Oregon coast’s last wood-frame lighthouse is set for $1.4 million renovation

A $1.4 million renovation is expected to breathe new life into Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, an old coastal landmark known for its short lifespan, its own inhouse ghost and for inspiring a historical society still thriving 76 years later. The repairs aim to ensure the longevity of the Oregon coast’s last standing wood-frame lighthouse.

The Yaquina Bay Lighthouse was commissioned in 1871 to guide ships sailing into Newport’s harbor, but only three years later, with the completion of the nearby Yaquina Head Lighthouse, the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse was relieved of its duties.

Today, the lighthouse on the knoll overlooking the Pacific Ocean remains a popular attraction, drawing families, tour buses and visitors from afar through its Victorian-era rooms. (Officials estimate about 1.7 million visited the Yaquina Bay State Recreational Site in 2023.) While this latest project should address the most pressing concerns, the care of a decrepit building on the edge of the ocean is an endless task.

“Its condition is a combination of neglect and time, the harsh coastal environment,” said Brian McBeth, historical architecture project manager with Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. “It’s just like any piece of property you own. It’s not feasible to maintain it in the tiptop, brand-new condition every day for as long as you live. We treat these lighthouses different than they were ever intended to be used. We utilize them as, for lack of a better term, a visitor center or museum space. When the lighthouse was in operation, it was staffed by multiple people. They were there 24/7 and their job was to make sure that the light stayed on and to maintain the facilities. We don’t have the staff for all that.”

A recent assessment of the lighthouse revealed leaks, water damage, insect infiltration, rot and “potential” structural decay, McBeth said. “There’s definitely corrosion up at the lantern, so much corrosion that that handrail is basically useless. If someone touches it is going to give way.”

Renovation plans, expected to get underway in the coming months, include a new roof, stripping off layers of old paint and putting on new, repairing windows with new glazing, putty, ropes and pulleys, along with polishing the brass fixtures and adding weather stripping. Funds for the project come from Oregon Parks and Recreation Department’s savings which it is required to set aside from income generated camping revenue and other fees that fund the department.

“I would classify the project as just a heavy maintenance project for the whole old house,” McBeth said. “We’ve got some doors that are beyond repair, and so we’re going to replace those. All those shutters get knocked around, and they just need kind of spruced up and the shutter hardware needs spruced up and finished.”

The lighthouse claims several distinctions. In addition to being the last standing wood structure of its kind, it was the first of only two lighthouse structures built in Oregon that housed both the light and the keeper’s quarters. In use for only three years, it is the lighthouse used for the shortest time on the Oregon Coast. Thought to be the oldest structure in Newport, its also believed to have its own ghost, “Muriel,” a fictional character from a short story published in 1899 who has lingered long after telling. The lighthouse also inspired the Lincoln County Historical Society in 1948 after a group of locals gathered with a mission to preserve it, and it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

“It’s part of the development of Newport,” McBeth said. “It plays such an important role on the central coast.”

Today, volunteers welcome visitors from all over to the white and red timber-frame building perched in the heart of the Yaquina Bay State Recreation Site.

“In the last week, we’ve had visitors from Sweden; we’ve had four families from Germany; we’ve had them from the UK, Japan; we’ve had two tour buses of elderly people come through,” said Gerald Schultz, volunteer from Eugene. “A lot of them have questions about the children. There were nine children; seven of them lived here. The last was born here. They’ve asked questions about the kitchen stuff mostly. Of course, they always talk about Muriel. …”

But despite all the historical significance of the lighthouse, ensuring its future is a tall order.

“One of the biggest challenges, which is funding for the maintenance work that we constantly need to do, is maintaining the public and agency interest and awareness in the building,” McBeth said. “We’re really looking for any ideas for alternative use or public private partnerships. It could be anything. Think about someone taking it over and utilizing it as a bed and breakfast. We want to be able to maintain this public structure for future generations. It’s a piece of history.”

The lighthouse is open noon-4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday and closed Mondays and Tuesdays, though hours may change due to weather and volunteer availability. Watch for project details at stateparks.oregon.gov.

— Lori Tobias, for The Oregonian/OregonLive