Seaside Roundabout

"Originally considered the western terminus of the Columbia River Highway, the 'turn-around' at Seaside lost that status when the State Highway Commission proposed a 430-mile highway from Astoria to the California state line. Seaside, given 'End-of-the-Trail' recognition by historians because of the salt cairn established there by the Lewis and Clark Expedition, was a logical choice as the western terminus of the great highway that followed in the "footsteps of Lewis and Clark" from Umatilla to the Oregon Coast."

Oregon State Archives: A 1940 Oregon Coast Tour

On the promenade at the foot of Main Street is the END OF THE TRAIL MONUMENT, commemorating the Lewis and Clark journey. Near the southern end of the promenade on Q Street are the ruins of the SALT CAIRN, a heap of brine-crusted rocks protected by an iron railing. It was built by the men Lewis and Clark sent to get salt by boiling down sea water. Clark wrote that he "Derected...Jos. Fields, Bratten, Gibson to proceed to the Ocean at Some Convenient place form a Camp and Commence makeing Salt with 5 of the largest Kittles, and Willard and Wiser to assist them in Carrying the Kittles to the Sea Coast...." Willard and Wiser later reported that the men "had at length established themselves on the coast about 15 Miles S. W. from this, near the lodge of some Killamuck families; that the Indians were very friendly and had given them a considerable quantity of the blubber of a whale which perished on the coast some distance S.E. of them; part of this blubber they brought with them, it was white & not unlike the fat of Poark, tho' the texture was more spongey and somewhat courser." Lewis had some of the blubber cooked and liked it. According to Lewis,

"...they commenced the making salt and found that they could obtain from 3 quarts to a gallon a day; they brought with them a specemine of the salt of about a gallon...this was a great treat to myself and most of the party, having not had any since the 20th ultmo.; I say most of the party, for my friend Capt. Clark declares it to be a mear matter of indifference with him whether he uses it or not; for myself I must confess I felt a considerable inconvenience from the want of it; the want of bread I consider as trivial provided, I get fat meat, for as to the species of meat I am not very particular, the flesh of the dog the horse and the wolf, having from habit become equally formiliar with any other, and I have learned to think that if the chord be sufficiently strong, which binds the soul and boddy together, it dose not so much matter about the materials which compose it."

Portland Memories Facebook Group

Tom Culhane, April 23, 2022:

Flag says strong wind out of the NW. Weather forecast: nice days ahead! Photo likely taken from the lifeguard tower.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/296569815544787/posts/486973913171042/ (Accessed May 5, 2022)

CLICK HERE to continue exploring the highway