Events & Exhibits
Concerts | Lectures | Exhibits | Field Trips | Tours & Special Events
Upcoming Events:
Trivia & Scavenger Hunt Event – Friday and Saturday, May 17 & 18 from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
As part of the Cannon Beach Fat Bike Festival weekend, the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum will be hosting a trivia contest and scavenger event. This family friendly event is a great way to bond or to compete for the highest prize. The two-day event takes place on Friday & Saturday, May 17 & 18 during the hours of 11am – 4pm.
Each card contains ten questions that must be answered while in the Museum, and all of the answers are contained within the Museum’s exhibits and displays making it both trivia and scavenger hunt. The first trivia sheet for each person is free, and more trivia sheets can be purchased for $2 each.
Those who answer all ten questions correctly will win a small prize. You can only win once, but you will win! While museum staff cannot give you answers, they can guide you in the right direction.
Refreshments will be provided. Writing materials and writing stations will be provided throughout the Museum. Chocolate prizes have been provided by Cannon Beach Chocolate Cafe.
An Oregon Story: Saving Our Beaches, Farmland & More – Film Showing – Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 2:30 p.m.
The Cannon Beach History Center & Museum is thrilled to host a film showing of the new documentary, “An Oregon Story: Saving our Beaches, Farmland and More” on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 2:30 p.m.
This groundbreaking film delves into the heart of Oregon’s identity, showcasing its pioneering efforts of conservation and protection of its natural resources. The feature-length documentary, executive produced by Jim Gilbert, highlights Oregon’s innovative land-use planning program that has been a model for the nation. Through a compelling blend of archival footage and interviews, the film honors both the visionaries who established these vital policies and the dedicated individuals who have defended them over the past 50 years.
“Audiences will be taken on a journey through Oregon’s stunning landscapes, from its scenic beaches to its fertile farm and ranch lands,” said Joe Wilson, director of the documentary. “This film is not just about the beauty of Oregon, but also about the farsighted people who fought to protect it and the young generation who is now carrying the torch of environmental stewardship.”
“An Oregon Story” is more than a documentary; it’s a tribute to Oregon’s spirit and commitment to preserving its natural and agricultural heritage. The film has been shown in various theaters across Oregon, providing an opportunity for residents and visitors alike to witness the story of Oregon’s environmental triumph and ongoing efforts in land conservation.
Viewers are encouraged to check the film’s official website www.anoregonstory.com for the latest updates on showtimes and locations. The documentary’s release is a chance for communities across Oregon to come together and celebrate the state’s rich conservation legacy.
This film showing is free (but donations are gladly accepted), and will be held at the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum on Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. Doors for this event open at 2:00 p.m. Seating for this film showing is limited to 50 people and parking is extremely limited. The Museum is located at 1387 South Spruce Street in Cannon Beach, Oregon.
For further information, media inquiries, or to schedule an interview, please contact Jim Gilbert or Joe Wilson.
Jim Gilbert Joe Wilson
Phone: 503-502-6925 Phone: 503-528-4381
Emal: jgilbert@oregonsbest.com Email: joe@bergmanproductions.com
Website: www.anoregonstory.com
Phone: 503-502-6925 Phone: 503-528-4381
Emal: jgilbert@oregonsbest.com Email: joe@bergmanproductions.com
Website: www.anoregonstory.com
Bayocean: Atlantis of Oregon – Thursday, June 6, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.
Join the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum on Thursday, June 6, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. for their last lecture of the season as they welcome Oregon author, Jerry Sutherland. Jerry will be discussing his latest book, Bayocean: Atlantis of the Ocean which focuses on the Oregon resort town that fell into the Pacific Ocean. Like Plato’s fictional island kingdom, most of Bayocean sank below the sea long ago. The rest lies buried beneath the shore pine, salal, and beach grass covering the four-mile-long spit that protects Tillamook Bay from the Pacific Ocean. His book chronicles the half-century the Oregon resort town existed, tells the stories of the people involved, and explains its financial and physical demise. Fifty-seven maps, photographs, and diagrams help readers visualize this unique catastrophe.
Jerry Sutherland began researching Oregon history in 2012 after his father (Art) asked him to look up something about Calvin Tibbets at the Oregon Historical Society. The thrill he experienced in discovering new information about historical events and people led to future visits, trips to archives across the United States and Canada, and the publishing of Calvin Tibbets: Oregon’s First Pioneer in August 2016.
