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

Oswald West

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 22, 2017

1. Oswald West Marker

Caption: (upper right) Oswald West, Governor of Oregon (1911-1915).

Inscription. Charismatic, intelligent, and possessing a keen sense of humor, Oswald West was one of Oregon’s most memorable governors. He is famous for his open mind, ardent support of women’s suffrage, and his habit of making gubernatorial rounds on horseback.

A Visionary
From a childhood spent traveling with his cattle-dealer father, to years as a land-fraud investigator for the state, Oswald West witnessed Oregon’s transition from the pioneer era. Disgusted with the corruption in state politics, he ran for governor in 1910. Undaunted by a lack of funds and influential friends, West campaigned in small communities, often speaking from the bumper of his car. West’s popularity grew, and he was elected to serve four influential years. Although West presided over a number of important political events, he is best remembered for a powerful act of conservation - the preservation of Oregon’s tidelands.
Oswald West possessed a life-long concern for the future of the Oregon’s natural resources. In 1913, he sponsored a bill declaring Oregon’s seashore “public highway.” The bill passed, became law, and no land between the

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high and low tides could be privately owned. Thanks to “Governor Oz” and other early conservationists, Oregon’s beaches, capes, bluffs, and headlands are preserved for all to enjoy. Oswald West State Park is named for this visionary Oregonian.

Erected by Oregon Department of Transportation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Civil Rights • Women.

Location. 45° 44.673′ N, 123° 57.64′ W. Marker is near Manzanita, Oregon, in Tillamook County. It is on Oregon Coast Highway (U.S. 101) near Meadow Loop, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Manzanita OR 97130, 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 walking distance of this marker: Roosevelt Elk

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 22, 2017

2. Oswald West Marker

(here, next to this marker); Neahkahnie Mountain (here, next to this marker); In Harmony with Nature (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Oswald West (here, next to this marker); Safety and Beauty (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); From Footpath to Highway (about 700 feet away); The First People (about 800 feet away); Uncanny Neahkahnie (about 800 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manzanita.

<i>Gov. Oswald West </i> image. Click for full size.

Bain News Service (photograph courtesy of the Library of Congress), circa 1912

3. Gov. Oswald West

Credits. This page was last revised on December 3, 2019. It was originally submitted on February 5, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 386 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 5, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 3. submitted on February 5, 2018.