Cape Blanco juts out one-and-a-half miles into the Pacific Ocean from Oregon’s southern coast and terminates in a large headland with 200-foot cliffs along most of its perimeter. These chalky, white cliffs prompted early Spanish explorers to name this landmark, which is the most westerly point in Oregon, Cape Blanco or White Cape.

He was born at Cape Blanco Lighthouse, where his father served as principal keeper for thirty-five years. Choosing the same career for himself, Oscar accepted his first assignment in 1905 to Cape Arago Lighthouse, where met his wife, Marie Amundsen, daughter of the principal keeper.

Charleston, OR Cape Blanco Port Orford, OR Cape Meares Cape Meares, OR. Cleft of the Rock (Cape Perpetua) Yachats, OR Coquille River (Bandon) Bandon, OR Desdemona Sands Astoria, OR. Heceta Head Florence, OR Lightship Columbia WLV 604 Astoria, OR Point Adams Astoria, OR. Tillamook Rock

Cape Arago Lighthouse, Oregon Lighthouses, photographs, pictures, history, location, visitor information, maps, description, hotels, Lighthousefriends.com

The short lighthouse at Cap Blanc overlooks the famed Rocher Perce (Pierced Rock) and Ile Bonaventure. Rocher Perce, one and a half miles to the north of the cape, was named in 1604 by Samuel Champlain, for the small arch at the base of the …

The sixteen-sided, double-balconied Cape Mendocino Lighthouse was bolted to a concrete pad at a height of 422 feet above the sea, making it one of the highest lighthouses in the United States. In fact, after the original Point Loma Lighthouse was discontinued in 1891, Cape Mendocino became the highest lighthouse in the country.

Battery Point Lighthouse, like most of the original eight, was built in a Cape Cod style, with a central brick tower protruding from the roof of a one-and-a-half-story stone keeper’s dwelling. The fourth-order Fresnel lens in the lantern room first illuminated the night sky at Crescent City on December 10, 1856.

The first-order, Louis Sautter & Co. Fresnel lens, which was transferred from Cape Disappointment Lighthouse, was lit for the first time on May 16, 1898. Since North Head is only two miles north of Cape Disappointment, the two lights needed distinct signatures.

When the Coast Guard assumed control of lighthouses in 1939, the keepers could either join the Coast Guard or serve as civilian keepers. Anderson chose the latter option and served at Tillamook Rock and Cape Blanco before transferring to Alki Point in 1950.

The point on which the light stands is nearly an island as the ocean has cut channels into the land both north and south of the lighthouse. One storm, which caused significant erosion to the bluffs around the lighthouse and damaged the lighthouse itself, occurred in February 1960.