Cape Perpetua Overlook

A few miles south of Yachats, Oregon, Cape Perpetua Overlook offers a 70-mile heavenly view of the Oregon coast on a clear day. The headland towers 800 feet high, with the overlook accessible by car and the shelter only a short walk away.​

People have been a part of the landscape's history for at least 6,000 years, according to the US Forest Service. “Archaeological sites provide hints into village life of the Native American Alsea people, who called this area Halaqaik,” and when British explorer James Cook saw the cape in 1778, he named it Saint Perpetua.

The shelter, along with many of the trails found here, was constructed by a unit of the Civilian Conservation Corps as President Franklin D. Roosevelt sought to provide work for young men during the Great Depression. Because of the advantageous viewpoint, the shelter served as an observation post during World War II and was equipped with a coastal defense gun. 

Now, Cape Perpetua is a popular location for tourists to enjoy stellar views of the Pacific Ocean. In September 2019, HistoriCorp, a non-profit committed to engaging volunteers in saving historic places, tasked a team of volunteers and staff to restore the shelter. The group spent two weeks on the restoration project, which included replacing wood beams and cedar shakes, according to the Lincoln Chronicle, and is the fourth time the structure has undergone a major restoration due to exposure to the elements.