Hatfield Marine Science Center

In Newport there are two "aquarium's", the Oregon Coast Aquarium and the Hatfield Marine Science Center. According to TripAdvisor they recommend the Science center over the commercial Aquarium. We've done many aquariums.

Oregon State University Marine Science Center

We first decided to walk out on the Port of Newport public fishing pier.

Public Fishing Pier

Most people were not fishing, but crabbing. They had several types of crab cages, but these crab nets were the most prevalent. They would tie a piece of fish on the bottom, put a rock in it for weight and through it in.

Crab Net

After just 10 -15 minutes they would pull the nets up. Where we were standing they would usually pull one or two crabs.

Mr. Crabby

We then went to the Hatfield Marine Center. This was named after the late Republican Oregon Senator Mark Hatfield. There is no fee to visit, but they do recommend a $5.00 per person donation. The Oregon Coast Aquarium is $18.95 per person. 

This old submarine was used to find treasure in a shipwreck in Yaqiuna Bay by local law enforcement. Yaquina is pronounced  (Ya-Kwinn-A). There was no treasure in the shipwreck and the submarine got stuck in the rocks. It was not used again and was donated to the Science Center.

Submarine at Hatfield

They have an octopus on display in this tank.

Octopus tank

The lighting is not great for the photo, but you can see the tentacles.

Octopus in bottom right

They had a bunch of hands on displays and fish tanks, here is a hands on tidepool display with sea stars (star fish), sea anemone and other tidepool sea animals.

Tidepools

At 11:00 a guided tour of the center's estuary was led by the intern you can see in the above picture. It was about a 1/2 mile walk through paved and unpaved trails including the mud flats.

Here we are standing in the mud flats. You had to keep the feet shuffling or you would start sinking and water would start accumulating. The tour guide is using a 'shrimp gun' to draw shrimp out of the mud.

Shrimping

She found several. She said shrimpers use these guns to harvest shrimp to eat.

Shrimp

Don't judge me! It's not what you think! Yes weed is involved. No I'm not smoking it!

There is a grass here called Pickle-weed. It thrives in salt water. The tour guide said it actually tastes like pickles. She took a bite and gave us all some. I'm tentatively taking a bite. It just came out looking bad! I can't trust Patty with the camera! :)

Is it legal?

Not sure if the Pickle-Weed actually tasted like pickles. It was certainly salty. I ended up spitting it out. At least I tried it! Patty did too, but she had the camera! Fear Factor here we come....

We then decided to go to the Yaquina Bay Lighthouse which is not the same as the Yaquina Head Lighthouse that we went to earlier in the week.

Yaquina Bay Lighthouse

The Yaquina Bay Lighthouse was opened three years earlier then the Yaquina Head lighthouse. The problem was that the light could not be seen except from straight out. After three years they closed it and opened the Head Lighthouse which is still in use.

We parked in the park and walked to it. It was a nice walk.

Lighthouse

It turns out we were walking up from the back of the lighthouse. Good news that the gate in the back was open.

Back of Lighthouse

This is really a lighthouse. Notice that it is a house with a light built into the roof of it. Very unusual to the type of lighthouses we are used to. There are actually three stories of living quarters, plus a basement.

Lighthouse Parlor

These stairs are going to the third floor of the house. There is just one bedroom on the third floor. From there you need to climb a ladder to get to the lens.

Stairwell

The ladder to get the the light is blocked off. The third floor is as high as you can get.

Ladder to light

Here is a view of the harbor entrance from the lighthouse. Notice the two jetty's to keep the waves out and keep sandbars from forming.

Harbor Entrance

Here is the front of the lighthouse. It was going to be demolished in 1946 but Newport would not allow that. It was saved. What a blessing!

Front of Lighthouse

Just down the path from the lighthouse is the Fisherman's memorial for those lost at sea.

Fisherman's Memorial

Many family and friends leave flowers and pictures on the memorial of those that have died.

Memorial

Here is a picture of the Newport bridge from the other side. We just really like this picture and wanted to post it. The Newport bridge was opened in 1934 so it is actually pretty old. No wonder it is so classic looking!

Newport Bridge

That's it for today,

Miss you all and love you,

Also Happy Birthday to Cynthia today! 

God Bless,

Brian and Patty