Heceta Head Lighthouse

Heceta Head is named after the Spanish explorer Bruno de Heceta, who explored the Pacific Northwest during the late 18th century. Before him, Heceta Head was a spot of frequent fishing and hunting by the Native American tribes that populated the area. Heceta Head is part of the Siuslaw' traditional lands, known in their language as ɫtúwɪs. They hunted sea lions in the area and gathered sea bird eggs from the offshore rocks. It was also the site of a legend — the Animal People built a great stone wall, which is now the cliffs, and tricked the Grizzly Bear brothers to their deaths there. In 1888, white settlers moved into the area and claimed 164 acres (66 ha) of the surrounding land. That same year, the United States Lighthouse Service approved the building of the lighthouse, and the government bought 19 acres (7.7 ha), out of the 164 acres (66 ha) previously purchased, for the lighthouse structures.

In 1892, a crew of 56 began construction on the site. Because of the site's seclusion, building materials were either shipped in if the weather and tide permitted, or brought from Florence by wagon, the latter usually taking four or five hours. Stones were brought from the Clackamas River and bricks came from San Francisco. The lens system was made by Chance Brothers. Completed in August 1893, the entire project cost $80,000 and consisted of: The lighthouse, Houses for the head lightkeeper the two assistant lightkeepers and their families, A barn, Two kerosene oil storage buildings — if one had caught fire, there was a secondary source. Heceta Head Lightstation is one of the most beautiful, and thus one of the most photographed, lighthouses in the world.

The Heceta Head Lighthouse and Queen Ann style Light Keeper’s home, circa 1894, are both are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Free tours are available of both. The home is now a bed-and-breakfast.

Since March 30, 1894, from its perch 205 feet above the ocean, this 56-foot-tall working lighthouse has cast its beam more than 20 miles out to sea, making it the brightest light on the Oregon coast.

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