Red Roads State Pages

Florence

1. Heceta Head Lighthouse

2. Sea Lion Caves

Newport
        Oregon Coast Aquarium

Portland
        Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

Florence

    Heceta Head Lighthouse

    While we were in Florence in April 2003, we learned that tours of Heceta Head Lighthouse were to be given on a Sunday afternoon. This was unusual for that time of year and we were glad to take advantage of the opportunity for a visit. The lighthouse is located about 12 miles north of Florence on Hwy 101 in a state park. From the picnic area, we had a view of the assistant keepers' duplex. Built in 1893, the house underwent a four-year restoration in the early 1980's and is now operated as an interpretive center during the day and a bed and breakfast at night. From the uphill trail to the lighthouse, we could see the 619-foot Cape Creek Bridge over which we had just driven. Constructed in 1932, it is just one of the historic bridges we crossed on the Oregon Coast Highway (Route 101). You can read more about them at the Oregon Department of Transportation website.

    We met a volunteer docent near one of the two oil houses. She told us a lot about the history and structure of the light. We climbed the 56-foot high tower, pausing to enjoy the view. In the lantern room, we inspected the beautiful first-order Fresnel lens, first used here in 1894. Made up of 640 prisms, the lens weighs more than a ton. From its perch 205 feet above the Pacific Ocean, the now-automated beacon can be seen 21 miles out at sea. In early 2001, major repair work was completed to re-level the rotating lens mechanism. Lighthouse Digest published an article about the repair project. 

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    Sea Lion Caves

    Located 11 miles north of Florence on Hwy 101, Sea Lion Caves is advertised as the world's largest sea cave. As high as a 12-story building and as long as a football field, the natural amphitheater is a gathering place for wild Steller sea lions. A self-guided tour begins in the gift shop with a elevator ride 208 feet down! From the elevator, it is a short walk to where many of the animals gather. There is no show or performance here; the spectacle is simply the wild animals in their chosen natural habitat. Many of the sea lions spend fall and winter in the cave. In the spring and summer, they breed and have their young on rock ledges just outside the cave.

    A short side-trail inside the cave leads to a special view of nearby Heceta Head Lighthouse.

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Newport

    Oregon Coast Aquarium 

    There were several things about this aquarium that made it different from others we've visited. One of my favorite exhibits at any aquarium is the jellies. I'm fascinated by these delicate creatures and their amazing variations. This facility had some wonderful jellies exhibits. There were also some outdoor sea mammal exhibits where we saw California sea lions, harbor seals, and sea otters. We also got up-close views of several Oregon seabird species which are plentiful but rarely seen because they live on the open sea. One of these species was the tufted puffin.  

    The Oregon Coast Aquarium may be most well-known as the temporary home to Keiko, the killer whale (orca) star of the original Free Willy movie. For 32 months, beginning in January 1996, Keiko was nursed to health in a specially-made tank at the aquarium. After Keiko was taken to Iceland to complete his rehabilitation and to be released into the wild, the aquarium converted his tank into an impressive exhibit area called Passages of the Deep. We walked through a 200-foot acrylic tunnel, suspended eight feet below the water's surface and eight feet above the simulated ocean bottom. As we made our way through three different underwater habitats, surrounded by water, we were treated to unique views of sharks, rays, and various fish. It was an amazing experience! You can see some great photos at the aquarium's website.

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Portland

    Oregon Museum of Science and Industry

    When we visit cities, we often look for science centers that belong to ASTC, the Association of Science and Technology Centers. J and Bud have always enjoyed the hands-on exhibits. I like the fun and interesting presentations of various science topics.  The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, an ASTC member, offers a planetarium, laser show, motion simulator, and OMNIMAX theater, in addition to the various technology museum sections. The special draw for me, though, was the opportunity to tour a real submarine. 

    The U.S.S. Blueback is the Navy's last non-nuclear (diesel), fast attack submarine. It is on permanent display at OMSI, tied to the dock on the banks of the Willamette River, after serving for 31 years in the Pacific. In 1984, while still in service, the Blueback appeared in the movie The Hunt for Red October. Our volunteer tour guide had been a submarine commander in the Navy. He led us through the labyrinth of the passageways and rooms the sub, pausing to explain some of the various controls we saw and to tell us about what daily life was like for the crew of 85 who lived aboard for months at a time. He had to speak rather quickly to make it through his memorized speeches as we moved through the vessel. We had to be out of the way for the next scheduled tour, led by another volunteer. After our tour was over, though, we talked with him and learned more about his experiences and life on a sub.

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