Located at the mouth of Winchester Bay, Oregon, the first Umpqua River Light was built in 1855 and lit in 1857.

This was partly due to the Light House Board's insistence that ships be able to plot a course based on visible lighthouses.

The original light was not visible at sea and was only usable as an aid to ships approaching the river.

However, strong public outcry forced those plans to be aborted, and in 1985, the old mechanism was returned to its position after being fully restored.

[3] As of December 2024, visitors can tour the lighthouse and adjacent Coastal History Museum year round, though hours are shortened in the winter.