Sorry it has been so long since I posted anything, very busy, but that is no excuse, I will definitely stay on top of this in the future. Continuing the lighthouse tour, this is Heceta Head Lighthouse, just north of Florence, it is just beautiful, one of the most photographed spots in all of Oregon. The lighthouse is currently undergoing a complete renovation, should be done by next Spring/Summer, will definitely take a trip over to see the finished product.
Take care, as always, more to follow......
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Heceta
Head Lighthouse
(March 30, 1894)
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Named
after the Spanish Explorer Don Bruno de Heceta, the Heceta Head Lighthouse
towers 205 feet above the Pacific Ocean. This lighthouse is one of our
favorites because of the amazing view of the ocean. This site was purchased
in 1889, and five years later on March 30, 1894, the light was lit by
Andrew Hald, Heceta Head's first principal keeper.
Unlike a number of the other lighthouses on the Oregon coast, Heceta Head
Lighthouse doesn't offer stories of life and death. Several families had
the opportunity to call Heceta Head their home. The children all attended
school together in a single-room, as travel around Heceta Head was somewhat
minimal due to its remote location. However, this all changed soon after
the highway was completed between Florence
and Yachats
in 1932. Nearby, there is a bridge over Cape Creek and a tunnel that makes
its way through the hillside. A couple years later, electricity finally
arrived at the lighthouse and the lamp was replaced with a bulb.
Probably
the most excitement for Heceta Head was during World War II, when the Coast
Guard sent 75 men to this station to word against prospective Japanese
attacks. Besides that, there really isn't much to tell. Don't let that stop
you from visiting this icon of Oregon's past. This structure has been
renovated and offers an enjoyable afternoon high above the sea.
Heceta Head Lighthouse is above the Lion Caves - 12 miles north of Florence
off Highway 101. Look for the road to Devil's Elbow State Park around
milepost 178. You will have about a half mile walk up a hill from the park.
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