Cape Blanco (Oregon)
Cape Blanco is a prominent headland on the Pacific Ocean coast of southwestern Oregon in the United States, forming the westernmost point in the state. Cape Blanco extends farther west than any point of land in the contiguous United States (lower 48 states) except portions of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, including Cape Alava, the true westernmost point. The cape is part of Cape Blanco State Park and is the location of the Cape Blanco Light, first lit in 1870.
| Cape Blanco State Park | |
|---|---|
View from Cape Blanco, looking south towards Port Orford Heads State Park. Humbug Mountain in the distance. | |
| Type | Public, state |
| Location | Curry County, Oregon |
| Nearest city | Port Orford |
| Coordinates | 42°50′15″N 124°33′50″W |
| Area | 1,880 acres (760 ha) |
| Operated by | Oregon Parks and Recreation Department |
| Visitors | Annually, about 350,000 for day-use, 35,000 overnight |
| Open | Year-round |
The cape may have been named by explorer Martín de Aguilar in 1603 for its appearance, as blanco means "white" in Spanish. In 1775, Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra named the point Cabo Diligensias. It was later renamed Cape Orford by Captain George Vancouver in 1792, but this name fell into disuse and Cape Blanco became the common usage.