Heceta Head is a prominent Oregon coastal headland rising about 1,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean and marking a clear shift in the shoreline, from broad sand dunes to the south to a more varied coast to the north. Named for Bruno de Heceta, a Basque explorer in Spanish service who explored the Pacific Northwest in the 1770s, it is also defined by Heceta Head Light on its south side. Built in 1894, the lighthouse stands 205 feet up the headland, with a 56-foot tower and a beam visible 21 miles at sea. Its geology, historic lighthouse, nearby keeper-related structures, and two historic bridges give the headland its distinct importance.