Umpqua River Lighthouse & Museum


Hi Everyone


You haven't heard from us in the last few days since we were busy working.  Ok, not really working but volunteering.

This past Thursday was a training day and Friday - Sunday were actual work days.  The work is not hard and it is very enjoyable.  People march into the Gift shop to browse or shop.  Our job is to "take their money".  Using of the cash register or the credit card device.  The great news is that we're now off for six days.



















 The Museum is on the two floors above the Gift shop.  This is a self-guided tour.  The Lighthouse tour is our primary "job".  This is the one we actually take them on discussing various things along the way.  Starting with the building we just left.  It was the actual U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters from 1939 - 1968.  It housed 16 personnel except during WWII, when 100 personnel were housed here, and the adjacent building.























The lighthouse can be seen in the background.  It is approximately 3 blocks away.  Not seen here and due to lack of depth loss, Base Housing for the Coast Guard and their families actually is between the last building with garage doors and the Lighthouse.






The following set of pictures are from inside the lighthouse and actually from inside the "lens" itself:







These are the actual prisms making up the First Order of the Fresnel Lens.  4,000lbs. of glass.  The prisms above the "circles" or Bullseyes, reflect the light downward while those below the Bullseye, reflect upward culminating on a beam of light going out through the Bullseye 21 miles out to sea.  Actually the light continues on to space; but due to curvature of the earth, it can only be seen up to 21 miles.  What makes this lens more special is the fact that it is the only remaining "Red & White" First Order Lens remaining in the World. You just read a portion of the information we present on our tour.  (Please send checks to……) 


The weather has been outstanding.  Highs in the 60s and lows in the high 40s and low 50s.  Pretty typical of the Oregon Coast weather.  We will post additional pics as we begin to explore this area.





Comments

  1. very interesting...and pretty in there.

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  2. You guys must be pinching yourselves to see if you are dreaming. How lucky you are to have such a "job" and so much time off to enjoy the amazing surrounding area not to mention your perfect RV site. Glad you are having fun giving tours; you sure have an opportunity to share interesting factoids. Hope you aren't making anything up along the way!
    hal

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