My Account | Cart | Checkout

Events & Exhibits

Concerts | Lectures | Exhibits | Field Trips | Tours & Special Events

Upcoming Events:

Wednesday Workspace – Every Wednesday during open hours

The Cannon Beach History Center & Museum is excited to introduce “Wednesday Workspace,” a new community space initiative designed to provide a welcoming environment for creativity, productivity, and connection.
Starting March 19, every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the museum’s John Williams Classroom event space will be open for anyone to use—whether you need a quiet place to work, a space to collaborate, or simply a spot to unwind with fellow community members. This event is free and open to the public, though donations are always accepted to support the museum’s mission.
What to Expect at Wednesday Workspace:
Open & Flexible Space – Work on anything you like: bring a laptop, a notebook, an art project, or just yourself. WiFi is available.
Community & Connection – Meet others, exchange ideas, or enjoy a casual space to chat.
No Registration Required – Drop in anytime during open hours and make the space your own.
“We want the museum to be more than just a place to explore history—we want it to be a gathering space where the community can come together and visit, share ideas, and create,” says Liz Scott, Executive Director.
The Wednesday Workspace is part of the museum’s commitment to fostering community engagement, providing an inclusive and accessible space for locals and visitors alike. The John Williams Classroom event space has been thoughtfully arranged to accommodate a variety of needs, from solo projects to group discussions.
When: Every Wednesday, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Where: Cannon Beach History Center & Museum, 1387 South Spruce Street

Letters to Santa – Now through December 19

🎄✨ Letters to Santa at the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum! ✨🎄

We’re excited to share that the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum is one of only two local Official North Pole Mail Drop locations this holiday season — the other location is the North County Recreation District in Nehalem!

Kids (and kids-at-heart!) are invited to write their letters to Santa and send them straight to the North Pole — with a personalized reply from Santa himself! 🎅💌

This magical holiday experience is generously sponsored by Imagination Factory LLC, whose creativity and support help bring this festive tradition to life.

How it works:
1️⃣ Visit the museum now through December 19th during open hours
2️⃣ Write your letter to Santa
3️⃣ Place it in an envelope with your return address
4️⃣ Drop it into our enchanted North Pole Mailbox
5️⃣ Watch your home mailbox for Santa’s special reply!

Bring your holiday spirit, write your wish list, and enjoy a little Christmas magic with us.
This activity is free and available during regular Museum hours. 🎄✨

The Museum is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11am – 4pm.

This event is FREE and open to the public!

A Frosted Holiday Celebration at the Museum – Saturday, December 20 from 11am – 4pm

The Cannon Beach History Center & Museum invites the community to get into the holiday spirit at its Annual Frosted Holiday Celebration on Saturday, December 20, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This festive event is free and open to all ages, offering a day filled with warmth, creativity, and holiday cheer!
Guests can sip and savor a delicious hot cocoa bar featuring cocoa from the Cannon Beach Chocolate Café, decorate cookies, join in a festive coloring contest, and enjoy face painting for the kids. Cozy up for story time, where classic holiday tales will be brought to life, with a special appearance from the beloved Christmas Puffin, and maybe even a visit from Santa Claus himself!
✨ New this year! Don’t miss Lucky Locks – Silk Hair Sparkles by Christy, a pop-up experience that adds magic and luck to your locks! This festive addition is sure to bring extra shimmer and joy to the celebration.
Visitors can also look forward to special surprises throughout the day. The museum will be beautifully decorated for the season, offering the perfect backdrop for photos, laughter, and community connection.
“We love celebrating the holidays with our community,” says Executive Director Liz Scott. “This event is one of our favorite traditions which is all about creating joyful memories and sharing in the magic of the season together.”
The Frosted Holiday Celebration is proudly sponsored by the Cannon Beach Chocolate Café, who will be providing the hot cocoa and cookies for the event. Their support helps make this sweet community celebration possible.
Gather your friends and family, and celebrate the holidays at the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum, located at 1387 South Spruce Street, Cannon Beach, Oregon.
This event is FREE and open to the public!

