Cape Meares Light

The Cape Meares Light is an inactive lighthouse on the coast of Oregon. It is located on Cape Meares just south of Tillamook Bay. It is open to the public.

Built in 1890, Cape Meares Light served as the light station for Tillamook Bay. When it was built, the lighthouse complex included two keeper's houses, two oil houses, and two cisterns, and was connected to the light by a 1,000-foot (300 m) boardwalk. Later additions included an attached workroom in 1895 and a garage in 1934.^[1] The light itself was iron-plated, and due to its exposure to the elements, it required frequent repainting over the years. No foghorn was ever installed at Cape Meares. In 1934, the light received electricity. Now unnecessary, the oil houses were removed.^[2]

In 1963, the lighthouse was deactivated and replaced by a newer tower.^[1] The following year, the Coast Guard made plans to demolish the light. However, due to public outcry, the plans fell through, and the Coast Guard turned the station over to Tillamook County. The light remained vacant until 1968, when the site was turned over to the Oregon State Parks Department. During this time, vandalism became a major problem for the light. Eventually, the vandalism took its toll on the keeper's quarters and they were subsequently demolished. Among the damage, four of the bulls-eyes in the Fresnel lens were stolen. That same year, the light was opened up to the public and the light was restored, with the exception of the missing bulls-eyes. Since then, three of the four missing bulls-eyes have been recovered.^[3] The bull's-eye of Cape Meares Light produced light visible for 21 miles. Four sides of the 8-sided lens were covered with red glass, which produced an alternating red and white beam as the light turned.^[4] In 1980, the tower itself was opened to the public.^[2]

The structure was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993.^[5]

The U.S. Coast Guard permanently switched off Cape Meares Light (LLNR 675) on Wednesday, June 25, 2014, as it is no longer considered necessary for safe navigation of the seacoast.^[6]

في الفترة ما بين 9 و10 يناير/كانون الثاني 2010، قام مخربون بقيادة مركبة على طريق مغلق باتجاه منطقة مشاهدة المنارة، وأطلقوا النار مما أدى إلى تحطيم 15 نافذة وإلحاق أضرار جسيمة بعدسة فرينل التاريخية التي صُنعت في باريس عام 1888، وقُدّرت تكاليف إصلاحها لاحقاً بأكثر من 500 ألف دولار. كما أصابت طلقات إضافية منارة ومعدات تابعة لخفر السواحل كانت معطلة، وقام المشتبه بهم أيضاً بتخريب الأراضي العشبية المجاورة. ^{[ 7 ]}

أُلقي القبض على رجلين من أوشنسيد ، هما زاكاري جون بايل (23 عامًا) وديفيد ريجين ويلكس جونيور (26 عامًا)، بعد شهر من الحادثة. ^{[ 8 ]} في البداية، عُرضت مكافأة قدرها 1000 دولار، ثم ارتفعت إلى 6000 دولار عند إلقاء القبض عليهما. أُدين الرجلان، اللذان اعترفا بأنهما كانا في حالة سكر، وأُمرا بدفع 100000 دولار كتعويض، وقضاء ثلاث فترات سجن مدة كل منها 16 يومًا على مدى ثلاث سنوات، تبدأ كل منها في 27 ديسمبر، ذكرى حادثة التخريب. وصف الرجلان ما فعلاه بأنه أغبى شيء فعلاه في حياتهما. ^{[ 9 ]}

لقد شكل منارة كيب ميرز مصدر إلهام للمنارة الموجودة في بلدة أركاديا باي الخيالية من لعبة الفيديو السردية والمغامرات Life Is Strange لعام 2015 .

• قائمة المنارات على ساحل ولاية أوريغون
• قوائم السجل الوطني للأماكن التاريخية في مقاطعة تيلاموك، أوريغون

• موقع كيب ميرز الإلكتروني