It is claimed that Heceta Head is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world - whilst that claim is difficult to verify, it's certainly one of the most recognisable landmarks in the State of Oregon, and is an incredibly photogenic and picturesque symbol of the iconic Pacific Highway (US Route 101), one of the most scenic coastal routes in the United States, and a popular tourist route for those wishing to experience this incredibly beautiful coast.

Built in 1894, the tower sits atop an approximately 200ft cliff. The tower is perhaps exactly what one might imagine a lighthouse ought to look like. The lighthouse is almost a twin of the lighthouse found at Umpqua River, further south on the Oregon Coast - both were built from the same plans, just altered slightly to suit their particular sites.

What perhaps makes Heceta Head so appealing to artists, photographers and tourists is its setting. Nestled against a backdrop of pine forest, on a sheer cliff, visible from a number of vantage points on adjacent headlands along the route, it stands out, with the tower and oil house standing separate from the accommodation where the keepers once lived, located higher up the cliff face in a more exposed position along a short trail approximately a quarter of a mile long. The best views of the lighthouse are probably best achieved by reaching the light's focal height, by following the steeper and more rugged trail from near the base of the lighthouse, which gradually climbs the hillside until you are eye-level with the lantern room, looking down at the buildings.

Following the electrification of the light in 1934, fewer lighthouse keepers were required to man the station. Like at many lighthouses around the US, the automation process resulted in several buildings that were surplus to requirements being removed. The principal keeper's house was demolished in 1940, however the assistant keepers' duplex was retained and has been sympathetically restored to serve as a B&B and small museum relating to the lighthouse, operated on behalf of the U.S. Forest Service, which owns the house.

When the lighthouse was automated in 1963, the Coast Guard granted the State of Oregon a license to use and operate the lighthouse. The light has continued to operate under various State departments since, starting with the Oregon Department of Transportation, passing to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department in 1994. In 2001 the Coast Guard transferred their last assets and structures at the site over to the Parks and Recreation Department.

In June 2000, the machinery that rotates the giant Chance Brothers lens stopped working, and the Coast Guard was reluctant to repair the light. After community pressure and public outcry the Coast Guard did repair the lens; it was removed on February 25th 2001 and was returned and operational again by March 15th, at a cost of $42,000 at the time. Immediately after this costly work, the Coast Guard transferred operation of the light to the Parks and Recreation Department, who have since restored and maintained the tower.