Events & Exhibits

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

Upcoming Events:

Holiday Decorating Party – Saturday, November 30 from 9am – 12pm

The Cannon Beach History Center & Museum invites the community to kick off the holiday season with us at our Holiday Decorating Party on Saturday, November 30, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Join us as we transform the museum into a festive winter wonderland!
This is a wonderful way to get into the holiday spirit while helping to make the museum a bit more magical for the season. Enjoy complimentary refreshments as you decorate, and share in the joy of bringing holiday cheer to our beloved space.

Volunteer Appreciation Party – Saturday, November 30 from 1pm – 4pm

Join us on Saturday, November 30, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for our annual Give Thanks Volunteer Appreciation Party! If you’ve volunteered at the museum, we’d love for you to come and celebrate with us. We’ll have delicious food, refreshments, and the highlight of the day—our Volunteer of the Year announcement. Plus, local historian Peter Lindsey will be sharing some of his favorite stories about Cannon Beach. Come let us honor and celebrate all you’ve done to make this year exceptional at the museum!

A huge thanks to The Wayfarer Restaurant and Elk Creek Coffee Company for providing food for this event.


Opening of Places by the Sea Traveling Exhibit – Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Clatsop Beach, Oregon. SP&S Railway.  OHS Research Library. OrHi 94797

 

The Cannon Beach History Center & Museum is excited to announce the opening of Places by the Sea, a traveling exhibit from the Oregon Historical Society, on December 10, 2024. The exhibit will run through December 31, 2024, offering a glimpse into the history of Oregon’s coastline as both a popular vacation spot and a peaceful retreat.

The exhibit features photographs taken between 1906 and 1920, showcasing the coast as a place of bustling activity and solitude. Commissioned by the Spokane, Portland & Seattle (SP&S) Railway, the images capture vacationers enjoying clamming, swimming in natatoriums, and strolling boardwalks. The photographs also highlight the serene beauty of the coast, accompanied by postcard-inspired stories from the Oregon Historical Society’s collection.

Before 1890, reaching Cannon Beach was a lengthy journey involving riverboats, stagecoaches, and horseback rides. By the 1890s, a train to Seaside shortened travel time, but travelers still navigated the winding Ecola Toll Road. Road improvements in the mid-20th century reduced the trip to just 90 minutes today.

The museum will have special hours for this exhibition, open daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., except on Sundays, through December.

Places by the Sea will be on display at the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum December 10 – December 31. The museum is located at 1387 South Spruce Street. Admission is by donation.

This exhibition is sponsored by the Oregon Historical Society. To learn more about OHS, visit https://www.ohs.org/

For more information, visit www.cbhistory.org or contact the museum at 503-436-9301.


Annual Holiday Party – Saturday, December 14 from 11am – 4pm

The Cannon Beach History Center & Museum invites everyone to get into the holiday spirit at our Annual Holiday Party on Saturday, December 14, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. This festive event, free and open to the public, promises fun for all ages!
Join us for an afternoon filled with seasonal cheer! Enjoy a delicious hot cocoa bar featuring hot cocoa from the Cannon Beach Chocolate Café, try your hand at cookie decorating, get creative with holiday crafts, and bring the kids for face painting. A cozy story time will bring classic holiday tales to life, with a special guest appearance from the beloved Christmas Puffin!
For those finishing up their holiday shopping, a few select local vendors will be on-site with unique, handcrafted gifts—perfect for checking off those last-minute holiday needs.
Gather your friends and family, and come celebrate with us at the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum. We look forward to celebrating the season with you!

 


Holiday Cookie Decorating with Rainy Day Boards and Bakery – Sunday, December 15 at 11am

 

The Cannon Beach History Center & Museum is thrilled to partner with Rainy Day Boards and Bakery for a fun and festive cookie decorating class on Sunday, December 15th, at 11:00 AM. This hands-on workshop will guide participants through the basics of sugar cookie decorating, offering the chance to create four beautifully designed holiday-themed cookies.
Led by the talented team at Rainy Day Boards and Bakery, this 90-minute class is perfect for beginners and seasoned bakers alike. All materials needed to decorate your own set of cookies will be provided, along with light snacks to keep the creative energy flowing. Tickets are $40 per person, which includes a $10 donation to support the museum. The class is recommended for ages 10 and up, but younger participants can be accommodated with a modified cookie kit—just let us know when you register.
With limited space for only 10 participants, early registration is encouraged. Tickets are available now at cbhistory.org.
The class will take place at the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum, located at 1387 South Spruce Street, Cannon Beach, OR 97110. This exciting collaboration with Rainy Day Boards and Bakery offers a wonderful opportunity to learn a new skill while supporting the museum’s mission.

For more information and to secure your spot, visit cbhistory.org. We look forward to celebrating the holiday season with you!


Exhibits:

Temporary 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:

Fish: A Solo Exhibit by Indigenous Artist Zoe “Fish” Swain

The Cannon Beach History Center & Museum is excited to announce Fish, an inspiring new art exhibit by Indigenous artist Zoe “Fish” Swain, on display through November 2024. This stunning showcase highlights Zoe’s deep connection to water, life, and the natural world, bringing her love for aquatic life to vivid life on canvas.

Zoe’s artistic journey is shaped by her experiences growing up along the Columbia River and her childhood trips to Vancouver Island, BC, where her father taught her the art of fishing. Through these experiences, she developed a deep respect for the “scaly friends” she encountered, and this affection translates into each piece she creates. With Fish, Zoe aims to raise awareness about the importance of preserving both fresh and saltwater ecosystems to ensure that fish and other aquatic life flourish for generations to come.

Zoe “Fish” Swain, who also serves as the Outreach Specialist at the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum, resides in Cannon Beach with her husband and daughter, both fellow artists, and their Chihuahua, Mabel. Her family’s artistic energy infuses her work, creating a vibrant collection that reflects her passion for conservation and the beauty of the natural world.

Join us for this unique exhibition that blends cultural heritage with an urgent call for environmental stewardship. This exhibit is on display through November 2024.