Skip to content

Seaside History

View from the Tower

September 11, 2013 | by Nate Burke

Flashing back to the 1920s, we see another gorgeous day in Seaside looking south from the Turnaround. In August 2013, we profiled an aerial photograph that showed the Seaside beachfront and the old Hotel Seaside with its elegant crow’s nest towers. The photo to your left was taken by a photographer perched in one of those very same towers. The highest point in town, it was the perfect vantage for the classic Seaside focal points: the Turnaround (notice that this photo pre-dates the Lewis & Clark End of the Trail monument) and, of course, Tillamook Head. As you can see, the beach is much the same as it is today. Considering that in 1920 the US population was only a third of what it is today, the beachfront is considerably busy.  The fourteenth US Census, taken in 1920, determined that the American population was near 106 million around the time this photo was taken (as compared to 314 million in 2012). Much like the US population, the beach sands have also multiplied throughout the years. Can you spot the two flights of stairs leading up to the turnaround? These days, there is only one flight of stairs visible, as the second has been completely engulfed in the expanding sands. It gives an interesting look at the topographical changes over the years; but other than the shifting beach, this view from the tower is nearly identical to what you would see today.

and so much more!

Clamming in Seaside: Then & Now

A brief look at clamming in Seaside and Tillamook Head and a comparison of how they

Behind the Scenes at the Seaside Aquarium With Tiffany Boothe

The Seaside Aquarium has been a fixture on the Prom for as long as anyone can remember; it dates back to 1937, one of the oldest a...

“Gee, the Water’s Fine”

A trip to the beach is not only fun, it's good for your health!

Fishing Adventures In and Around Seaside

Fishing on the Oregon Coast near Seaside

Clamming Chronicles

History of clamming in Seaside, Oregon

How To Walk Seaside, Oregon

Discover things to see in Seaside, OR including the Seaside Promenade, Tillamook Head Trail & Tillamook Head Lighthouse, bird...

Living with Cooler Temperatures

Analyzing the weather in Seaside

Convention Center Adds Outdoor Mural

Seaside Oregon Civic & Convention Center adds outdoor mural

Celebrating Spring

Celebrating spring and the lush wildlife in Seaside and the North Oregon Coast.

Garden Circle Evolution

The evolution of Seaside's Turnaround garden circle.

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...

Lookout on Neahkahnie Mountain

Sometimes an Oregon Coast outdoor adventure doesn

Beach + Burrito, A Love Story

What better way to enjoy the Oregon Coast than with a warm and savory, affordable and portable burrito — perhaps the perfect to-...

How to Be an Earth Steward in Seaside

An estimated 14 billion pounds of discarded plastic and garbage — from cigarette butts and water bottles to food wrappers and pl...

Stop and Smell the Roses

Spending a little time with Seaside's pocket gardens

Seaside Lifeguards – Kicking off the Summer Season

The lifeguard tower in Seaside ensures a safe and fun beach experience.

Northwest Travel Magazine: Gilbert District

For more than 100 years, the Gilbert District has been a big piece of Seaside's core.

Whales and More!

Seaside’s beaches are great for whale-watching, with thousands of migrating gray whales swimming past its shores every year. How...