Tillamook Rock Lighthouse
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
Eugene, Oregon
December 29, 2017 11:17am CST
This may well be the strangest and most hazardous lighthouse in the land. Built in 1879, it sits a little over a mile offshore, 20 miles south of the Columbia River. It was the most expensive lighthouse ever built. There was no suitable site onshore, so they chose a large basalt rock for this beacon to help guide ships around the dangers or Tillamook Head. As you might see from the photo, it had reason to be called "Terrible Tillie."
It operated for eighty years and was decommissioned in 1957 and is now a wildlife sanctuary, though for a while it was a columbarium (where cremated human remains are laid to rest).
Our Public Broadcasting station had an interview with a sailor who was stationed there (crew of 20 or so) and it was fascinating.
Here is a link to watch it online (I hope it works):
If you copy and paste, the link will work.
A look at how the isolated, storm-battered lighthouse on Tillamook Rock earned the nickname
16 people like this
16 responses
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
29 Dec 17
No kidding! Once the sailor they interviewed was transferred he was happy to be sent to Hawaii, but the ship he was assigned to was an ice breaker headed for the arctic.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (238275)
• Walnut Creek, California
29 Dec 17
@JamesHxstatic Heh. A little different from Hawaii.
2 people like this
@kobesbuddy (78833)
• East Tawas, Michigan
29 Dec 17
@TheHorse Sand sifting between one's toes, that brings a whole lot more security!
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
29 Dec 17
Simply astounding and fascinating James!! What a beauty she is.
And the waves climbing all around..I loved this, thanks for the excellent share.
I wonder if this is where the cheese is made the Tilamook Cheese..well not at the light house but nearby on land.
4 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
29 Dec 17
Yes, Tillamook, Oregon is a bit north on the coast there. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (189792)
• Boise, Idaho
29 Dec 17
Very interesting. Thanks for sharing.
3 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (54714)
• United States
29 Dec 17
That looks fascinating. Thanks for sharing
3 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
29 Dec 17
I wouldn't want to be the lighthouse keeper there. But close to cheese.
3 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
29 Dec 17
True, not far from the town of Tillamook.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
29 Dec 17
Oregon has some great ones on land too, but this one that sat a mile offshore seems crazy.
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
29 Dec 17
I am sure it is from a distance.
1 person likes this
@KristenH (33591)
• Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
30 Dec 17
@JamesHxstatic It's a nice image to see.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
30 Dec 17
@KristenH It really is and spectacular in video as well.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
29 Dec 17
It really is, but very hard to get to these days.
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
30 Dec 17
@JudyEv No, Not really. I have not been that close, but will next time I am up that way.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381810)
• Rockingham, Australia
30 Dec 17
@JamesHxstatic Is it hard just to get opposite it on the mainland?
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (28366)
• Singapore
31 Dec 17
Very interesting. Watched the video and the waves were way on top of the lighthouse and lucky the staff lived through them. Now people have smartphones to pass the time and communicate but they managed without such tools we take for granted - siva
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
31 Dec 17
The Pacific Ocean along this northern coast can be wild and cold.
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43567)
• Denver, Colorado
4 Jan 18
I didn't know eagles hunted other birds. Interesting. My girlfriend is very familiar with the place. Neat!
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78833)
• East Tawas, Michigan
29 Dec 17
I'd love to visit that light-house! It fascinates me, standing under those conditions, for over 100 years!
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
29 Dec 17
It is pretty inaccessible these days. In the documentary, the crew had to be lifted onto the rock.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (78833)
• East Tawas, Michigan
29 Dec 17
@JamesHxstatic So it's dangerous to travel to this place, being transported to this rock, living on this rock, or even leaving this rock! Whew, I'll stick to viewing these photos:)
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (59645)
• Philippines
30 Dec 17
I'd visit the place given the chance but I won't stay overnight.
1 person likes this
@Aquitaine24 (12000)
• San Jose, California
19 Sep 18
That is a nice photo of the waves crashing into the lighthouse.
