A still from the Jones Family Films, c. 1965.
With the advent of 8mm celluloid film in the 1950s, for the first time in history people were able to capture their lives in motion. Nowadays we’re used to making a video whenever we please, in 1960 this was groundbreaking. These one-of-a-kind physical films are some of the first moving images of the Oregon Coast! You will see Oregon Coast landmarks, tourist destinations, dirt highways, families playing on the beach, and many other sights – some still familiar today, and some that are clearly historical.
These are just a few of the films donated to the museum over the years, many by unknown donors. They were digitized thanks to a grant from the Siletz Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund in 2023.
The exhibit consists of a 21 minute silent film loop. It will be on display in our Anne Hall Gallery upstairs through December 2024.
