeted this lighthouse since its beginning in 1872. It took approximately one year, and over 370,000 bricks to construct Oregon’s tallest lighthouse.
The light has been active since Head Keeper Fayette Crosby walked up the 114 steps, to light the wicks on the evening of August 20, 1873. At that time the oil burning fixed white light was displayed from sunset to sunrise. Today, the fully automated first order Fresnel lens runs on commercial power and flashes its unique pattern of 2 seconds on, 2 seconds off, 2 seconds on, 14 seconds off, 24 hours a day. The oil burning wicks have been replaced with a 1000 watt globe.
The nightly vigil of watching the light is gone as are the resident keepers and their quarters, but the staff of the Bureau of Land Management, who are now responsible for the tower, would love to guide you through the lighthouse with tales of yesteryear.