Building Oregon
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Work provided by University of Oregon

The Look-Out on Cape Foulweather (Otter Rock, Oregon)

Creator Display
  • George Horace Wardner, Jr. (architect, 1905-1947)
  • Don Jarmen (builder/contractor)
Date
  • 1937
Description
  • Built in 1937, it is improbably perched on a knobby promontory on the jagged south flank of Cape Foulweather, 453 feet above the Pacific Ocean. This secondary headland is commonly known as Otter Crest, a name also appropriated by Oregon Parks and Recreation Department for the adjacent State Scenic Viewpoint. The Look-Out was built and operated by Wilbur “Buck” and Anna Badley. The business began briefly as the Foulweather Coffee Shop, but soon shifted into a very successful gift shop when the Badleys realized people were most interested in purchasing souvenirs of their visit to the coast.  Upon the completion of the Roosevelt Coast Military Highway (U.S. 101) in 1932 and associated bridges in 1936, tourists could more easily travel and visit sites along the Pacific Ocean. The Look-Out is an excellent example of an isolated entrepreneurial venture along the central coast that capitalized on the public investment based upon the urging and support of the citizens of Oregon. This building is also associated with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Beach Patrol, which operated in Oregon from 1942 to 1944.  After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the coastline was considered vulnerable to attack and constant surveillance was vital to protect the U.S. from further attacks.  The Look-Out was a strategic vantage point from which to watch for enemy invasion. Six men from the Coast Guard resided in The Look-Out to help defend the coast during this period of time.  A place for visitors to enjoy spectacular views, watch for whales and other sea life, and purchase souvenirs of their travels to the central Oregon coast, The Look-Out is now an Oregon State Park facility that continues to provide unique experiences for those who travel to see the Pacific Ocean and all that it has to offer.
View
  • Interior view of daylight basement floor, kitchen area, camera facing west
View Date
  • 2014-05
Temporal
  • 1930-1939
Biographical Information
  • George H. Wardner, Jr., was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1905. He received a B.A. in Architecture from the University of Oregon in 1929. After work with Cram and Ferguson in Boston, Wardner returned to Portland to work for former classmate Glen Stanton. From 1938 on, he was employed by the firm Sutton, Whitney and Aandahl, and specialized in church designs, including the First Methodist Church, McMinnville. Wardner died on January 5, 1947.
Street Address
  • 4905 Otter Crest Loop, Otter Rock, Oregon 97431
Material
  • Concrete, Weatherboard, Steel
Use Restrictions
  • This image was included in the documentation to support a nomination to the National Register of Historic Places, a program of the National Park Service. The image is provided here by the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office and the University of Oregon Libraries to facilitate scholarship, research, and teaching. For other uses, such as publication, contact the State Historic Preservation Office. Please credit the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office when using this image.
Rights Holder
  • Oregon. State Historic Preservation Office
Identifier
  • OR_LincolnCounty_TheLook-OutonCapeFoulweather_022
Source
Citation
Submission Date
  • 06/30/2015
Modified
  • 08/02/2022
Collections

APA

Building Oregon, University of Oregon. (18 Apr 2024). The Look-Out on Cape Foulweather (Otter Rock, Oregon) Retrieved from https://oregondigital.org/concern/images/df68gm889

MLA

Building Oregon, University of Oregon. "The Look-Out on Cape Foulweather (Otter Rock, Oregon)" Oregon Digital. 18 Apr 2024. https://oregondigital.org/concern/images/df68gm889

Chicago

Building Oregon, University of Oregon. "The Look-Out on Cape Foulweather (Otter Rock, Oregon)" Oregon Digital. Accessed 2024-04-18. https://oregondigital.org/concern/images/df68gm889

Wiki

{{cite web | url= https://oregondigital.org/concern/images/df68gm889 | title= The Look-Out on Cape Foulweather (Otter Rock, Oregon) |author= |accessdate= 2024-04-18 |publisher= }}
Data Sources
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