Events & Exhibits
Concerts | Lectures | Exhibits | Field Trips | Tours & Special Events
Upcoming Events:
The Great Cannon Beach Treasure Hunt Returns! – Saturday, June 6 from 11am – 5pm
Calling all adventurers, explorers, and treasure seekers! The Cannon Beach History Center & Museum invites families and visitors to join The Great Cannon Beach Treasure Hunt Returns! on Saturday, June 6, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This free family friendly event celebrates Goonies Day weekend with a fun coastal twist inspired by adventure, mystery, and local history.
Guests will follow a trail of clues throughout the museum to solve riddles, uncover hidden secrets, and complete their treasure map quest. Successful treasure hunters will discover hidden loot and win a prize! Along the way, participants will also learn about the history of Cannon Beach, making this event the perfect blend of fun, nostalgia, and education.
A Goonies inspired photo booth will also be available for unforgettable snapshots and family fun throughout the day. In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the beloved 1986 film Short Circuit, guests may even discover a few fun pop culture surprises hidden throughout the adventure.
The event takes place at the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum, located at 1387 South Spruce Street in Cannon Beach, Oregon. Admission is free, though donations are gratefully accepted to support the museum’s community programming and local history initiatives.
Goonies never say die, especially not in Cannon Beach!
Richard Neuberger: Oregon Politics and the Making of a U.S. Senator – Saturday, June 6 at 2:00pm
The Cannon Beach History Center & Museum will welcome author and former newspaper publisher Steve Forrester for a special presentation, Richard Neuberger: Oregon Politics and the Making of a U.S. Senator, on Saturday, June 6 at 2 p.m.
The presentation will explore the life and legacy of Richard L. Neuberger, one of the most influential yet often overlooked figures in Oregon political history. Forrester’s recently published book is the result of more than four decades of research into Neuberger’s life, journalism career, and political impact.
Best known as Oregon’s first Democratic U.S. Senator elected in 40 years, Neuberger helped shape many of the progressive ideals and conservation policies that continue to define Oregon today. A strong advocate for workers’ rights, civil rights, and environmental protection, his election in 1954 marked a turning point in the state’s political landscape. Long before entering politics, Neuberger built a remarkable career as a journalist and writer. As a teenager, he wrote for The Oregonian, and later contributed to The New York Times while still attending the University of Oregon. In 1933, during a seven week visit to Germany, Neuberger documented the growing persecution of Jewish people under Hitler’s regime.
Throughout his life, Neuberger published more than 700 articles and six books before his death in 1960 at the age of 47, just months before the end of his Senate term. His wife, Maurine Brown Neuberger, later won his Senate seat, becoming only the fifth woman elected to the U.S. Senate at the time. Forrester brings a unique personal connection to the story. A journalist for more than 50 years, he spent 33 years as editor and publisher of The Daily Astorian, co founded Willamette Week in 1974.
This presentation is part of the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum’s annual lecture series, which highlights local and Pacific Northwest history through talks from historians, authors, researchers, and cultural experts. This event is free and open to the public.
Jefferson’s Gambit Lecture – Thursday, June 11 at 4:00pm
The Cannon Beach History Center & Museum invites the public to a special frontier history lecture on Thursday, June 11 at 4 p.m. as part of the museum’s John Williams Lecture Series. The lecture will explore Thomas Jefferson’s vision for westward expansion and the calculated risks that helped shape the early American frontier.
Topics will include the fur trade, frontier economy, exploration, and the forces that influenced the American West during the early 1800s.
The speaker specializes in subjects connected to the period between 1800 and 1850, including John Colter, the fur trade, and frontier life. He is the author of Colter’s West Wind, a historical work that has been well received for its exploration of the early American West.
Through research and storytelling, the lecture will offer insight into the people, ambitions, and economic forces that helped shape a rapidly expanding nation.
The lecture is free and open to the public. Donations are welcome and help support the museum’s educational programming and exhibits.
The Cannon Beach History Center & Museum is located at 1387 S. Spruce Street in Cannon Beach. Limited parking is available onsite, with additional public parking located nearby at the Gower Street parking lot.
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!
On display through 2026.
Temporary Classroom Exhibit:
Sue Gordon: A Trailblazer for Women, Education, and the Arts
The Cannon Beach History Center and Museum presents Sue Gordon: A Trailblazer for Women, Education, and the Arts, an exhibition honoring the life and enduring impact of Sue Gordon, founder of the Cannon Beach Haystack ’69 program and a pioneering advocate for women, education, and the arts.
Organized chronologically, the exhibition traces Gordon’s journey from her early life through the experiences that shaped her vision and leadership. Through photographs, archival materials, and personal reflections, visitors will follow the timeline of her accomplishments and the lasting influence of her work in Cannon Beach and beyond.
Her creation of the Cannon Beach Haystack ’69 program marked a pivotal moment in the region’s cultural history, helping to strengthen Cannon Beach’s identity as a place where artistic expression and education could flourish. Her legacy continues to resonate in the creative and civic life of the community today.
This exhibition was developed in collaboration with Sue Gordon’s children – Brad Gordon, Lynn Havnar, Keith Gordon, and Lorrie Gordon McFadden – who generously shared photographs, memories, and archival materials to help bring her story home.
The public is invited to join us for an opening reception on Saturday, March 7 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. for light snacks and refreshments.
On view March 7 through June 30.
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.
