The Lewis & Clark Salt Makers Return

Third weekend of every August on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, starting at 5 PM Friday and running continuously until 3 PM Sunday. The Saltmakers Return, sponsored by the Seaside Museum and Historical Society in conjunction with Ft. Clatsop Nat. Park and the city of Seaside, celebrates the 1805-06 Lewis & Clark Expedition by making of salt on the Seaside beach. Visitors will be representing Clatsop Indians who are coming to the salt camp to trade wild berries, fruit, meat and other 1806 trade goods for beads and bright pieces of metal. You will be met by professional first person character interpreters who will prepare you for your journey back to the 1806 salt camp. When you arrive at the sign "You are now entering the year 1806" you will find men in costume, on the beach in Seaside Oregon, performing first person interpretation of the Salt Maker they are portraying. These men have studied their historic character and they perform the part in the jargon of 1806. Who do they do their performance with? You, the visitor! The first person interpreters will be scooping ocean water out of the surf, bringing it to the Salt Camp and actually making sea salt. Please scroll down to see photos from past events, and click on the small images to see a larger version. Archive photos: Salt makers camp & Orientation tent Orientation: Now entering 1804 Seaside beach view looking North from Ave. U These cyclists arrived during the event after a coast to coast bicycle trip! Families enjoy the event and Seaside's beach! Seaside Surfers Pelicans flying over the event. Welcome! Barter Sea salt: the finished product. Camp is near the Tides Motel at the end of Avenue U, Seaside. Archive photos from July 2004: Welcome Tent (on the beach at Avenue U & the Prom) Orientation: Now entering 1804 Learning about the Salt Works Barter Water is carefully skimmed from the Pacific Ocean, to contain as little sand as possible. "Can I help?"   Archive photos from August 2004: The 1806 Camp "Malibu School" Group Bartering for a Thimble I've got sand in my shoes!

2010 Poster The Saltmakers Return is sponsored by: Seaside Museum & Historical Society Fort Clatsop National Memorial, NPS The Pacific Northwest Living Historians The Saltmakers Return is funded by: Destination: The Pacific The Autzen Foundation City of Seaside Promotion Committee City of Seaside Public Works Department The Tides Motel Seaside Observations by Helen Gaston & Roy Kirkham, 2002

salt makers, salt-makers, making salt by boiling ocean water, Pacific Ocean, Seaside, Oregon, south of Fort Clatsop, Clatsop County, Oregon