Oregon Drift

The Cape Arago Lighthouse, shown in this 1999 photo, once lit the way for ships entering and leaving the mouth of Coos Bay. It's no longer accessible to the public, and its solar-powered beacon went permanently dark in 2006. World File Photo by Lou Sennick

Located on the Cape Arago Highway south of Charleston, the Cape Arago Lighthouse is no longer functional or accessible to the public. The bridge that once gave access has long since deteriorated, and the solar-powered lights and beacon went permanently dark in January 2006.

The lighthouse once was essential to local navigation. It was constructed on Chief’s Island in 1866 to guide coal and timber hauling ships in and out of the bustling harbor.

The first bridge was built in 1878. After many storms and replacements, it was updated in 1891 with a cable tramway. A stronger, higher bridge was completed in 1889.

The lighthouse has actually been three successive lighthouses, each replaced as time and weather took their toll. The last remaining building is lighthouse No. 3, a concrete structure built in 1934. It was cared for by the U.S. Coast Guard until 1966, when operations became automated.

Along with its lighthouse history, Chief’s Island is a sacred site to members of the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians. Federal legislation in 2008 gave the tribes control of the property, in return for it available for appropriate educational, recreational and historic preservation purposes.

(Information from www.lighthousefriends.com.)