Welcome to Newport...
The discovery of oysters first drew attention to this area in the mid-1800’s and today the city’s economy is based on fishing, wood products production, a commercial center, and tourism. But it’s the beaches that make this place special. The beaches of Newport are many and each has unique qualities. Cobble Beach with its tide pools and smooth round cobbles, South Beach with its secluded dunes, Agate Beach with its miles of unspoiled sand and surfing opportunities, and Nye Beach with its art and history, are just a few beaches where you can fly a kite, build a sandcastle, tickle a sea urchin or catch a wave. Nye Beach is an especially pedestrian friendly, handicapped accessible neighborhood, offering a variety of lodging options, restaurants, gift shops, art galleries, services and performing arts, along with plenty of oceanfront parking.
Newport was officially founded on July 4, 1866 and you can learn about its pioneering settlers and its Native American Siletz tribe history by visiting the log cabin that houses the Oregon Coast History Center, while the area’s Victorian era history can be explored at The Burrows House (circa 1895.) See how life has progressed over the years by taking a walking tour along Newport’s historic one mile bay front and enjoy art galleries, gift shops, restaurants, and seafood markets along with the commercial fish processing plants that handle the day’s catch.
The Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, now a historical museum and gift shop, was built in 1871 and is Newport's oldest building. It was decommissioned in 1874 after the construction of the Yaquina Head Lighthouse. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places the Yaquina Head Lighthouse is the only lighthouse in Oregon with attached living quarters. As Oregon's last remaining historic wooden lighthouse, it’s also Oregon’s tallest lighthouse at 93 feet.
The Yaquina Head “Outstanding Natural Area”, three miles north of Newport, was dedicated as such by Congress in 1980. It offers visitors trails to explore, an official interpretive center and the first wheelchair accessible, human-constructed tidepools in the world at Quarry Cove. View gray whales, harbor seals, and the largest variety of resident and migrating seabirds on the coast. Further your aquatic education by visiting The Oregon Coast Aquarium, one of the top 10 aquariums in the country, with its extensive indoor and outdoor exhibits and a walk-through seabird aviary. The Mark O. Hatfield Marine Science Center is the hub of Oregon State University's coastal research where you can explore the geology of the ocean floor, learn about coastal hazards such as earthquakes and tsunamis and actually touch interesting sea creatures, including live octopus. And for those who want to get out onto the briny and feel the salt spray firsthand, there are whale watching tours, marine tours and sport fishing excursions.
Visitor Information
Elevation: 177 feet
Population: 9,500 people
County: Lincoln
Zip Code: 97365
