A small sign inside a broken lens read,

Ever had a Bad Day?

In 1994, during routine cleaning of the lens, a bullseye and several rings fell out. Although the bullseye was spared, the rings broke. New replacement lenses were made by the Hardin Optical Company located in Bandon, Oregon for $25,000.

A small storage shed was built near the base of the lighthouse.

A fence surrounded the hilltop below the lighthouse. Benches were available for folks to sit and admire the view.

A view of the lighthouse showing its many glass panes surrounding the lamp.

A group of tourists gathered by the entry steps and waited for a tour of the interior to begin.

A close up shot of the top of the lighthouse. You can barely see the Fresnel lens that concentrated the light into a beam.

Windows faced the ocean. Note that most of the windows were open to let air in on a warming day.

A sign on the wall of the lighthouse by its entry stairs read,

Heceta Head
Lighthouse
Constructed 1894
Has been placed on the
National Register
Of Historic Places
by the Unites States
Department of the Interior
November 28, 1978

The lighthouse was constructed of brick. Originally the interior had been plastered and painted white just like the exterior. But over the century, the plaster rotted and had to be removed from the interior.

A circular stairway ran alongside the curved interior wall. Tourists were now allowed to ascend.

The railing for the stairs was constructed of pipe and pipe fittings and then painted black.

The top floor was constructed of steel and painted gray.

A diagram on exhibit inside the lighthouse showed how the First Order Revolving Fresnel Lens worked.

A sign near the lighthouse showed how it worked. The title of the sign was, "Designed for Seafarer Safety."