Books

Cannon Beach

Cannon Beach is a small town nestled off Highway 101 along the Oregon coast. It has been called one of the Worlds 100 Most Beautiful Places by National Geographic and one of The 100 Best Art Towns in America by author John Villani. Located 80 miles west...

Sedro-Woolley, Washington

From the inauspicious beginnings in 1884 of a town named Bug, the two communities of Sedro and Woolley grew together, consolidated in 1898 by a lifeline of three railways: the Seattle & Northern, Seattle & International, and Fairhaven &...

Boatbuilding on Mount Desert Island

Mount Desert Island possesses a rich and diverse history of boatbuilding. Chester Clement was the first of the “lobsteryacht” builders, and Bunker and Ellis elevated the concept. Henry Hinckley started on an old boat-repair wharf and built a...

Railroads of the Columbia River Gorge

Before the rails were up and running along the stunning Columbia River landscape of Oregon and Washington, 19th-century westward travelers faced treacherous conditions. Many emigrants perished before reaching Oregon Territory. Only recently have railways...

Mills of Humboldt County

Humboldt County was at the forefront of the massive redwood logging industry. The impressive size of the trees necessitated drastic technological advances. Many innovations were invented by Humboldt mill owners like John Dolbeer, whose steam donkey...

Bandon

Named for a founding settler's beloved Irish hometown, Bandon is one of the most picturesque cities on the Oregon coast, located where the smooth and deep waters of the Coquille River meet the Pacific Ocean. Bandon rose to commercial prominence as an...

Salem

Long before the city of Salem got its name, the lush valley was a favorite winter camping location for the Kalapuya tribe. Jason Lee first ventured to Oregon in 1834, at the invitation of Northwest tribes, creating a mission and a settlement here. Native...

The State of Jefferson

The State of Jefferson was born in the hearts of pioneers who crossed craggy peaks and treacherous canyons to settle near northern California border. Isolated and feeling neglected by both state governments, they tried to create a new state as early as...

Exploring Camano Island: A History & Guide

The beaches, forests and wildlife of Washington's Camano Island offer a treasure-trove of natural beauty and endless recreational possibilities. English Boom Historical Park was once a bustling center for logging and is now a peaceful spot with its...

Southern Oregon Timber

Forestry defined the culture of southern Oregon. Kenneth and Hallie Ford rose from humble beginnings with a single sawmill during the Great Depression and helped transform the states timber industry. They founded one of the largest privately owned...

Scotia and Rio Dell

On the banks of the Eel River, amongst Northern Californias towering redwood forests, lie the towns of Scotia and Rio Dell. Their histories inseparably intertwined, these two towns formed a larger community supporting the needs of local settlers and...

Camano Island

Camano Island is one of dozens of islands in Puget Sound once covered with immense stands of Douglas fir and Western red cedar. Beginning in 1858, and while the Civil War raged half a continent away, a large mill operated at the northern end of the...