Cape Meares Lighthouse (bobcat)

• Hikes to this location:
  • Cape Meares Lighthouse Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)
  • Cape Meares Hike   (TH | <—   —> | LOG)

• Weather forecast: NWS/NOAA
• Maps: Oregon Hikers Maps Google Maps
• Latitude, Longitude: 45.48647, -123.97830
• Elevation: 205 feet

Description

The little Cape Meares Lighthouse began operating in 1889. Its distinctive feature is the Fresnel lens, manufactured in Paris, that was transported around Cape Horn and then lifted 200 feet up the sea cliffs to be installed. The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1963. In the following years, the building was vandalized several times and four lens prisms were stolen, but all four were eventually recovered. The lighthouse was again vandalized in 2010, when two young men shot out panes of glass and seriously damaged the lens. The Friends of Cape Meares Lighthouse and Wildlife Refuge now helps to preserve the building and other sights in the area.

Ironically, Cape Meares was named by Captain John Meares as Cape Lookout. However, cartographers mistakenly began assigning that name to the prominent cape to the south, and Captain Meares unexpectedly received the honor of being associated with this place.

More Links

• Cape Meares Lighthouse & Wildlife Refuge, Inc. (Friends of Cape Meares Lighthouse & Wildlife Refuge)
• Cape Meares Lighthouse (Go Tillamook)
• Cape Meares, OR (Lighthouse Friends.com)
• History of Oregon's Shortest Lighthouse And The Legend of The Octopus Tree (Salem-News.com)

Contributors

• bobcat (creator)