Guiding You Home

Heceta Head Lighthouse

There are eleven lighthouses along the Oregon Coast, several of which I have visited. They are designed to help with navigation for boats and ships on the sea where it might be easy to get disoriented or crash into rugged coastlines. They act as a warning system and help sea-going vessels identify locations. I often relate them to being beacons of light in the dark, guidance systems for lost souls.

Today we visited Heceta Head, an active lighthouse near Florence, Oregon on rainy afternoon. I always say the Oregon Coast is beautiful but moody. No matter the weather, the vistas are stunning, but there’s something about the deep emerald cliffs against the gray sky and waves that reminds us that there is a need for all kinds of weather to make the coast as spectacular as it is. Heceta Head Lighthouse was first lit in 1894 and was named after the Spanish explorer, Bruno de Heceta. It’s on the list of National Historic Places and the former lightkeeper’s house is now a bed and breakfast. Below the lighthouse is a stunning, rocky beach that you access under the Cape Creek Bridge. Rain or shine, it’s worth a stop. After our visit today, I was reminded that we all have a guidance system when we need to find our way home. The light is always on.