Loading map...

1956 Map of Heceta Head

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Heceta Head
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

The Heceta Head Lighthouse stands as a primary landmark along the central Oregon coast, marking a dramatic landscape of sea caves and shifting sands. This mid-century survey captures the region as development began to touch the shoreline through the Coast Highway, connecting small coastal communities like Searose Beach and Roosevelt Beach. The interior is dominated by the dense timberlands of the Siuslaw National Forest, where high points such as Herman Peak and Fairview Mtn overlook a complex network of drainages including Tenmile Creek and Big Creek.

A striking feature of this area is the transition from the high, rocky cliffs at Sea Lion Point to the expansive Sand Dunes further south near Heceta Beach. Inland, several large freshwater bodies like Mercer Lake and Sutton Lake are visible, separated from the Pacific by these massive dune structures. These lakes, along with the Sutton Lake Recreation Area and Darlingtonia State Park, highlight the era's focus on conservation and public recreation within the unique coastal ecosystem of Lane Co.