The Umpqua River Light is a

lighthouse A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of physical structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses and to serve as a beacon for navigational aid, for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways. Lighthouses mar ...

on the

Oregon Coast The Oregon Coast is a coastal region of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to its west and the Oregon Coast Range to the east, and stretches approximately from the California state border in the south to the Columbia ...

of the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

, located at the mouth of the

Umpqua River The Umpqua River ( ) on the Pacific coast of Oregon in the United States is approximately long. One of the principal rivers of the Oregon Coast and known for bass and shad, the river drains an expansive network of valleys in the mountains west ...

Winchester Bay Winchester Bay is an unincorporated community in Douglas County, Oregon, United States. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Winchester Bay as a census-designated place (CDP). The census definition of the area may ...

, in Douglas County,

Oregon Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...

History

Lifeboat at Umpqua River Lighthouse, August 2017

Located at the mouth of Winchester Bay, Oregon, the first Umpqua River Light was built in 1855 and lit in 1857. Built along the river channel, the original light was vulnerable to seasonal flooding. This led to yearly erosion of the sand embankment of the light. In October 1863, the building's foundations had become too unstable and the structure soon collapsed. Before its collapse, the Light House Board had foreseen the need to build a new light at the location. However, it was 1888 before Congress approved of a construction of a new light. Construction started on the new light in 1892, and it was first lit in 1894. Built at the same time as

Heceta Head Light Heceta Head Light is a lighthouse on the Oregon Coast north of Florence, and south of Yachats in the United States. It is located at Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint, a state park, midway up a 205-foot-tall (62 m) headland. Bui ...

, it was built from the same plans and is virtually identical to its more northern sister. Unlike its predecessor, the new light had several advantages over the original light. Built above the river, the new light was safe from flooding. This was partly due to the Light House Board's insistence that ships be able to plot a course based on visible lighthouses. The original light was not visible at sea and was only usable as an aid to ships approaching the river. The new light used a clockwork mechanism to rotate the Fresnel lens, and was eventually automated in 1966. The rotation mechanism served in the light for 89 years before it finally broke down and was removed. The Coast Guard, in charge of the light at this point, wanted to replace the mechanism with a new one. However, strong public outcry forced those plans to be aborted, and in 1985, the old mechanism was returned to its position after being fully restored. The structure was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 1977. Visitors can tour the lighthouse and adjacent Coastal History Museum from May through September. The museum is located in a historic

U.S. Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, mul ...

station and features exhibits on the lighthouse, local history and the U.S. Coast Guard history on the

References

External links

Umpqua Lighthouse State Park
- official site

Umpqua River Lighthouse
- photos and touring information
June 9, 2005, Statesman Journal article on Umpqua River Lighthouse

Umpqua River Lighthouse entry at Lighthouse Friends.com

* ttp://lighthousegetaway.com/lights/umpquafres.html Close-up photos of the Umpqua River Lighthouse Fresnel lens {{authority control Lighthouses completed in 1855 Lighthouses completed in 1894 Lighthouses on the National Register of Historic Places in Oregon Oregon Coast IUCN Category V Lighthouse museums in Oregon Museums in Douglas County, Oregon Transportation buildings and structures in Douglas County, Oregon Parks in Douglas County, Oregon State parks of Oregon National Register of Historic Places in Douglas County, Oregon

History

See also

References

External links