Oregon Lighthouses

Built in the second half of the eighteenth century, following Oregon statehood in 1859, all the historic lighthouses were planned to promote coastal fishing and shipping. Many still serve as navigation tools.

A visit to any or all of the lighthouses offers travelers a glimpse into Oregon history as well as a fun day at the beach. Planning a lighthouse visit can be equally rewarding.

Highway 101 stretches over three hundred and fifty miles, and with the exception of Heceta Head, all the lighthouses are located off the main highway.

While it's practically impossible to see them all during one day's drive, the southern half of the drive offers the possibility of a high volume lighthouse day trip.

Nine lighthouses (seven historic and two modern) are located on a 250 mile stretch of the highway between Crescent City, CA and Newport, OR. Taking traffic conditions and the time needed to travel to and from each lighthouse into consideration, the nine lighthouse tour could turn into a ten to twelve hour day trip.

The one lighthouse per day option is available for anyone interested in exploring one specific area.

Two additional private lighthouses also shine along the coast. Oregon's newest lighthouse, Pelican Bay Lighthouse, pictured above, shines on Brookings Harbor, Oregon's southern most coastal commmunity. The lighthouse was added to a private residence and became operational in 1999.

Prior to that time, a former lighthouse keeper decided to add a lighthouse, called Cleft of the Rock Lighthouse, to his home, south of the central Oregon coastal community of Yachats. The lighthouse is only visible from mile post 166 on Oregon's Highway 101, between the Heceda Head and Yaquina Bay lighthouses.

Please select a lighthouse in the box on the right to learn more. They are listed in geographical order, from the northernmost lighthouse, Tillamook Rock, to the southernmost lighthouse, Cape Blanco.

It gets windy on the coast, so remember to bring a hat or scarf.

© 2008-2011 Patricia A. Michaels