Name and Location

The Umpqua River Lighthouse, also known as the Winchester Bay Lighthouse, is a privately maintained aid to navigation and maritime museum located at 1020 Lighthouse Road on the north bank of the Umpqua River channel entrance in Winchester Bay, Douglas County, Oregon, USA.

Construction and History

The lighthouse was first lit in 1894 under U.S. Lighthouse Board administration and was initially threatened by erosion. A skeletal replacement was erected in 1896, and the present concrete tower dates back to this period of stabilization and upgrade. The light was automated at some point in the 20th century and remains a private aid to navigation today. In 2008, stewardship of the decommissioned keeper's quarters and tower site passed to the Douglas County Museum Foundation and the Umpqua Valley Museum network.

Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse is a conical tower of poured reinforced concrete, painted white, with a simple utilitarian design typical of late-19th-century West Coast lighthouses. The tower stands 50 feet tall, with a focal height of approximately 52 feet above mean high water.

Light and Navigation

The light characteristic is Group flashing, with two flashes followed by one flash every 15 seconds. The nominal range is 21 nautical miles. The U.S. Coast Guard Light List number is 620/9220, and NOAA Nautical Charts cover the entrance on Chart 18524 (Coos Bay to Cape Arago).

Accessibility and Visiting

The museum is open seasonally (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day), with admission fees and guided tours offered by the Umpqua Valley Museums. The grounds and museum are accessible, with restrooms, a small gift shop, picnic area, and on-site amenities.

Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse overlooks the Umpqua River jetties, expansive coastal sand dunes, and the Pacific Ocean surf. Nearby points of interest include the Sea Lion Caves to the north, Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, and the town of Reedsport.

Further Information

For further information on visiting hours, fees, and exhibits, please visit the Umpqua Valley Museums website at https://umpquavalleymuseums.org/museums/umpqua-river-lighthouse/.