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It is believed to be the oldest structure in Newport. It is also the only existing Oregon lighthouse with the living quarters attached, and the only historic wooden Oregon lighthouse still standing.  The Yaquina Bay Lighthouse is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The Yaquina Bay Lighthouse has been restored as a working lighthouse and an aid to navigation by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, with the help of many people and agencies, including Friends of Yaquina Lighthouses The official relighting ceremony with the US Coast Guard took place on December 7, 1996. The light shines with a steady white light from dusk to dawn (and sometimes on dark days, because it is controlled by a photocell.) The light is 161 feet above sea level.

The Lighthouse is open to the public every day except for holidays such as Christmas, New Years, and Thanksgiving. The hours during the summer, Memorial Day weekend through the end of September, are 11:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. and during the months of October to Memorial Day, the hours are 12:00 noon until 4:00 P.M.. Entrance is free by donation. We are accessible via paved trails and a walkway that lead to the top of the hill within the Yaquina Bay State Park, at the north end of the Yaquina Bay Bridge.  Access-compromised visitor groups are encouraged to use the large parking lot at the back of the lighthouse (entrance at SW Government and 9th Streets).

Inside the lighthouse, two flights of stairs lead to the watch room.  The lantern room is not open to the public.  The basement is open to the public and features a video about the lighthouse.  Our Interpretive Store offers many new and exciting educational items about lighthouses and the surrounding coastal habitat. Interesting places to visit within walking or short driving distance include the Oregon State University's Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon Coast Aquarium, and the US Coast Guard Station Yaquina Bay.

You might also consider a trip to the north end of Newport to our other lighthouse site, Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area.  There you may tour the Oregon coast's tallest lighthouse and visit natural tide pools, the world's first man-made universally accessible tide pools, and the recently opened Interpretive Center and Store. See the Yaquina Head page for more details.

Tour Information

Normally the lighthouse is available as a self guided tour for average small groups of people or individuals. We are pleased to announce that we are making the lighthouse available for larger group tours.  We welcome school groups, scout troops, or any organization, however due to the small halls and stairways in the lighthouse it is necessary for us to prepare for your group tour.

If your group is over 25 people please make arrangements with us in advance so we can schedule extra volunteers if possible to make your experience more enjoyable. We cannot easily accommodate large groups that just show up.

Please call Diane Tische to arrange your larger (25+) group tour at 541-574-3129, or email her at foyl@yaquinalights.org

For school groups, scout troops:  One adult required per ten students. Donations are always greatly appreciated and will be used to benefit Yaquina Bay Lighthouse directly.

PLEASE MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO:
Friends of Yaquina Lighthouses

Weddings

The fee for weddings is $150.00 There can be  no more than 20 participants in the parlor. There can be as many "as will fit" on the side lawn of the lighthouse. To view and/or print guidelines for your wedding at Yaquina Bay Lighthouse and a reservation form please visit the following two links:

WeddingRules.pdf and

WeddingReservationForm.pdf (both are Adobe Reader files, download reader from adobe.com if necessary)

Congratulations!

Please call Diane Tische at 541-574-3129 to arrange your wedding.