Nearly everyday a visitor to the museum will comment about how much our small town has changed over the years. Hotels are razed, restaurants replaced, family homes moved or torn down. It is rare to find a home in Cannon Beach that remains unchanged for 100 years. In the early 1900’s the streets of Cannon […]
While conducting research recently I came across on article about how much the average American knows about the history of their country. The article shared the results of a survey that Newsweek conducted last year. This survey showed that less than 30% of Americans knew what the constitution was, and even less, a shocking 6% […]
As Sandcastle Day nears its 50th Anniversary one can’t help, but reflect on the original spirit of this amazing event. The first Sandcastle was held just a few months after one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded in U.S. history. This Megathrust quake sometimes referred to as the Good Friday Earthquake shook Anchorage, Alaska […]
May 22 is National Maritime Day, and a day on which we should all take a moment to thank those who protected our shores. Maritime Day, which first became a national holiday in 1933, is a day of celebration and contemplation for many coastal residents and history buffs, for whom it is as important as […]
My favorite story of Cannon Beach is the journey, how did people get here, why did they come here, why do they continue to come here? For some, the journey began with the long road from Portland (luckily now only a two-hour commute). Travelers would journey along the Columbia River in riverboats, then by train, […]
That first cannon was pulled from the surf by a team of horses on January 29th, 1898. The horses were owned by John and Mary Gerritse who had long awaited the cannon’s discovery and proudly displayed the cannon on front of their Austin House Hotel and post office, it happened 114 years ago. At the […]
There is no place like a museum for history buffs, and here at the Cannon Beach History Center and Museum, we get our share. We absolutely love talking to people about the history of the area, reliving memories, or helping individuals find old photos. I had a recent encounter that seems particularly relevant with the […]
Cannon Beach and it’s cannons offer an amazing look into the past, not only of this town, but the nation. It is a past at the very heart of Westward expansion, international trade, the birth of Oregon as a state, and the definition of the USA and Canadian border. It is also a testament to […]
On Saturday, September 10th, Cannon Beach welcomed it’s 8th annual Cottage Tour, much to the delight of many visitors and homeowners. The tour continues to grow and attract guests from all over Oregon and Washington, and even across the USA. The Cottage Tour is the largest annual fundraiser for the Cannon Beach History Museum, and […]
As a newbie to Cannon Beach, and to Oregon for that matter, I have a lot to learn about the history of the area, and honestly, there is no better place for the crash course than at our Cannon Beach History Museum. What I am excited to share with you though is about the Earth, […]