Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint
View of Heceta Head Light showing Heceta Head
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| Location | Heceta Head, Florence, Oregon |
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| Coordinates | 44°08′15″N 124°07′40″W / 44.13737°N 124.127835°WCoordinates: 44°08′15″N 124°07′40″W / 44.13737°N 124.127835°W |
| Year first constructed | 1892 |
| Year first lit | 1894 |
| Automated | 1963 |
| Foundation | Natural/emplaced |
| Construction | Brick/stuccoed |
| Tower shape | Conical attached to workroom |
| Height | 56 feet (17 m) |
| Focal height | 205 feet (62 m) |
| Original lens | First order Fresnel lens |
| Range | 21 nautical miles (39 km; 24 mi) |
| Characteristic |
Flash white, 10 seconds |
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Heceta Head Lighthouse and Keepers Quarters
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| Nearest city | Florence, Oregon |
| Area | 3.5 acres (1.4 ha) |
| NRHP Reference # | 78002296 |
| Added to NRHP | November 28, 1978 |
Flash white, 10 seconds
Heceta Head Light is a lighthouse on the Oregon Coast 13 miles (21 km) north of Florence, and 13 miles (21 km) south of Yachats in the United States. It is located at Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint (a state park) midway up a 205-foot-tall (62 m) headland. Built in 1894, the 56-foot (17 m)-tall lighthouse shines a beam visible for 21 nautical miles (39 km; 24 mi), making it the strongest light on the Oregon Coast.
The light is maintained by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, while the assistant lighthouse keepers' house, operated as a bed and breakfast, is maintained by the U.S. Forest Service. The lighthouse is 2 miles (3 km) from Sea Lion Caves.
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 Indians' 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 U.S. 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.
The Heceta Head Lighthouse closed to the public in August 2011 for restoration and repairs. Under the supervision of OPRD preservation architect Sue Licht, a team of more than 100 subcontractors and craftspeople, the majority of whom were from Oregon, removed cement stucco that had sealed in moisture so that the lighthouse could air out in the damp coastal environment. They also replaced and restored the tower’s historic metalwork and masonry, installed new windows, and repaired the lens rotating mechanism. The interior and exterior of the lighthouse were repainted and the original wood floor of the workroom was uncovered and reconditioned. The lighthouse has been returned as much as possible to the way it would have looked in 1894. It was open again after two years on June 8, 2013, when the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department welcomed a group of nearly 100 supporters to Heceta Head State Scenic Viewpoint to celebrate the reopening.
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