Historical societies and museums act in a way analogous to the family photo album – and so much more. They are the repositories of an entire geographic area’s “family album.” The family is larger, but the function is similar: telling the history, in text and photographs, of the people, places and events of a particular region, in all the specific ways that make it unique. They are the “keepers of the flame,” making sure that history is recorded correctly, archived where it can readily be accessed and preserved for all time. Their charters and mission statements are somewhat the same: They are not-for-profit educational organizations dedicated to the preservation of local history, and governed by a board of directors. After that, they are all different in many ways – the number of events and/or publications they sponsor, member benefits, museum stores and libraries, photographic collections and personal and occupational ephemera held in the societies’ buildings. All are open to new members and welcome volunteers.

The Pacific Coast Historical Society, located in South Bend, Wash., was organized by members of the Pacific County Pioneer Association in 1949. The Sou’Wester, a quarterly magazine of county history, started publication in 1966 and the museum was established in 1970 by Ruth Dixon. The Museum and Research Archive is the educational arm of the organization, housing the society’s permanent collection as well as temporary displays. The society actively collects records and items related to Pacific County history. The collection numbers more than 10,000 photographic images, 1,500 historical artifacts and 500 linear feet of archival records, all of which attract hundreds of researchers each year. Programs include a variety of topics, displays at fairs and festivals, school tours and technical assistance to individuals and other organizations working to preserve Pacific County’s heritage. Carla Webber is the museum director.

The Clatsop County Historical Society, headquartered in Astoria, offers three distinctly different museums housed in historic buildings. First is the Capt. George Flavel House, a luxuriously elegant Queen Anne Victorian home built in 1885. It features Eastlake style wood interiors and exotic hardwood fireplaces with imported tile surrounds. Many of the trees in the surrounding gardens were planted by the Flavels more than a century ago. Be transported to another era by touring this gracious home and garden. The Heritage Museum, built in 1904 as Astoria’s City Hall, now houses the society’s regional museum, administrative offices and archives. Galleries feature permanent and changing exhibits about natural history, geology, industries, commerce, occupations and pastimes – and the people of this historically rich area. The Uppertown Firefighters Museum has an extensive collection of firefighting equipment in use from 1879 to 1963, including hand-pulled, horse-drawn and motorized fire engines and firefighting memorabilia. Take the kids to this one for a fun afternoon! The archive, maintained by the society with Liisa Penner as archivist, is extensive, including back issues of Cumtux, the society’s quarterly publication, 30,000 photographs – many of them from significant collections, Port of Astoria records, personal scrapbooks and records from private service organizations.

The Seaside Historical Society Museum is housed in Butterfield Cottage, built in 1893 for Horace Seely Butterfield, a prominent Portland jeweler. It has been interpretively restored to be used as a museum depicting a beach cottage and rooming house of 1912, the only beach cottage museum in Oregon. When you visit, be sure to allow enough time to stroll the gardens. The society prides itself on preserving the history of Oregon’s first Seaside resort with exhibits detailing more than 2,000 years of Seaside’s heritage, artifacts dating from 700 B.C., a diorama depicting Seaside in 1899 and a research library and photo archive. Three of their annual events are the Fourth of July Old Fashioned Social, Gingerbread Christmas at the Butterfield Cottage, both of which are self-explanatory, and the Lewis and Clark Saltmakers Return. Every year in mid-August, the museum, in conjunction with Fort Clatsop National Park and the City of Seaside, celebrates the 1805-06 Lewis and Clark Expedition by making salt on the Seaside beach. Visitors represent Clatsop Indians coming to salt camp to trade wild berries, fruit, meat and other 1806 trade goods for beads and bright pieces of metal. This re-enactment begins with a sign that says; “You are now entering 1806.” Visitors are met by first-person characters in authentic costumes speaking in the manner of the time. Your interpreter will scoop ocean water out of the surf and make salt before your very eyes! Now THAT is bringing the past right up to the minute! The society has a comprehensive online presence providing the visitor with an Online Museum Tour, a description of all the society does and an extensive newsletter from the president.

The Cannon Beach History Center and Museum was revived in 1988 when a group of former society members and others mounted an exhibit on the history of Cannon Beach in the Clatsop County Historical Society’s Heritage Museum in Astoria. The collection and cataloging of historic artifacts and oral histories began in earnest in 1990 and the group commissioned the writing of the book “Cannon Beach: A Place by the Sea,” by Oregon historian Terence O’Donnell. With a gift of land in 1995, the group started to construct the facility that now houses the Cannon Beach History Center and Museum. The building went through several phases of development through the years, culminating in the addition of a classroom, oral history studio and artifact storage area in 2005. The Cannon Beach History Center and Museum now features a permanent exhibit, a Native American longhouse and temporary exhibits, including a rotating quilt show. Several programs have been added to the museum’s repertoire in recent years: a field trip program, the Acoustic Folk! music series, a monthly lecture series, an annual film festival and other events both fun and educational. Another very popular event is the Cottage Tour, which happens every September, showcasing cottages all over Cannon Beach that have been around for a long time and preserved according to the time they were built. The museum also houses the original cannon which gave Cannon Beach its name.

A recitation of where they are and what they do doesn’t begin to describe the contribution of these societies. They are all led by and filled with people who appreciate the area’s rich history, love to talk about it and take great pride in preserving it. Make it a point to visit one or all of them and tour the region’s glorious past as saved for posterity by these important organizations.