Cape Blanco (1870)... The imposing Cape Blanco Lighthouse merits superlatives. It is Oregon's oldest continuously working lighthouse and its southernmost major beacon. Radiating from a lofty headland, the brilliant white light shines from the highest point (245 feet above sea level) of any navigational aid in the Beaver State. Cape Blanco is north-west of the small, quiet seaside town of Port Orford on the southern Oregon coast.

The first order Fresnel lens with its one-million candlepower flashes could be seen from 22 miles at sea.

Oregon's oldest, was first activated in 1870 and continues to operate to the present day. The 59-foot white conical tower stands on a high cliff 245 feet above sea level just north of Port Orford. Cape Blanco is Oregon's highest sentinel on the most westerly point in the continental United States and can be seen from 22 miles away.

Today, only the tower remains of the original station buildings and the lighthouse has been renovated to pristine condition thanks to a small army of enthusiastic volunteers. There's a small museum and historical display at the entrance . During the summer months the lighthouse is open to visitors with free guided tours...BUT only on Thursday through Sunday.

The first lighting of the Cape Blanco light occurred December 20th 1870. It was the third light for the Oregon Coast,however the first two have long been gone and Cape Blanco still stands with it's record of continuously showing the safe passage of ships from that date to this.

The light has been absent for some months as the renovations of this light that have been going on since September 2002 made it necessary to disassemble and remove it for repairs of it and the tower.

The class 2 eight segments bulls eye revolving lens, that replaced the original lenses in1934, has undergone extensive refurbishing and awaits the instillation of the new roof before being reconstructed back into the tower and once again re-lighted. the tower is being repainted and structures reinforced to repair the cracks in the towers upper wall that threatened collapse.

All the windows are being replaced in the tower to complete the water leak repairs. the greeting center is now open and regular tours should start in a few weeks when repairs are completed. Frank Cramer Port Orford, Oregon

Cape Blanco thrusts out 1.5 miles into the Pacific Ocean of Oregon's southern coast.	The bricks used in Cape Blanco's construction were made right there at the cape.
Cape Blanco stands on 47.7 acres of land	Jules Verne mentions Cape Blanco in his novel, "The Begum's Millions"
Cape Blanco's main mission is to ward off ships from the reef.	Cape Blanco sports a 1,000-watt incandescent Fresnel lighting system.
At Cape Blanco the land is rising at a rate of several millimeters per year.	A pause during our walk at the Cape Blanco, Oregon Lighthouse