SUMMERTIME AT THE HISTORIC SITES
SUMMER IS HERE! The Cape Blanco Greeting Center Gift Shop is OPEN with the lighthouse awaiting inspection and repair. The Historic Hughes House and Ranch and the Port Orford Lifeboat Station Museum are OPEN (every day except Tuesday). Oregon State Parks will require a parking permit at 22 additional parks in 2026. Please Note 🎵 that this announcement affects Cape Blanco State Park where the Hughes House and the Cape Blanco Lighthouse are located. Questions? Contact Oregon State Parks via their website: stateparks.oregon.gov or call the park office for any questions: 541-332-6774.
ABOUT THE ART (AT LEFT) ~ "Crossing The Bar": The art for this year's poster is by Don McMichael, one of the last surviving officers of the Port Orford Lifeboat Station when it was still in service. Don is an internationally-known marine artist whose art appeared on the popular "Oregon Coast Music Festival" poster for 20 years. Come see this beautiful painting in the Gift Locker at the Lifeboat Museum while you are at the event.
ABOUT THE EVENT ~ Come join us for our 22nd Annual Picnic in Port Orford Heads State Park in honor of US Coast Guard Day and Lighthouse Day. Bring chairs, blankets, a picnic lunch and enjoy music with local roots at the Port Orford Heads Lifeboat Station Museum at 1:00 PM on Sunday, August 2nd. The Cape Blanco Heritage Society and Oregon Parks and Recreation Department sponsor the event. This year, The Black Market Blues Band from Leavenworth, Washington, will be taking the stage; a new group for our venue with one member hailing from nearby Sixes, Nathan Malamud, on the keyboard. We will also be observing Lighthouse Day and the United States Semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence. Learn more about our efforts to restore the Cape Blanco Lighthouse at the event and learn about our iconic Oregon lighthouse keeping legacy. This year we will have art and craft vendors at the event with a percentage of proceeds going to our “Save Our Lighthouse” fundraising campaign. Attendees are encouraged to bring picnic lunches and take advantage of the beautiful surroundings.
2026 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
- Museum OPEN ~ The CBHS Annual Membership Meeting (held on January 31 2026) was fun and informative! If you missed it, stay tuned for Museum OPEN, the website, which launches in 2026!
- Winter Waters ~ February 28 2026, 10AM to 3:30PM at the Port Orford Lifeboat Station Museum.
- Opening Day ~ April 1 (Cape Blanco Lighthouse Greeting Center Gift Shop); May 1 (Hughes House); May 22 (Port Orford Lifeboat Station Museum). Open until Closing Day from 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM, every day except Tuesday (All 3 locations, if we have sufficient volunteers).
- CBHS Board Meetings ~ Currently held at Point.B Studio at 10:00 AM (open to everyone): 2nd Tuesday each month.
- Oregon State Parks Day ~ June 6.
- Jerry Can Races ~ July 4th at 2:00PM (Port Orford Jubilee) ~ [Download Results] or [2026 Entry Form]
- Artists at the Hughes House ~ July 5 (view more art and meet the artists at the historic sites this season!).
- Coast Guard Day/Lighthouse Day Celebration ~ (Concert in the Park). August 2nd, 1PM to 4PM. - [Download 2026 Info]
- Museum and Art Exhibits ~ Museum OPEN (Spring/Summer at Cape Blanco Greeting Center).
- Closing Day ~ September 30 (Hughes House and Port Orford Lifeboat Station Museum); October 31 (Cape Blanco Lighthouse Greeting Center Gift Shop). 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM.
- ESA Christmas Bazaar ~ TBD.
- Hughes House Christmas ~ TBD.
SAVE OUR LIGHTHOUSE
Journey to Cape Blanco in 2026 to see the "Save Our Lighthouse" art exhibit in progress in the Greeting Center Gift Shop/Interpretive Center and the Hughes House. Many thanks to the artists who have donated work so far to save the Cape Blanco Lighthouse. Proceeds go towards our ongoing efforts to restore the lighthouse so it can be reopened to public tours. Learn more at our website: saveourlighthouse.net. The art catalogue will be updated as new works are available. If you are interested in acquiring any of the works on display, please talk to our cashier or contact the Cape Blanco Heritage Society at 541-332-0521.
ABOVE: "Save Our Lighthouse" painting by artist Darren Evans is the signature work of the “Save Our Lighthouse” Exhibit. Also check out Emmy award-winning cinematographer David Fortney's beautiful film that was on display for Lighthouse Day and the US Lighthouse Society's 40th Anniversary. BELOW: Thanks so much to Charles Ziga of Ziga Media/Maritime Retro for creating these two beautiful posters of the Cape Blanco Lighthouse. Watch for more art and events in 2026!
