Humbug Mountain is a very familiar landmark that is often pictured in the background of photos featuring the stretch of coastline that is home to the Port of Port Orford, Hubbard Creek Beach and Battle Rock Beach.
Humbug Mountain, 1940.
Above: a handtinted photograph of Humbug Mountain (est. 1940) and it is particularly interesting when viewed with other photos of the surrounding sea stacks. The photo clearly illustrates the everchanging landscape due to wind, weather, erosion and the passage of time.
Humbug Mountain was originally known as Sugarloaf Mountain. In 1851 it began to be called Tichenor’s Humbug when an exploring party sent by Captain William V. Tichenor, founder of Port Orford. Tichenor stated that the name was chosen “to palliate their gross failure.” Since that time, Tichenor’s Humbug came to be known as Humbug Mountain. Other names for the mountain include Mount Franklin, and the Native American name, Me-tus. got lost and headed north of the port instead of south. Tichenor stated that the name was chosen “to palliate their gross failure.” Since that time, Tichenor’s Humbug came to be known as Humbug Mountain. Other names for the mountain include Mount Franklin, and the Native American name, Me-tus. – Source: Wikipedia
More specifically, local sources attribute the Chetco Indians with originally calling it Meepp’ush, literally, “cheek” from Thok’eh-meep’ush, “salmon cheek.”
The lesser known rock formation in the foreground, “Mother Carey’s Chickens,” has a fascinating backstory to the possible origin of the name. Read more on our Sawyer’s Studio page.
You can read more about the history behind the placename of Humbug Mountain here.
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