Port Orford Heads State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Port Orford Heads State Park |
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Port Orford Heads State Park, May 2014
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| Type | Public, state |
| Location | Port Orford, Curry County, Oregon |
| Created | 1976 |
| Operated by | Oregon Parks and Recreation Department |
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Port Orford Coast Guard Station
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| Built | 1934 |
| Built by | United States Coast Guard |
| NRHP reference No. | 98000606 |
| Added to NRHP | May 29, 1998 |
Port Orford Heads State Park is a beautiful park right by the ocean in Port Orford, Oregon. It's a great place to explore the coast! This park became a state park in 1976 and is looked after by the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.
Exploring the Park
This park sits high up on a bluff, giving you amazing views of the Pacific Ocean. It has three main walking trails for you to explore:
- The Cove Trail
- The Tower Trail
- The Headland Trail
From these trails, you can often spot incredible wildlife. If you visit at the right time of year, you might see commercial fishing boats, orcas, and gray whales swimming by. You could also spot California and Steller's sea lions, plus many different kinds of seabirds.
The Headland Trail offers a clear view of Cape Blanco to the north. It's a super popular spot for watching whales, especially in the fall when they migrate. Remember, the park is open only during the day.
A Look Back in Time
From 1934 to 1970, a very important building stood where the park is now. This was one of the first U.S. Coast Guard lifeboat stations on the Oregon Coast. It was a busy place where brave Coast Guard members helped people in trouble at sea.
The Lifeboat Station Museum
Today, the old Coast Guard building is home to the Port Orford Lifeboat Station museum. It's also an interpretive center, which means it helps you learn about the area's history. The museum opened in 2000, thanks to the Point Orford Heritage Society.
The building itself was built in 1934. It's so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Port Orford Coast Guard Station. The U.S. Coast Guard used this station until 1970.
Inside the museum, you can see a special, unsinkable 36-foot (11 m) motor life boat that has been fixed up. You can also learn about how the Coast Guard protected the coast during World War II.