End of Year Treasure Sale – December 26 & 27 from 11am – 4pm

Looking for some post holiday fun? Visit the Museum for our End of Year Treasure Sale. We have been gifted a large assortment of unique and eclectic items, and everything must go, with all proceeds supporting the Museum and helping us remain donation based throughout the year.

What you will find:

Glassware
Home goods
Decor and gifts
Unique odds and ends
A variety of unexpected treasures

How it works:

There are no set prices. You simply make an offer.
Donate whatever amount feels fair at the front desk and take home your finds knowing you are directly supporting local history.

This is the perfect post holiday outing to shop, give back, and discover something fun. Every purchase supports our exhibits, programs, general operations, and preservation work.

Join us and wrap up the year with a little joy, generosity, and treasure hunting at the Museum.

Exhibits:

Temporary History Exhibit:

Friends of Haystack Rock – Celebrating 20 Years of Conservation!

 

The Cannon Beach History Center & Museum is excited to present a temporary exhibit celebrating 20 years of the Friends of Haystack Rock (FOHR). This special exhibit highlights FOHR’s dedication to the preservation, education, and advocacy of marine life at Haystack Rock, with a focus on the iconic tufted puffins and the rich intertidal ecosystem.

Visitors will explore two decades of FOHR’s impactful work through displays showcasing educational initiatives, ongoing research, and advocacy efforts that have made a lasting difference for Cannon Beach’s marine environment. This exhibit honors FOHR’s mission to protect and celebrate the unique biodiversity of Haystack Rock, inspiring both residents and visitors to continue advocating for this incredible natural treasure.

Come join us at the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum to celebrate FOHR’s remarkable journey!

 

Temporary Classroom Exhibit:

Souvenir: Past to Present – An Art Exhibition by Becky deVries-Wong

The Cannon Beach History Center & Museum is proud to present Souvenir: Past to Present, a new exhibit by artist Becky deVries-Wong, opening Friday, October 4 and running through December 31, 2025. This exhibit invites visitors to explore memory, storytelling, and tradition through the lens of fine art and textile work.

A souvenir is more than a keepsake, it’s a memory made tangible, a moment preserved. In this evocative exhibit, deVries-Wong uses traditional techniques to create modern works that carry the emotional weight of remembrance and the creative spark of the present.

Her work includes original needlework based on historic samplers (silk on linen, counted threadwork), intricate textiles and fabric collage, appliqué, Broderie Perse, English Paper Piecing, foundation paper piecing, hand and machine sewing, as well as 3D fabric and mixed media pieces. The exhibit also showcases her oil and watercolor paintings.

Throughout history, quilting and needlework have served as more than just domestic arts, they’ve been tools of expression, resistance, and education. As deVries-Wong shares, “Sometimes quilting gave women the only platform to voice opinions they weren’t allowed to speak.” Her pieces draw inspiration from historic techniques and elevate them into contemporary works that bridge past and future.

To celebrate the exhibit’s opening, the museum will host a reception on Saturday, October 4 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. with light refreshments. Becky deVries-Wong will be in attendance to demonstrate several of the hand techniques featured in her artwork. Guests will even have the opportunity to take home a small sample to try their hand at traditional needle skills.

This exhibit is generously sponsored by Center Diamond.

On display through December 2025

Temporary Art Exhibit:

Seasonal Light

Photography by Seasons Kaz Sparks

A celebration of light, wildlife, and the quiet beauty of the Oregon Coast, Seasonal Light features sunset photography by Seasons Kaz Sparks, the creative force behind Salty Raven. Best known for her minimalist illustrations and playful product lines, Sparks captures something more intimate in this exhibit: golden-hour moments where Haystack Rock and the region’s resident elk seem to pause with the setting sun.

Widely recognized for her whimsical Flock of Gerrys series and screen-printed goods, Sparks brings that same sense of wonder to her lens, this time with the coast itself as her subject. These photographs reflect not only the passage of time through light and season, but the enduring spirit of this place we call home. You can explore more of her work at Salty Raven, her storefront in Cannon Beach located at 140 South Hemlock Street, which features her original designs on apparel, glassware, home goods, and more.