Cape Blanco Light

Port Orford, Oregon


Cape Blanco is the southernmost of Oregon's lights. It is also the oldest original tower in Oregon. The light was proposed in 1864, and a first-order lens was ordered from Henri LaPaute, of Paris. The light was finally lit for the first time on December 20, 1870.

Today, the 59 foot tower stands on restricted Coast Guard grounds near Cape Blanco State Park. In 1936 the original lens was replaced with a Second Order rotating fresnel. In 1992, vandals broke into the lantern room and smashed several sections of the lens, including one of the eight bull's-eyes. Two years later, after nearly $20,000 in repairs, Cape Blanco's fresnel shone again.

Access to the light is restricted, but the gates are opened daily April 1st to October 31st..