Heceta Head Lighthouse is at an elevation of 205 feet (62 m), on the Heceta headland, 13 miles (21 km) north of Florence, and 13 miles (21 km) south of Yachats, Oregon. The site is now the Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint. The lighthouse was built in 1894, and shines a beam visible for 21 nautical miles (39 km), making it the strongest light on the Oregon Coast.
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.
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. Read more here and here. Explore more of Heceta Head here:
