Cultural Heritage Directory

Built in the 1890s, Cape Meares Lighthouse guided ships to safety along the rugged Oregon Coast long before GPS was a reality. The Cape Meares State Scenic Viewpoint offers visitors hiking trails, views of migrating whales, the famous and historic Octopus Tree, Three Arch Rocks National Wildlife Refuge, picnic areas, and birdwatching at its finest. The viewpoint is open daily, the lighthouse is open in summer, and has a gift shop.

Explore the life of 18th-century sailors, get to know explorer Captain Robert Gray and his historic vessels, and learn about the founding of Garibaldi. The native peoples’ exhibit features baskets, tools and arts. With 8,000 square feet of space, the museum offers interactive exhibits, artifacts, photo collections and videos.

Cared for by the Garibaldi Cultural Heritage Initiative, this historic boathouse built in 1936 was used as a Coast Guard life-saving station to help ships and fishing boats in Tillamook Bay. The boathouse, undergoing a preservation effort, has a gallery of historic interpretive signage and photos, and offers a unique venue for special events. It is one of the most photographed buildings on the Oregon Coast, thanks to its long boardwalk pier where people cast fishing lines and crab pots.

Honoring policing from before the 1829 Metropolitan Police Act in England through the modern era of law enforcement, this extensive collection of artifacts is a visual chronicle of the tools and work of police officers. See advances made in uniforms, training, evidence collection, personal protection, and historic items, such as the 1866 Oregon Boot restraint, 1925 tear gas baton, and the 1950s Identakit for creating facial images. Try on a Bobbie helmet, bulletproof vest and taking sample fingerprints.

An area of nature and beauty, this reserve in Bay City that hugs Tillamook Bay is owned by the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum, and maintained by its staff and volunteers. Three ADA-accessible trails meander through the forest to the bay, each themed with interpretive signage: native peoples’ history, pioneer settlement, and flora and fauna. Benches throughout the trail invite rest and reflection.

Located in the historic Maple Leaf school, Latimer Quilt and Textile Center partners with a variety of guilds and groups, including traditional rug hookers, spinners, weavers, quilters and knitters to provide demonstrations and classes. Six exhibits each year feature the work of local and nationally-known artists.

Located in Manzanita’s historic Pine Grove Community Center, the Nehalem Valley Historical Society shares the story of the region’s native peoples, pioneer families, and the development of the towns of Manzanita, Nehalem and Wheeler in north Tillamook County. Exhibits include historical photos, archives, maps, letters, books and artifacts from seafaring explorers to fishing and lumber industries.

Enjoy the beautiful Oregon coastline by riding the rails behind a historic steam locomotive. This scenic trip hugs along Tillamook Bay and the Pacific Ocean, giving you a glimpse of what train travel was like in the early 20th century. Special excursions and dinner trains are scheduled throughout the year, including the Fall Excursion trip into the Nehalem River Canyon.

The only dory fleet in the lower 48 states, the Pacific City Dorymen’s Association is history taking place each day from the beach at Cape Kiwanda. You can watch any one of the 300 dory boats catch a wave into the ocean, and return fullspeed onto the beach. The association hosts the biggest summer party of the year at Dory Days in July. At the beach is a history and memorial wall honoring dory captains.