FROM TOP: MANUELA DURSON; MELANIE GRIFFIN / EUGENE, CASCADES & COAST LIGHTHOUSES The region’s most emblematic structures are the lighthouses that dot the coastline. These beacons of light offer a glimpse into the past and punctuate views of the stunning seascape. Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, affectionately known as “Terrible Tilly” for its grueling construction amid raging seas, sits perched on an abandoned rock about a mile off the beach near Ecola State Park, which also offers the best views of the structure. The 56-foot-tall (17-m) Heceta Head Lighthouse north of Florence dates back to 1893 and, like a number of coastal lighthouses, is still operating today. It’s special not only for its stellar views and iconic addition to a sunset silhouette; visitors can also stay at the former lightkeeper’s home, which has been converted into a bed-and-breakfast. Just south of Reedsport, the Umpqua River Lighthouse is worth a visit for its unique red-and-white lights. Come evening, they cast a dazzling rotating light show out toward the horizon. The youngster on the Coast, though closed to the public, is the Cape Arago Lighthouse near North Bend, built in 1934. Its Fresnel lens is on display in the Coos History Museum. Cape Blanco Lighthouse near Port Orford doubles as a whale-watching viewpoint. Open seasonally, this lighthouse dates back to 1870 and is the oldest operating lighthouse in the state. Cape Blanco Lighthouse Heceta Head Lighthouse 8 VISITTHEOREGONCOAST.COM
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