The Boathouse
Preservation. Education. Resilience.
The Boathouse
Preservation. Education. Resilience.
A Destination
PROJECT MISSION & vision
To preserve, restore and meaningfully use Pier's End: Garibaldi's Historic United States Coast Guard Boathouse, creating an inclusive community gathering place that enhances the Tillamook Coast's economic strength, and to generate both educational and recreational opportunities for public-private partnerships to thrive.
A HISTORY OF RESILIENCE.
Since 1936, this structure has endured the rugged test of environment and condition on the north end of Tillamook Bay.
The building and pier indicate a rare type of maritime architecture that tells the story of a pivotal chapter in Oregon’s history. Only a handful of these life-saving structures were built and only one or two remain on the west coast. The combination of location, historical integrity of the building, and scenic value elevate the heritage, cultural, and visitor value as well as the need for a long-term plan to repurpose and preserve the unique asset for our community.
With architecture that provides a window into another time, the Historic US Coast Guard Boathouse represents an opportunity for our current culture to reflect on a journey across generations, and preserve access to this site for generations to come.
GARIBALDI CULTURAL HERITAGE INITIATIVE
In 2015, a conversation resurfaced regarding the future use and plan for Pier's End.
From this, a community-led initiative formed an alliance to guide the project and begin development of a fundraising campaign to preserve and repurpose the facility, and to collect stories of the history here.
The Garibaldi Cultural Heritage Initiative is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to the rehabilitation of Pier's End and support of cultural heritage enhancement projects on the Tillamook Coast. Project partners represent a diverse variety of community stakeholders committed to stewardship of our area's local cultural and natural resources.
Historic photos courtesy John Luquette, Port of Garibaldi Commissioner
Join us in the journey.
More information on this project and its timeline will be available soon. Your support is most welcome.
For questions or comments please email us at savegaribaldipier@gmail.com
Background
Tucked into a wooded curve of the coastline, Garibaldi sits against the mountains with its face to the harbor and sea...
Background
Tucked into a wooded curve of the coastline, Garibaldi sits against the mountains with its face to the harbor and sea...
This area’s history is steeped in sea-based traditions from time immemorial. Like many other Oregon coast communities, geography has played an important role in shaping the city and port that exist here today. For centuries, the people of this land have relied on the ocean, rivers, estuaries and forest for sustenance and livelihoods. In the early 1900s, Tillamook, Garibaldi and the surrounding villages relied on ship and rail to support commerce. This dependence on the sea to transport goods and passengers lead to increased concern in the safety and viability of crossing the Tillamook Bay bar. The treacherous waters have claimed many ships and lives over the years.
The history of the United States Coast Guard on Tillamook Bay traces back to US Congress approval for a Life-Saving Station in Barview in 1904. The US Coast Guard continues to save lives and honorably serve the Oregon Coast with an active presence on Tillamook Bay in their modern facility at the Port of Garibaldi.
Coast Guard History
Established by a unanimous vote of Congress in 1878, the United States Life-Saving Service was the first Federal service devoted exclusively to humanitarian purposes. It provided aid to mariners in distress from Alaska to Massachusetts, with the motto “You have to go out, but you don’t have to come back.” By 1915, the rescuers of the United States Life-Saving Service – fishermen, lobstermen, crabbers, and others who grew up along America’s shores – had saved more than 186,000 lives, becoming collectively the greatest institution of their kind in the world.
On January 20, 1915 the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service and U.S. Life-Saving Service were combined and renamed U.S. Coast Guard. The last station to be built on the Pacific Coast during the Life-Saving era was located in Barview at the mouth of Tillamook Bay. Due to a change in the coastline in 1915, the station’s boats were housed and moored at Garibaldi, about a mile and a half farther into the bay. The Coast Guard continued to use the Barview facility until January, 1943, when they moved into their new station in Garibaldi.
pier's End
The building's most significant historical value is its designation as an intact former United States Coast Guard Lifeboat Station. Plans for what is now called the Pier’s End Boathouse were drawn in 1934. Construction began in 1936, and the marine railway became fully operational in June 1937. The structure could accommodate two 36-foot motor lifeboats (MLBs) and one 26-foot oar-powered surfboat, all individually served by rails which merged into one set of launching rails. This system allowed lifeboats to be rapidly launched fully manned.
This boathouse first served the Tillamook Bay Station located in Barview, and then continued after the move to Garibaldi in 1943. It was decommissioned in the early 1960s when the Coast Guard relocated to a new facility, and later the boathouse became property of the Port of Garibaldi.
-History courtesy US Life-Saving Service Heritage Association-
-Aerial photograph courtesy Sam Beebe/Ecotrust-
“The United States Life Saving Service Heritage Association has been actively interested in the Pier’s End Boathouse as it is one of the few surviving structures built over the water that used a marine railway to launch 36-foot motor lifeboats (MLB). I believe it is the only such boathouse remaining on the west coast. The 36-foot lifeboats were the mainstay of the Coast Guard coastal rescue craft from the early 20th century until the 1960’s when they were gradually replaced by the 44-foot MLBs. This structure is very important historically, both locally and on a national level.
On behalf of our Association’s President Dring, we wish to heartily endorse the Garibaldi Cultural Heritage Initiative.”
Pier's End Today
Situated above the water in close walking distance to the Port Waterfront District and Garibaldi City Center, Pier’s End is a freestanding building and walkway extending 760’ out into the bay on a series of over 100 individual pilings.
The Pier is currently open to the public year round courtesy of an agreement between Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Port and City of Garibaldi. With a concrete stairwell providing access to the shoreline and seven ADA-accessible turnouts often utilized as platforms for fishing, crabbing and wildlife viewing, the Pier is a popular recreational site in all seasons. A gravel parking lot services the site with portable restroom facilities and a trash receptacle.
The Boathouse itself is staffed by volunteers. We are currently open holiday weekends, as we continue the renovation process.
A plan for structural assessment, redesign, and restoration of Pier’s End is an essential key to saving one of Tillamook County’s most recognized and prominent visual landmarks.
Partners
Special thanks to the expansive vision and support demonstrated by the Port of Garibaldi, without whom this project would not be possible.
Partners
Special thanks to the expansive vision and support demonstrated by the Port of Garibaldi, without whom this project would not be possible.
The following community partners and individuals have been instrumental in getting this project underway. Every dollar makes a huge impact and helps keep this effort moving forward. Our sincere thanks to all who have contributed time, talent and financial support - this could not happen with out you!
PROJECT PARTNERS & GRANTORS
Port of Garibaldi
City of Garibaldi
Tillamook School District 9
Oregon Coast Visitors Association
Visit Tillamook Coast
Tillamook People’s Utility District (PUD)
Tillamook County Cultural Coalition
Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife
WEBS/Friends of Netarts Bay
Tillamook Estuaries Partnership and Explore Nature
Pacific Coast Byway Company
Blue Siren Shellfish
Olympia Oyster Bar
Oregon SeaGrant
Brittell Architecture
RecreateNow LLC
Kayak Tillamook County
Sea Legs Media
“We shape our buildings; thereafter, our buildings shape us.”
This video brought to you by funding from the Economic Development Council of Tillamook County / Visit Tillamook Coast, and the Oregon Coast Visitors Association.