Skip to content

Seaside History

Drilling in Seaside

April 10, 2013 | by Nate Burke

Sand is an ideal substance for training. Your feet tend to sink and your legs burn with the extra effort. For those who have experienced the invigorating challenges of a beach run, one can empathize with workouts that are nothing short of amplified when done in the sand. Consider these soldiers in training from a photo taken during World War I on Seaside’s beach. Folks watched from the old Pacific Pier (which was once located right off of Broadway before being washed away) as the soldiers drilled down in the sands just west of the turnaround.  It looks like a friendly tug-of-war match, but tug-of-war can be a heated test of team strength and will.  Training was of course strenuous during the war years, but it was not drudgery all day for these tough soldiers.  Spirited play was in fact encouraged and a couple of hours a day were set aside for this very purpose.  For instance football games were popular, both for physical exercise and team building.  I only hope these brave men were able to enjoy a little well-earned R&R down on Broadway after all that exertion!

Do you have any stories from this era (either personal or passed on through generations)? Please share them with us by commenting below.

and so much more!

I’ll See You at the Nat

A brief look at Seaside history of Natatoriums

Learn More
Chasing Waterfalls

Waterfalls around Seaside, Oregon.

Learn More
Fun on the Way to Seaside

You wrap up work on Friday, load your kids into the car and make a beeline for Seaside. We certainly share your enthusiasm, but th...

Learn More
Stop and Smell the Roses

Spending a little time with Seaside's pocket gardens

Learn More
Color Now Bursting on the Coast

Pick up a colorful bouquet of summer dahlias at roadside stands along Highway 101 and other coast highways

Learn More
Dog Days of Summer in Seaside

Give your dog the time of his life on Seaside's beach.

Learn More
Destinations Magazine: Great Escapes

Vacations are the “great escapes we need,” says Destinations magazine, “to relax, recharge and rejuvenate oursel...

Learn More
Plug and Play While Your EV Charges in Seaside

Whether you’re driving your electric vehicle along the entire 363-mile Oregon Coast Electric Byway or the shorter but equally sc...

Learn More
The War Years in Seaside

Blimp patrols were a common feature in Seaside during World War II.

Learn More
Discover the Beach Less Traveled in North Seaside

If your idea of the perfect beach getaway includes stretches of empty sand, hunting for sand dollars to the sounds of waves crashi...

Learn More
Everyone Needs a Spring Break

Any reason is a good reason to head to the Oregon Coast. Whether you have an official “spring break” or not, we think that yo...

Learn More
Times of Change…

Seasons of change in nature and life.

Learn More
COVID: What to Expect at the Beach and on the Prom

Seaside’s wide-open sandy shoreline has been a favorite playground for generations of visitors. As you plan your next trip, you ...

Learn More
A New Year of Seaside Adventures

A new year in Seaside means you have 12 months of adventure ahead —  trekking through rain forests, watching whales spray and d...

Learn More
Dining Gluten-Free in Seaside

Potato Leek Soup and Kale Salad from Dough Dough Bakery / photo by Jon Rahl Avoiding gluten doesn’t mean giving up flavor or var...

Learn More
The Scoop on Sea Star Gelato: Douglass and Tanya Lintow

No beach town is complete without an ice cream stand. There’s just something about a cool, creamy ice cream-topped cone that mak...

Learn More
Artillery on the Beach

Artillery on Seaside

Learn More
Children feed the Harbor Seals at the Seaside Aquarium in Seaside, Oregon.
How to Seaside Inside

Don’t get us wrong: Plenty of beach lovers come to Seaside in the cooler, drizzlier months to enjoy the great outdoors. That’s...

Learn More