NEWPORT, Ore., Aug. 15, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- From the Columbia River to the California state line, 30 museums dot the Oregon Coast. Many coastal museums cover the history of the local town or area. But some cover a specific segment of history -- such as Fort Clatsop -- or specific genre -- such as firefighting, motorcycles, or dolls. Each museum is continually improving and adding to its collections and exhibits.
Nearly every town has at least one museum, several have two, but Astoria takes the prize with five. It makes sense since it's the oldest town on the coast. It dates back to the building of Fort Astoria in 1811 -- not too many years after Lewis and Clark spent the winter nearby at Fort Clatsop in 1805-06. Many people don't realize the Oregon Coast has this historical connection that goes as far back as the presidency of Thomas Jefferson.
In fact, there's a whole lot to learn about the museums of the Oregon Coast. Here's a little quiz to test your coastal museum IQ:
1) Which museum is the newest on the coast? Hint: It honors Captain Robert Gray and his discovery of the Columbia River.
2) Which museum has recently doubled in size and has all new exhibits? Hint: It's on the southern end of the longest town on the coast.
3) Which museum honors firefighters? Hint: It's in a town of several museums.
4) Which museum is built in the shape of a cross? Hint: It's made of logs.
5) Which museum honors a man and his motorcycles? Hint: It's located in the oldest town on the South Coast.
6) Which museum was once an active lighthouse? Hint: It's in a town that has more than one historic lighthouse.
7) Which museum is located in a building so large that the letters spelling out the museum name are 100 feet high? Hint: Think blimps.
8) Which museum tells the story of a river? Hint: This river is the most famous on the South Coast.
9) Which museum was built to resemble the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City? Hint: Think logging and an inland South Coast town.
10) Which museum has the largest Cypress tree in the state of Oregon out in front? Hint: It's near the state line?
Answers: 1) Garibaldi Museum -- Maritime History, Garibaldi; 2) North Lincoln County Historical Museum, Lincoln City; 3) Uppertown Firefighters Museum, Astoria; 4) Little Log Church, Yachats; 5) Antique Motorcycle and Auto Museum, Port Orford; 6) Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, Newport; 7) Tillamook Air Museum, Tillamook; 8) Rogue River Museum, Gold Beach; 9) Coos County Logging Museum, Myrtle Point; 10) Chetco Valley Museum, near Brookings.
To learn more about these 10 museums and the 20 other interesting and exciting museums of the Oregon Coast, go online and visit http://www.visittheoregoncoast.com/home.cfm?dir_cat=42285.
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