From Hand-Carved Canoes to Columbia Condors, ‘Ocian In View’ Drifts Deftly Between The Past And The Present

LONG BEACH PENINSULA, Wash. – September 2008 – History buffs and cultural connoisseurs won’t want to miss this year’s ‘Ocian in View,’ an absorbing look at the Long Beach Peninsula’s provocative past. Slated for November 7, 8 and 9, 2008, the series of special events combines presentations by area experts with interpretive tours, educational programs and annual gatherings celebrating the Peninsula’s unique heritage.

With its diverse natural gifts and strategic seaside setting, the Long Beach Peninsula has lured explorers throughout the centuries. “‘Ocian in View’ answers some of the questions about why people live here at the edge of the continent, on a little bit of land where the irresistible force of the Columbia River slams into the immovable Pacific Ocean,” said Washington State Historical Society tour guide and lifelong local resident Jim Sayce. “Looking back in time allows for thoughtful and engaged commentary on what the area must have looked like to visitors in the late 18^th century.”

Launching the ‘Ocian in View’ festivities on Nov. 7, Chinook Indian Tribe chairman Ray Gardner will illuminate the past with his talk called “The Finest Canoes: The Chinook Canoe and its Role in Traditional Culture.” The lecture will start at 7 p.m. at the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum in Ilwaco. Tickets will cost $10 per person, sold at the door, with first-come first-served seating.

On Nov. 8, participants can hop aboard a bus and retrace the explorations of Euro-American sailors before the days of Lewis and Clark. Called “Land in View,” the modern-day adventure will be led by Sayce, sharing a wealth of tales about the captains and crews who ventured across unforgiving seas in search of the Northwest Passage. Departing from the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum at 9 a.m. and again at 1 p.m., each tour costs $30 per person. Reservations should be made early for this unforgettable three-hour trip by calling 360.642.3446.

Other highlights of ‘Ocian in View’ include the following:

• On Nov. 8, participants can treat themselves to a savory combination of hot cider and history during the 11^th annual “November on the North Shore,” a free Open House at the Knappton Cove Heritage Center. Guided walks will take place from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. at the historic site – formerly a U.S. Public Health Quarantine Station Hospital – located 3 miles east of the north end of the Astoria-Megler Bridge. For information, call 503.738.5206.

• Nov. 8 serves as the date of the Chinook Tribe Seafood Dinner, a bounty of regional seafood, salad, Indian fry bread, dessert and beverages. Prepared by Chinook tribe members, the meal will cost $15 per adult, $13 for seniors (ages 55 and older) and $5 for children under 12. Diners can join the fun from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. at the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum. No reservations are required.

• Also on Nov. 8, naturalist/author/teacher Jack Nisbet will impart his vast knowledge of David Douglas, a trailblazing 19^th-century London Horticultural Society botanist. Douglas made three visits to the Pacific Northwest between 1825 and 1833, and his remarkable acquisitions provided a unique look at regional plants and animals during the period of contact. The lecture is scheduled for 7 p.m. in Ilwaco’s Hilltop Auditorium. Admission will be $10 per person.
• Nov. 9 heralds the dedication of a California condor sculpture crafted by nationally known artist Bart Kenworthy. A life-sized replica with a 9-foot wingspan, the bronze sculpture has been erected as a tribute to the Lewis and Clark Expedition, which found a ‘vulture of the large kind’ in 1805. The condor is posed on the ribs of a whale, with both creatures attached to a basalt rock weighing 40,000 pounds. The free ceremony begins at noon at the Port of Ilwaco’s covered pavilion.

• On Nov. 9, condors continue to command attention during “Columbia Condors: Forgotten Giants in the Sky,” a free lecture by Oregon Zoo Research Associate David Moen. Through the Condor Recovery Program, the Oregon Zoo is involved with captive breeding of the bird, once nearly extinct and now an integral part of the natural and cultural history of the Pacific Northwest. Moen will share his insights at 1 p.m. at the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum.

• Throughout Nov. 9, the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center will welcome guests to a memorable Open House. Coffee, juice and cake will be served at the center, where extensive exhibits spotlight the landmark 19^th-century Corps of Discovery Expedition. The free event will run from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Cape Disappointment State Park.

• In addition, Nov. 9 features the dedication of a large-scale replica of the United States Mint nickel, created to honor the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial in 2005. Photographer Andrew E. Cier – whose photograph inspired the nickel’s design – will attend the free ceremony, held at 3:30 p.m. at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center.

‘Ocian in View’ is presented by a partnership of community non-profit organizations, led by the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum and the Pacific County Friends of Lewis and Clark. For general program and destination information, please call the Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau at 1.800.451.2542 or access the Peninsula’s website at www.funbeach.com.

]]> http://boreasinn.com/blog/2008/10/14/annual-peninsula-event-ocian-in-view-november-7-9/feed/ 2