Yaquina Head Natural Area
Oregon Coast

14. Building the Lighthouse Information

It seems there has been trouble with the lighthouse from the very beginning. Construction work began in the fall of 1871 but was often delayed due to the tempestuous Oregon winter. Boats bringing materials often had difficulty landing in a cove on the south side of the head. At least two boats were overturned in the surf losing their cargo.

The tower, made from 370,000 bricks from San Francisco, is double walled for insulation and dampness protection. One story, which has circulated for years, tells of a workman falling from the scaffolding into the hallow between the masonry walls where his body could not be retrieved. A fine story, and perhaps an explanation for the ghost, but records show no workers were killed during construction. Strong winds did blow one worker off the cliff. Amazingly, his oils skins acted somewhat like a parachute and he only received minor injuries.