The area is named for Captain Don Bruno de Heceta of the Spanish Royal Navy, an explorer whose expedition passed along the Oregon coast around 1775.
I arrived at Heceta Head around 3:00 in the afternoon, drove over the bridge and through the tunnel, and pulled off the highway just south of the light to take the classic shot from a distance. Then I drove back to the parking lot at Devil's Elbow State Park and hiked the trail to the light, past the keeper's house, and up on the hill above the light. I sat there till past sunset, in awe of the rocky coast, Heceta's handsome tower, and the exquisitely beautiful and huge First Order lens.
I must have taken close to 50 photos as the light kept changing. Reluctantly, I climbed down and took one last photo from the beach below.
A fine art print of this lighthouse is available for purchase.
