The lighthouses really are a cool piece of history and some are definitely worth checking out! Let me just finish by saying our big takeaway was that we’re glad they are now protected by the National Register of Historic Places. We saw how they moved from using lard oil, to kerosene and then to electricity. We learned all about the glass making (in France) of the Fresnel lenses, and the difference between a first order light and a fourth. We did find it interesting that every one had a different take on what was needed to preserve and maintain, and that many of our “modern” fixes actually hurt the structure of the towers as described in this signage from the Heceta Head lighthouse where they say spraying gunite on the corbels actually caused more damage. Some are managed by the BLM, some by state parks, and some still owned by the Coast Guard. It was very interesting to see the similarities and the differences – especially in how they’re being taken care of now. Even after they took out the battery, the alarm continued to shriek throughout the night. One recalls the smoke detector going off in the middle of the night. Former residents claimed that they experienced a host of unusual things while living there. So we made it! We “captured” all nine of Oregon’s standing lighthouses. Stories about the Heceta Head Lighthouse first popped up during the 1950s. They had tour guides stationed at different areas, but by this point we knew all about the lenses and light-keepers duties and the difficulties faced building in such remote (in their time) areas. It’s amazing how those prisms work and how powerful they are. This was the first lighthouse where we were actually allowed to walk up the stairs and poke our heads into the glass area. Yaquina Head is the tallest tower at ninety-three feet. When we got down to the Newport area, there were two lighthouses: Yaquina Head and Yaquina Bay. You can barely see it on top of the “tiny” rock. But I checked the second of the nine off my list! Although the pictures aren’t much. Again there were no tours and only minimal information along the hike. To get the best view we had to hike to a lookout point in Ecola State Park. It is on a rock over a mile off the coastline and inaccessible – partly because it’s privately owned. The northernmost lighthouse on the Oregon coast was next on the list: Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, nicknamed Terrible Tilly. I knew we were going down the entire Oregon coast, so why not stop at every one?
Not long after that I found a brochure describing all nine of the Oregon lighthouses.
Port orford to hecta head lighthouse free#
Parking is $5 or free with a valid state parks pass.Lighthouses and forts in cape disappointment & washington March-May and October: Friday–Monday, 11 a.m. A beautiful half mile walk through a coastal forest takes you to the lighthouse and keeper's house. From the beach, you can observe seals and sea lions or wander in search of tidal pools and natural caves. A picnic area sits near the parking area and fishing is available right from the beach. While I enjoy this area most at night, day provides the best opportunities to enjoy the entire park. pick up your rental car and drive the I5 to Port Orford Oregon. Comfy, clean and quiet with easy beach access from the hotel, plenty parking nearby, the elevator was never a problem. 1 Best Value of 193 places to stay in Florence. At night, this quiet piece of the Oregon coast gains a magical quality as the sound of distant crashing waves mixes with the sight of stars overhead and the steady movement of the lighthouse's beam. HECETA HEAD LIGHTHOUSE FUN FACTS most visited lighthouse in the United States 56. Driftwood Shores Resort & Conference Center. Above the sandy beach and sea stacks, rises the Heceta Head Lighthouse, a 100-year-old+ structure that's been laboriously restored and kept in working condition. Heceta Head features a beautiful beach teaming with photographic opportunities and the brightest lighthouse on the Oregon coast.Īt the mouth of Cape Creek sits a beautiful cove with one of the best views in Oregon.