Just off Highway 101 overlooking where the Umpqua River meets the Pacific, the historic Umpqua River Lighthouse, Museum & Gift Shop in Winchester Bay offers a rich blend of maritime history and coastal scenery. Towering at about 65 feet, the lighthouse was rebuilt in 1894 to replace the original 1857 structure that collapsed due to erosion, restoring light to mariners with a handcrafted First‑Order Fresnel lens still in service today.
Visitors can climb the spiral staircase under the guidance of knowledgeable docents (tours daily 9 a.m.–4 p.m. in winter, extend to 6 p.m. in summer), paying a nominal fee (around $8 per adult) that includes museum access . The museum, housed in a historic U.S. Coast Guard building, exhibits hundreds of artifacts, photographs, and historical records tracing the lighthouse’s evolution from lifesaving station to active navigational aid.
Don’t miss the adjacent Gift Shop & Café, offering nautical‑themed souvenirs, books, local crafts, wines, snacks, and warm drinks—perfect for souvenirs or a casual treat.
From panoramic river and dune views to immersive maritime storytelling and local artisan finds, the Umpqua River Lighthouse Museum invites travelers into a vibrant chapter of Oregon Coast heritage. Located at 1020 Lighthouse Road, Winchester Bay, the museum can be reached at 541‑271‑4631 (gift shop/café line: 541‑271‑1894)