Wheeler in Tillamook County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)

Wheeler

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 8, 2015

1. Wheeler Marker

Inscription.

Wheeler. . The city of Wheeler with a commanding view of The Nehalem Bay , has some of the most interesting pre-Oregon history beginning with Frances Drake repairing his ship in the summer of 1579 and the wreck of a 1700's Spanish galleon. Some suggest that the area is actually the New Albion referred to in accounts of Drake's voyage. Others suggest that Bruno de Heceta was the first European to approach the Columbia River bar area in 1775, a mere decade before Lewis and Clark. Still others claim that a careful bit of digging in Nehalem Bay will confirm that Chinese mariners arrived here before the Europeans. , The first survey of Wheeler was made by a U.S. Geological Survey team in 1856. The village was founded as a mill town in 1910 by lumberman Coleman H. ("C.H.”) Wheeler, for whom it is named. Wheeler operated a saw mill called the Wheeler Lumber Company which he founded in 1912. , The success of the town was, in part, due to the railroad – mainly freight trains hauling lumber products from mills in Wheeler. By 1981, the Port of Tillamook Bay was operating the line and still does, providing short "fun run" trains from Garibaldi to Wheeler. After storm damage to a portion of the railway in 2007, the Port of Tillamook Bay closed the rail line beyond Wheeler and no longer provides a train connection from the coast to the valley. , Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad currently operates trains over a 30-mile section of the railroad between Garibaldi and Salmonberry. , In 2013, a steering committee Salmonberry Coalition was formed to make recommendations to the Port of Tillamook Bay on re-linking the communities along the rail corridor by converting the no longer functional portions of rail line to a trail. The Salmonberry Trail would connect 8 cities and 2 counties while passing through agrarian fields, the rugged coast range and important fisheries and along the Oregon coastline. Wheeler is proud to be one of the eight cities connected with the Salmonberry trail. . This historical marker is in Wheeler in Tillamook County Oregon

The city of Wheeler with a commanding view of The Nehalem Bay
has some of the most interesting pre-Oregon history beginning with Frances Drake repairing his ship in the summer of 1579 and the wreck of a 1700's Spanish galleon. Some suggest that the area is actually the New Albion referred to in accounts of Drake's voyage. Others suggest that Bruno de Heceta was the first European to approach the Columbia River bar area in 1775, a mere decade before Lewis & Clark. Still others claim that a careful bit of digging in Nehalem Bay will confirm that Chinese mariners arrived here before the Europeans.

The first survey of Wheeler was made by a U.S. Geological Survey team in 1856. The village was founded as a mill town in 1910 by lumberman Coleman H. ("C.H.”) Wheeler, for whom it is named. Wheeler operated a saw mill called the Wheeler Lumber Company which he founded in 1912.

The success of the town was, in part, due to the railroad – mainly freight trains hauling lumber products from mills in Wheeler. By 1981, the Port of Tillamook Bay was operating the line and still does, providing short

Wheeler Marker (<i>wide view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 8, 2015

2. Wheeler Marker (wide view)

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"fun run" trains from Garibaldi to Wheeler. After storm damage to a portion of the railway in 2007, the Port of Tillamook Bay closed the rail line beyond Wheeler and no longer provides a train connection from the coast to the valley.

Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad currently operates trains over a 30-mile section of the railroad between Garibaldi and Salmonberry.

In 2013, a steering committee Salmonberry Coalition was formed to make recommendations to the Port of Tillamook Bay on re-linking the communities along the rail corridor by converting the no longer functional portions of rail line to a trail. The Salmonberry Trail would connect 8 cities and 2 counties while passing through agrarian fields, the rugged coast range and important fisheries and along the Oregon coastline. Wheeler is proud to be one of the eight cities connected with the Salmonberry trail.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 45° 41.412′ N, 123° 52.913′ W. Marker is in Wheeler, Oregon, in Tillamook County. Marker is at the intersection of Oregon Coast Highway (U.S. 101) and Rector Street, on the left when traveling north on Oregon Coast Highway. Marker

Old Wheeler Hotel (<i>across highway from marker</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 8, 2015

3. Old Wheeler Hotel (across highway from marker)

is near the railroad tracks, beside Norm Lankes Station. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Wheeler OR 97147, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Uncanny Neahkahnie (approx. 5.2 miles away); The First People (approx. 5.2 miles away); From Footpath to Highway (approx. 5.2 miles away); Safety and Beauty (approx. 5.2 miles away); Oswald West (approx. 5.3 miles away); Neahkahnie Mountain (approx. 5.3 miles away); a different marker also named Oswald West (approx. 5.3 miles away); Roosevelt Elk (approx. 5.3 miles away).

Norm Laknes Station (<i>beside marker</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 8, 2015

4. Norm Laknes Station (beside marker)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 8, 2018. It was originally submitted on January 25, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 186 times since then and 21 times this year. Last updated on February 2, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. Photos: 1. submitted on January 25, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 2, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.