Nesika Beach is a community located at the south end of the Nesika strand, and the site of the Geisel Monument, about 6 miles (10 km) north of Gold Beach and 4 miles (6 km) south-southeast of Ophir, Oregon. The community and beach are named after the Native American word for “our.” In 1854, John and Christina Geisel settled nearby on a bluff overlooking the ocean. Their house served as a hotel and store.

On the night of February 21, 1856, John Geisel was killed by a band of Rogue River Indians. Their house was ransacked and burned. Christina Geisel and her two daughters were dragged out, bound, and taken captive, while her three sons were killed. Christina and the girls were taken to a Too-toot-nas Indian camp about 12 miles (19 km) up the Rogue River. They were held captive there for 14 days and forced to perform hard, menial labor.

Upon hearing news of the event, residents of the lower Rogue River quickly built a fort north of the river. About 130 people gathered there, selecting Lieutenant Relf Bledsoe as their leader. Six men were killed by Native Americans while attempting to gather potatoes from a nearby cache. The Native Americans warned that anyone caught outside the fort would be killed. After roughly a week, the fort’s occupants learned that the Geisel women were being held captive by the Native Americans. Volunteers were then dispatched to negotiate their release. The Indians agreed to return Christina and her youngest daughter but insisted on keeping the eldest daughter. However, they managed to escape with her, hiding in the forest before making their way to the fort under cover of darkness. The settlers remained at the fort for several more weeks, until they were rescued by U.S. Army troops who marched from Fort Humboldt, California, and Vancouver, Washington. Read more here and here. Explore more of Nesika Beach and Geisel Monument here: