Battle Rock Wayside Park — Attraction in Port Orford

Amazing place south Port Orford. Great history all along this coast line in Oregon.

Captain William Tichenor

In 1850 the US Congress passed the Oregon Donation Land Act. This allowed white settlers to lay claim to Indian land in Western Oregon. The Indian tribes were not required to sign the treaty or able to contest the claim. The first European settlers arrived the following year, under the command of Captain William Tichenor of the steamship Sea Gull. On June 9th, 1851, Captain Tichenor dropped off just nine men to establish the first white settlement, whilst he headed north to resupply. He left the nine men with three aging flint-lock muskets, rusty swords and a few pounds of ammunition. The men were none-too-pleased about this and managed to grab the tiny signal gun from ship, a four-pound cannon. The following morning, as the ship sailed away, the local Qua-to-mah tribe gathered and warned off the intruders from their beach. The nine settlers didn’t have any way to leave, so retreated to the nearby seastack, where they set up a defensive position around the small cannon. Looking towards Battle Rock Seeing their unwillingness to leave, a band of more than a hundred Quatomahs attacked. The only route to the rock was along a narrow walkway, which was covered by the cannon. One account tells how the cannon ripped through the approaching Indians, and the shock knocked others into the water, so that the advance was stopped after the first shot. Another account claims that the first attack reached the seastack and the settlers won in hand-to-hand combat. However they did it, the attack was repulsed, but led to the death of twenty-three natives and the wounding of two of Tichenors men by arrows. A truce was called when the settlers agreed to leave after 14 days, when their ship returned. For those two weeks the besieged settlers didn’t see any sign of the Quatomah tribe. hen they were still there on the 15th day an even larger band of Indians attacked (reports vary between 100 & 300). In the ensuing conflict the chief of the tribe was mortally wounded and died on the battle field.The natural harbour that they fought over Battle Rock The tribe retreated with their dead leader and set up camp nearby, whilst the settlers fled north under the cover of darkness. On foot they travelled over a hundred miles to the Umpqua valley, being pursued by Indians, wading through rivers and living on snails and wild berries. Eventually they all survived, and told their tales, earning the seastack the name Battle Rock. In July of the same year, Captain Tichenor returned to Battle Rock with a well-armed group of seventy soldiers and established what is now Port Orford. When Tichenor eventually retired from the navy he became a permanent resident of the town and oversaw the success of the growing port. You're not from around...

Like most things you find that are beautiful you want to keep them close hold them a secret but this is a place we all should see. My journey took me along the Oregon coast and my last stop South was Port Orford and I got to tell you guys quiet it's not intrusive and you literally feel like you're out here by yourself. Just loved it made my way back to Newport look at my husband whom looked at me and said what are we doing so we turned around and drove the 50 to 100 miles back because we realized the only place we wanted to be was is Port Orford.

The other best kept secret is the motel Sea Crest, at first appearance you're thinking oh God no and then you walk inside your room and you're thinking I just entered heaven like most things in life you should never judge a book by its cover you need to read the story. Guys I did not want to leave this hotel correction Motel just didn't want to leave. The manager who runs this place name is JJ. This gentleman was warm inviting and just a wonderful human being and I want to tell you guys if you decide to come this way please visit this Motel it's another surprise on this wonderful Journey with my...

This is about as pretty a beach as you'll ever find. At low tide it's great for running; pretty flat with hard packed sand. You can run 1.2 miles south from the parking lot before deciding if you want to get wet running through Hubbard Creek which would allow you to reach the end of the beach, 2 miles from the parking lot. Only the last hundred yards has a bit of soft sand. Be careful about the wind; you might think you are flying going south, only to realize you were aided by a 20 mph tail wind. Getting back north can be tough and you will want a billed cap to shield your face from blowing sand. Also, bring pepper spray, there is always some idiot around who thinks it is ok to let his unleashed dogs chase and/or...