Historic Lighthouses of Oregon!
What horrible spring weather we have been having!
My mind wanders over to the Pacific Ocean beaches and the thousands of memories!
Warm sand, the waves crashing the surf, fires, seagulls,log houses and CRAB!
The entire Oregon coast is a dramatic splendor of beauty.
Your very first visit you are overwhelmed by the vastness and picturesque scenes.
You can begin your trip in Astoria and travel south on Highway 101.
The highway will take you all the way through California.
Each bend and curve in the road provides another vista that takes your breath away.
The summer and early fall of 1980 I traveled the entire coast line.
I took the time to explore the history, beauty and never ending stories.
It was a magical trip.
I now return many times every year.
Living now in eastern Oregon I long for those days again.
I cannot wait until summer to arrive.
Over the years I have painted several Oregon Lighthouses and
hopefully will find the time to complete the collection.
Each lighthouse on the Oregon Coast line has a special story of history.
The construction alone was an amazing feat!
There are only a dozen lighthouses and one lightship along the vast coastline.
Some are still currently active but most have become historic destinations.
Yaquina Lighthouse
The lighthouse was abandoned over a Century ago, and now is on the National Historic Trust.
Considerable confusion centers around the Yaquina Head Lighthouse.
Was it truly constructed in the wrong place or not?
A rumor persisited for years that the son of the building contractor told him in confidence that the materials were off loaded seven miles south of Cape Foulweather.
The rumor was finally rebuffed by George Davidson's 1889 Pacific Coast Pilot:
He wrote:
In the published list of the Light-House Board this light (Yaquina) is designated Cape Foulweather (Yaquina Head). Thus it was carried on the lists as Cape Foulweather but in 1896 LIGHT LIST dropped the Cape Foulweaather and used Yaquina Head as its designation.
I personally loved the story so much that I created the painting from the story.
Below is a part of the painting. The "New" lighthouse!
The original lens is still in place but is now illuminated by a 1,000 watt quartz iodine electric globe.
The ornate tower is 93 feet tall - the tallest on the Oregon Coast.
You can see me painting below the fence on the right as seagulls fly above.
The rock cliffs provide a bird sanctuary for a variety or rare and endangered species.
Take note of the lighthouse keepers front door below.
The two doors create a separate entry for two private living quarters.
The light keepers rotated hours.
The home below was removed from storm damage years ago.
Below is the original lighthouse...The Yaquina Bay Lighthouse.
Built in 1871 and discontinued in 1874.
The Yaquina Head was just more of a first class lighthouse located with in just four miles.
So the light was extinguished.
You can see Mr. Zenor (the last lighthouse keeper) waiting for his family to pick him up.
He is sitting on the steps with a depressed look on his face and holding a sign that states the day and year the "Light went Out"!
The family members are all shown in the white boat.
You can visit this historic site and thanks to the friends of Yaquina Bay Lighthouse Association
they have saved this moment in history for millions of tourists.
The stories of these incredible parts of history
will continue to be saved for many generations to come.
Just like you save the memories of your families...we need to save our historic places for their children.
I hope my stories behind the paintings make you visit somewhere NEW
and find yourself interested in history.
Painting stories is a true "Joy" for me.
The research and study... then the process of designing the story on canvas is similar to completing a puzzle!
Below is the completed painting.
A Great Oregon Story!
The framed piece above measures 31.75" X 26.00".
The image size is 24.00" x 18.25".
The Yaquina Lighthouse Framed Print is this weeks "SPECIAL".
Framed: $250.00
Unframed (Print Only): $125.00 Signed & Personalized.
Just comment below you would like one and we do all the rest!
Offer Expires Sunday April 22, 2018.
Have a Wonderful Weekend!
Your Artist Friend,
Jennifer Lake
