Cape Arago Lighthouse

Just south of Coos Bay and 2.5 miles north of Cape Arago (originally known as Cape Gregory) on a small, detached piece of land with sheer cliffs stands the Cape Arago Lighthouse. Its tower is 44 feet high, and was illuminated in 1934.  However, there were two other lighthouses built earlier on Cape Arago.  The first tower was lit on November 1, 1866, and was Oregon's second lighthouse in operation. This lighthouse was a 25 foot octagonal tower supported by iron  stilts. Then, on July 1, 1909, a second lighthouse was completed and began to operate. This house was 25 feet higher and included a siren fog-signal but eventually also fell to the elements. Then, in 1934, a third lighthouse opened and was built of reinforced concrete to better withstand the inclement weather of the cape. The tower housed the fourth-order lens from the second lighthouse, and used the same design as Point Robinson in Washington. Today, only the third lighthouse remains but it is not available to the public. The lighthouse was automated in 1966. The Fresnel lens was replaced with a modern optic in 1993. On January 1, 2006, the light was discontinued. Painting by Mike Rangner ©copyright 2009.