Built: 1881

Type: Integral to Tower - Keepers Quarters, Sound Building and Cistern Storage Buidling

Height: 62 Feet

Status: Non-Active

Location: Pacific Ocean just south of the Columbia River.  Can be seen from Ecola state park and highway 101 south of Cannon Beach

Deactivated: 1957

Lens: First Order Fresnel

Elevation: 65 feet

Keepers: US Coast Guard

Notes: The only Oregon lighthouse built on a rocky islet offshore, Tillamook Rock Lighthouse with its 62-foot tower can be seen a little more than a mile off Tillamook Head. Building this was an engineering feat and a nightmare for the workers who were often buffeted by waves washing completely over the rock and by hurricane force winds; they were often cut off from supply ships for weeks. at a time. Once the lighthouse was built it received the largest Fresnel lens-a first order light. It shone almost continuously from the time it was lit on January 1881 until September 1957 when the lighthouse was decommissioned and replaced by a buoy.
During its 76 years of service, Tillamook Rock was always manned- never automated. But for the light house keepers stationed there, it was an isolated and lonely existence. Fortunately, there were usually four of them with three always on duty.
Storms caused considerable damage, even knocking out panes of glass from the lantern room from time to time. Among the cleanup following the October 21, 1934, storm was "seaweed, fish, and rock fragments," wrote lighthouse author Jim Gibbs . This is one of many books on Pacific Coast lighthouses and shipwrecks that Gibbs has authored including two on Tillamook Rock Lighthouse. He was stationed there as a keeper while in the Coast Guard during 1945-46 and says that none of the men stationed there ever ventured outside during severely stormy weather and that they never called it "Terrible Tilly." That moniker appeared after it was abandoned.

Viewing spot: The closest views (which require a two-mi, one-way hike) are found along the Oregon Coast Trail, between Ecola State Park and Seaside; somewhat more distant views are possible from the Indian Beach parking area, Ecola State Park. From viewpoints along the coast trail, the lighthouse is visible 1.5 miles to the W; from Indian Beach, it's 2.0 miles to the NW
Directions: From US 101, just north of Cannon Beach turn west onto Beach Dr (signs for Ecola State Park) and proceed 0.3 miles. Turn right onto E 5th St and continue 0 15 miles. Turn right onto Ecola State Park Rd and continue to the park entrance booth (seasonal day-use fee). Bear right and continue to the Indian Beach parking area. The trail begins at a gated road on the right-hand side of the turn around.