Bend, OR

Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, contrary to popular consensus, always seems to be one of my favorite lighthouses so far as it is the only lighthouse that has ever had a family living in it. Also the display of intricate artwork and the well kept furnishings actually made me feel as if I was back in that time. Yaquina seems to have kept the past very much alive.

In going through the lighthouse house it is amazing to me the largeness of the family that once resided here as they were numerous and included the husband and wife along with their six children when they moved in. This may show as an important lesson of patience is a virtue with having nine people in this tiny place at one time.

For one reason or another, the “parlor” seemed to feel alive to me as I vividly saw where several kids were lying and sitting down in front of the fireplace doing their studies while their mother was working on a needlework pattern. It was a ghostly moment in my book. Now I know they say you hear ghost stories about this lighthouse but at the same time I believe they may be just made up as this light house has never been on the list of haunted places but I suppose one never knows.

Currently the Coast Guard now owns this light house and uses a fixed lighting system for navigational purposes. Yaquina is located right at the North end of the Newport Bridge and is easy access. The parking lot overlooks Newport Bay where numerous sea lions and seals play.