In the fall of 2014, Sutherland learned that Bayocean—the sandspit that separates Tillamook Bay from the Pacific Ocean—had once hosted a thriving resort. His surprise at having never seen any evidence of its existence while hiking there prompted him to learn more. He created www.bayocean.net to share some of what he was discovering with the public. When Grant McOmie took notice in the summer of 2015, he asked for help with a Grant’s Getaway program about Bayocean. Four years later, Jule Gilfillan consulted him regarding an Oregon Field Guide special. Increasing interest from book publishers prompted Sutherland to start writing Bayocean: Atlantis of Oregon in 2019. It was published in February 2023. Signed books will be available for purchase.
This event is free and open to the public and will be held at the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum, located at 1387 South Spruce Street, Cannon Beach, OR. Seating for this event is at a limited capacity of 50 people. This lecture starts promptly at 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 6, 2024. Parking for this event is extremely limited and it is encouraged to arrive early to find parking. This lecture is part of the Cannon Beach History Center and Museum’s annual John Williams Lecture Series that occurs every February through June. For further information about this event, visit www.cbhistory.org or call 503-436-9301.
Writing Workshop: Summer Memories – Saturday, June 8, 2024 at 1:00 p.m.
Dig deep into your summer memories with an immersive creative writing workshop on Saturday, June 8th at 1pm, led by local Cannon Beach author, Mindy Hardwick. Search through those old photos or memorabilia and bring your favorite as we explore how to write your personal stories in short vignettes to be shared with others.
The cost for this workshop is to pay what you wish by donation. Spaces are extremely limited, and it is expected to fill quickly. To sign up, please RSVP by email at info@cbhistory.org, call us at 503-436-9301, or RSVP through our website.
Mindy Hardwick holds an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College. Her published contemporary romance includes her Cranberry Bay Series: Sweetheart Cottage and Sweetheart Summer. Mindy’s middle grade books include: The World is a Sniff, Stained Glass Summer, Some Stories Are Not Seen, and Seymour’s Secret. Mindy facilitated a poetry workshop for teens at Denney Juvenile Justice Center and wrote about the experience in her memoir, Kids In Orange: Voices from Juvenile Detention. Mindy can often be found walking with her cocker spaniel on the north Oregon Coast beaches. Visit her website: www. mindyhardwick.com to find out about new releases, upcoming events or to book her to speak to your class or school group.
This workshop will be held at the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum, located at 1387 South Spruce Street, Cannon Beach, OR. Seating for this workshop is extremely limited and an RSVP is required by email at info@cbhistory.org or by calling the museum at 503-436-9301.
Exhibits:
Temporary Exhibit:
From the Vault Exhibit
The Cannon Beach History Center & Museum is home to thousands of artifacts, each with their own unique history. From the Vault showcases nearly twenty different objects and photographs from the depths of the Museum’s archives. These artifacts have been explicitly chosen for their uniqueness and pertinence to the history of Cannon Beach. Visitors will discover the stories behind these unseen treasures. One of the iconic artifacts featured is the saddle used by Mary Gerritse while riding her horse Prince to deliver the mail along the coastline. The saddle is accompanied by entries from her journal sharing her harrowing story of nearly falling from a cliff side, to coming face to face with both a mountain lion and a bear, at different times. Gerritse took over the mail route when her husband was unable. She acted as the area’s mail carrier from 1897 until 1902.
The saddle Mary Gerritse wore with her horse, Prince.
The exhibit will also feature recently donated items from local businesses from way back when, and well as donated images taken by Frank Woodfield.
Discover tidbits of Cannon Beach history that you won’t find anywhere else! On display now through December of 2016.
Temporary Classroom Exhibit:
60 Years of Sandcastle Exhibition
One of the sandcastles from the 1970’s
The Cannon Beach History Center & Museum is excited to announce the opening of its newest temporary exhibition, 60 Years of Sandcastles, opening March 1, 2024. Explore 60 years of sandcastle history with pictures, artifacts, and original posters from years past. The first Cannon Beach Sandcastle Contest was held just a few months after one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded in U.S. history in March 1964. The 9.2 earthquake set a tsunami in motion that moved with such strength and velocity that the Ecola Creek Bridge was washed away and buildings on the north end of Cannon Beach were torn asunder. The townspeople of Cannon Beach were in shock and tourism began to dwindle. That spring, local families gathered for a Sandcastle Contest to help attract visitors. 60 years later the event has grown in popularity and continues to draw large crowds from all over the Pacific Northwest.
The 60 Years of Sandcastles exhibition will be on display at the Cannon Beach History Center & Museum beginning March 1st through June 14th.