Tillamook
Forest Center Story By Pat Snider
Mention
Tillamook Burn today and the image of a charred, grilled cheese sandwich might
come to mind. However, seventy-five years ago, it meant one thing: fire.
On a hot,
dry day in August, 1933, a wayward spark at a logging site in the Coast Range
west of Forest Grove set off an intense inferno. Fueled by strong winds and low
humidity, the raging fire burned over 250,000 acres and destroyed 12 billion board
feet of prime, old growth, Douglas fir in one week. Smoke darkened the skies from
Portland to Astoria, charred needles rained on the coastal town of Tillamook,
and ashes fell on decks of ships 500 miles at sea.
The fire set off a six-year
jinx with reoccurring fires in 1939, 1945, and 1951. Collectively, they became
known as the Tillamook Burn. In 1948, Oregon voters approved $12 million in bonds
designated to restore the fire-ravaged forest. These funds initiated one of the
largest reforestation projects ever undertaken. For the first time, helicopters
were used to drop millions on seeds. School
Tillamook
Forest Center
45500 Wilson River Highway
Tillamook, OR 97141
503-815-6800
What
to bring: If you go in the winter, wear layers and bring a raincoast. In the
summer, wear a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and insect repellant. The center is
air conditioned on very hot days. Street shoes or sandlas are fine, but if you're
planning to explore the trails bring a good sturdy pair of shoes or boots.
Also consider bringing guide books, map, compass, GPS, binocullars, snacks,
water bottles and a first aid kit if you are planning to explore the forest.
Tips:
There is no cellular phone coverage in the Tillamook Forest area. If
you are traveling from Tillamook, consider taking Tillamook County’s public
transit service, called The Wave.
Hours: Winter hours are from 10
am to 4 pm, Wednesday through Sunday; in summer, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm daily.
Admission:
Free of charge
Directions:
From Portland Approximate driving
time one hour.
Travel westbound from Portland on the Sunset Highway (US
26) toward the Oregon Coast. Take Exit 53 marked “Highway 6 | Tillamook |
Ocean Beaches” Continue 29.1 miles west on Highway 6. The Tillamook Forest
Center is near milepost 22. You’ll see it just past the turn-off for Jones
Creek Campground. Look for the large stone and wood entry monuments. You’re
here!
From Tillamook Approximate driving time 20 minutes.
Travel
east from Tillamook on Highway 6. After milepost 21 begin watching on your left
for the signs for the Tillamook Forest Center. If you pass the turn-off for the
Smith Homestead Day Use Area, you’ve gone too far. | |
groups, volunteers,
forest workers, and prison inmates planted over 72 million Douglas fir seedlings
much to the delight of the local deer and elk population. Burnt wasteland began
to transform to a lush, green forest, and in 1973, the area was dedicated and
renamed the Tillamook State Forest.
The
tragedy of the fire and success story of the reforestation come alive at the newly
opened (April, 2006) Tillamook Forest Center on Highway 6 about 50 miles west
of Portland and 20 miles east of Tillamook. The Center was funded by the non-profit
Tillamook Forest Heritage Trust whose list of donors reads like a who's who of
the Pacific Northwest timber industry. Sitting in the middle of a narrow, wooded
gorge along the Wilson River, the building used many recycled and green materials
and eco-friendly building techniques. For example, the water pond outside collects
rainwater to cool the building, flush the toilets, and fill the fire sprinkling
system. A
visit to the Center should begin with a viewing of the award-winning film, Legacy
of Fire. Through dramatic film footage, photographs, and interviews, it tells
the story of the Tillamook Burn in a riveting and fascinating 15 minutes. The
theater screen itself is supported by original beams from a burned railroad trestle. In
the museum, interactive exhibits, artifacts, oral-histories, and life-size displays
convey the story of the past, present and future of the forest and highlight both
the human and natural history of the area. One display, Share Your Memories, provides
cards for people to write personal accounts of their experiences with the fire
and reforestation. In
the rear of the building, an attractive, 250-foot, pedestrian suspension bridge
spans the Wilson River and provides access to a network of hiking trails following
the stream in both directions. Next to the bridge, a platform overlooks the river
and provides the perfect spot to watch for salmon returning upstream or rafters
heading downstream. In the front of the Center, is a replica of a forest fire
lookout tower similar to the one that first spotted the fire in 1933. A climb
up 72 stairs leads to the top of the 40-foot tower. Interior displays show what
life was like for fire spotters in the early 1900s. Viewing the surrounding area
from the tower platform makes the transformation from a barren, burnt wasteland
70 years ago to the dense woodlands of today even more dramatic. The
Center, owned and operated by the Oregon Department of Forestry, offers an active
program of interpretive events ranging from bluegrass concerts to wildflower walks.
The calendar is listed on their web site or call 503-815-6800 for more information.
Easily accessible from Highway 6 and free of charge, the Center makes a worthwhile
stop on the way to the ocean or as a day trip destination on its own.
Photo
provided by Pat
Snider
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