Cannon Beach History Center and Museum

The Cannon Beach History Center and Museum sits a few blocks off the main road, housed in a small building lined with exhibits on local maritime history, early settlement, and regional landmarks. Displays rotate throughout the year, with permanent anchors like the recovered cannon that gave the town its name. Inside, the museum holds vintage photographs from the early 20th century, showing Haystack Rock and surrounding areas in their historical context. Exhibits on shipwrecks and the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse trace the town’s coastal development and the hazards faced by early sailors along the Pacific shoreline. Admission is free, with a donation box near the entrance. A small gift shop next to the main exhibit space stocks regional souvenirs, including Cannon Beach-themed items and nods to local pop culture ties like The Goonies. The museum stays compact and easy to move through, built for both quick visits and slower exploration depending on interest. Artifacts, documents, and displays are presented simply, without heavy interpretation, giving the space a low-key, local character.