Coos Bay in Coos County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)
The Changing Waterfront
(center panel)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2015
1. The Changing Waterfront Marker (center panel)
The shipping channel in the bay in front of you has a depth of about 35 feet at low tide. Large ships travel in this channel on their way to the upper bay.
Frequently small harbor tugs can be seen pulling log rafts by this pavilion. The logs are loaded onto ships for transport.
The Coos Bay waterfront has been changing for many years. It looks very different now than it did in 1850 and in 1950. It will continue to change, influenced by people and the surrounding environment.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Notable Places • Waterways & Vessels.
Location. 43° 22.048′ N, 124° 12.727′ W. Marker is in Coos Bay, Oregon, in Coos County. It is on Oregon Coast Highway (U.S. 101) north of Anderson Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Marker is located in an interpretive kiosk along the Coos Bay Board Walk. This marker is the center panel of a set of three related markers. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Coos Bay OR 97420, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southern Oregon and specifically 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, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named The Changing Waterfront (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named The Changing Waterfront (here, next to this marker); Transportation
this page online
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Coos Bay Waterfront History
Also see . . . Port of Coos Bay History.
Both sailing vessels and steamboats engaged in the early coastal shipping traffic which called at Coos Bay. The steamers carried passengers and freight, and sometimes bulk cargoes, while sailing ships carried mostly bulk cargoes of lumber and coal. As a rule, the bulk cargo carriers were laden with paying cargo only on the outbound leg of their journey. There was practically no incoming bulk cargo into Coos Bay, and as a consequence, the ships brought in quantities of stone as ballast. (Submitted on February 17, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photograph courtesy Oregon International Port of Coos Bay
2. Marker detail: The Coos Bay waterfront today
Photograph courtesy Oregon International Port of Coos Bay, June 25, 2015
3. Marker detail: Ship M/V Columbia Bay at dock
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2015
4. The Changing Waterfront Marker (wide view of all three panels)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2015
5. Tugboat Captain Louie pushing a barge
Built in 1961, Captain Louie was later widened, repowered, and fitted with a removable tower for pushing barges. All the work was done on a barge at Knutson Towboat's offices.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2015
6. Tugboat Gene Dunlap (view from near marker)
Vessel Gene Dunlap is a tug built in 1972 and currently sailing under the flag of USA. Gene Dunlap has 35m length overall and beam of 10m. Her gross tonnage is 321 tons
Credits. This page was last revised on November 5, 2020. It was originally submitted on February 17, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 383 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 17, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 5, 6. submitted on February 19, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
