Exhibits
Featured Exhibit
Our Stories…
Those who worked, lived, and called Seaside home.
This one is for the locals.
While tourism has always been the cornerstone of Seaside’s success, none of it would have been possible without the folks that were hardy enough to live here year-round.
In this exhibit, we celebrate the people who put Seaside on the map by using their gumption to create unique experiences for the early tourist. The people who were ordinary in nature, but a pillar in the community. We pay homage to businesses, their owners and employees. We mention families, their lifestyles and contributions as well as individuals with entrepreneurial spirit.
Come check out Our Stories and read all about the folks who make this town special.
Currently on display
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![Black and white photo of men in swimsuits]()
Natatoriums and More
The Turnaround Building (1944 - 1967)
The Natatorium (salt water swimming pool) was purchased by brothers Les and Vern Raw in 1944 for $52,000. It was the place to “Swim, Skate, and Play” with arcades, candy stores, a bicycle shop, taverns, restaurants, and other shops.
The Turnaround Building was located where the Wyndham now stands.
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![Black and white aerial image of Seaside's prom and turnaround]()
Prom Centennial
In August of 2021, Seaside celebrated the 100th anniversary of the promenade. Seaside is the only coastal city on the west coast with such a structure.
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![colored image of the Seaside Signal exhibit]()
Seaside Signal
This particular Lynotype machine was purchased from the Vancouver Columbian and installed by the Seaside Signal in May of 1953. This machine was used to set the larger sizes of type for headlines and ads. The Signal also had a smaller Intertype brand machine that worked in the same fashion and was mostly used for setting type for columns.
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![Colored photo, man's hand holding sea salt]()
Salt Makers
On December, 28th, 1805, Captain Clark sent five men from the Corps of Discovery to the ocean in search of a suitable place to make salt from sea water. Salt was important not just for flavoring food, but also for preserving meat in preparation for the next leg of their journey.
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![Black and white photo, old truck hauling giant log down broadway]()
Logging
Logging operations continued year-round except for a week over the 4th of July and a week at Christmas.
Some logging camps had their own schools. Spruce Run Camp near Elsie employed three different teachers during the years it was in use.
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![Colored photo of diorama, miniature building]()
... and More!
Other exhibits include:
Seaside in 1899 Diorama
Working in Seaside
Seaside Schools
Seaside Fire of 1912
Archaeological Digs in Seaside
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![Train to Seaside]()
Destination Seaside
Getting to Seaside in the late 1800’s was no easy fete. Tourists would make their way to the first beach resort in Oregon by way of trains, boats, horse-drawn carriages. Later travel would include automobiles, though this was less common until the highways were paved and it began the main method of reaching the coast.
