John Williams Lecture Series
Lectures at Cannon Beach History Center & Museum
Lectures occur each month from February through June, and October through December. Lectures take place in the History Center’s John Williams Classroom. Seating for lectures are limited. Complimentary refreshments are provided. Lectures are FREE, but donations are gladly accepted.
The lecture series includes FREE programs presented by experts on a variety of topics. Typically, lectures are about one hour, and include some face-to-face time with acclaimed authors, professors, and researchers on historical, artistic, and cultural topics.
2025 John Williams Lecture Series Schedule:
Tufted Puffins: Protecting a Coastal Icon – Thursday, April 17 at 4:00 p.m.
The Cannon Beach History Center & Museum invites the public to an informative lecture on tufted puffins on Thursday, April 17 at 4:00 p.m., featuring Lisa Habecker, Volunteer and Education Coordinator for the Haystack Rock Awareness Program. Habecker will delve their fascinating behaviors, migration patterns, and the challenges they face, including climate change, habitat loss, predation pressures, and food scarcity. Despite their declining numbers in the southern range, the tufted puffin remains a symbol of resilience in the North Pacific.
Haystack Rock is home to Oregon’s second-largest tufted puffin colony, offering a unique opportunity to study these charismatic seabirds from shore. The Haystack Rock Awareness Program (HRAP) has been dedicated to protecting Haystack Rock’s marine and bird life for over 40 years. Through community engagement and public education, HRAP fosters a deeper understanding of the fragile ecosystem at Haystack Rock, encouraging conservation efforts to preserve this unique habitat for future generations. HRAP staff and volunteers provide on-the-beach education, lead guided tidepool explorations, and support scientific monitoring to ensure the protection of this critical environment.
Attendees can also view Friends of Haystack Rock’s (FOHR) 20th Anniversary temporary exhibit, which celebrates two decades of conservation, education, and advocacy efforts at Haystack Rock. The exhibit highlights FOHR’s mission to promote the preservation and protection of intertidal life and birds that inhabit the Marine Garden and Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge at Haystack Rock. FOHR accomplishes this in cooperation with the Haystack Rock Awareness Program (HRAP), other partners, and the community. Visitors will explore interactive displays showcasing educational initiatives, research projects, and conservation efforts that continue to make a lasting impact on this natural treasure.
This free event is held in partnership with the 12 Days of Earth Day events organized by the City of Cannon Beach’s Parks & Community Services Committee. The lecture will take place on Thursday, April 17th at 4:00 PM at the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum, located at 1387 South Spruce Street, Cannon Beach, OR. Seating is limited, and guests are encouraged to arrive early to secure a spot.
Calvin Tibbets: Oregon’s First Pioneer – Thursday, April 24 at 4:00 p.m.
The Cannon Beach History Center & Museum invites the community to a special presentation on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 4:00 p.m., featuring returning author of Bayocean: Atlantis of Oregon, Jerry Sutherland, as he explores the life and legacy of Calvin Tibbets, Oregon’s first pioneer.
Sutherland, a dedicated researcher of Oregon’s early history, shines light on Calvin Tibbets, a little-known but pivotal figure in the state’s past. When Tibbets arrived in Oregon Country in 1832, British influence dominated the region. As the first American settler with the explicit goal of securing Oregon for the United States, he helped pave the way for missionaries, mountain men, and wagon train pioneers. His contributions were crucial in shaping Oregon’s early history, yet his story has largely been overlooked—until now.
This comprehensive presentation will examine Tibbets’ journey, including the inland route he took through the Cannon Beach area, which differed from William Clark’s trek over Tillamook Head and the mid-level route later used by early settlers. Attendees will also gain insight into the roles of historical figures such as John McLoughlin, Jason Lee, Elbridge Trask, and Bethenia Owens-Adair in Oregon’s development. Copies of Sutherland’s book will be available for purchase at the event.
This event is part of the annual John Williams Lecture Series and is generously sponsored by The Wayside Inn. This event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited, so early arrival is recommended.
Crossing the Bar in 1846: The Story of the USS Shark – Thursday, May 22, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.
Join us at the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum for a captivating exploration into the maritime history of the Pacific Northwest. On Thursday, May 22, 2025, at 4:00 p.m., historian Robert F. Bailey will present the story of the USS Shark as part of the Museum’s John Williams Lecture Series.
In the mid-19th century, the Columbia River Bar, often referred to as the “Graveyard of the Pacific,” proved treacherous even for the most experienced sailors. Two U.S. Navy vessels, the USS Peacock in 1841 and the USS Shark in 1846, were lost to these unpredictable waters despite warnings from seasoned captains in Hawaii and the cautious navigation of skilled commanders. Both captains were exonerated of any fault, yet Lieutenant Neil M. Howison, commander of the Shark, carried at least one unanswered question with him to his death in 1848.
More than 150 years later, a surprising discovery would shed new light on the mystery. Hidden for generations in an attic trunk, a letter written by an eyewitness to the Shark’s final days surfaced, revealing a crucial detail about what happened on September 10, 1846. This newly uncovered account continues to inspire fresh curiosity about the fate of the vessel and its enduring legacy. Bailey’s talk delves into this discovery and its impact on our understanding of 19th-century naval exploration.
Robert F. Bailey, a fifth-generation Californian and retired civil engineer, has spent years researching the lives, ships, and events that shaped the histories of Oregon and California. His engaging and well-researched presentations demonstrate how even long-lost letters and overlooked relics can offer powerful new insights into the past.
This event is free and open to the public, though seating is limited, early arrival is encouraged. Donations to the museum are appreciated and help support our ongoing educational programs and exhibitions. This lecture is generously sponsored by the Wayside Inn.
