Near Cannon Beach in Clatsop County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)

Ecola

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 23, 2017

1. Ecola Marker

Inscription. On January 8, 1806 William Clark and perhaps fourteen of the famous expedition reached a Tillamook village of five cabins on a creek which Captain Clark named Ecola or Whale Creek. Three days earlier, two men sent out from Fort Clatsop to locate a salt making site had brought back whale blubber given them by beach Indians. Appreciating the welcome addition to the explorers’ diet, Clark set out to find the whale or buy its blubber.
Traveling a perilous trail across Tillamook Head the food hunters, including Sacajawea and a young Indian guide, descended to “a butifull sand shore”. Crossing a stream later named Elk Creek by early settlers, the food hunters found the whale’s 105-foot skeleton.
Some oil and 300 pounds of blubber were bought from the Indians at “Ecola” Creek, who were busily rendering the whale meat with hot stones in wood troughs.

Erected by Oregon Travel Experience.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Indigenous Peoples and Communities. In addition, it is included in the Lewis & Clark Expedition, and the Oregon Beaver Boards

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series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is January 8, 1806.

Location. 45° 54.692′ N, 123° 56.925′ W. Marker is near Cannon Beach, Oregon, in Clatsop County. It is on Oregon Coast Highway (U.S. 101) near Radar Road, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cannon Beach OR 97110, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Oregon Coast.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast,

in the Pacific Northwest,

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Pacific Rim,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: "Cannon Beach" (here, next to this marker); Ekkoli: A Whale of a Tale (approx. 2 miles away); A Convenient Place for Making Salt (approx. 4.8 miles away); Lewis & Clark Salt Cairn (approx. 5.1 miles away); The Saltworks (approx. 5.1 miles away); Site of the Lewis and Clark Salt Camp (approx. 5.1 miles away); Gilbert Inn - 1892 (approx. 5.7 miles away); Tsunami (approx. 5.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 23, 2017

2. Ecola Marker

of all markers in Cannon Beach.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 11, 2018. It was originally submitted on February 2, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 735 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 2, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.