Seaside has a flourishing art scene with quaint galleries and a monthly art walk in the historic Gilbert District, but it also has a growing collection of murals around downtown. Some celebrate the area’s history and proximity to the Pacific and others are just a sight to see. Use the guide below to locate all these works of art. Have kids? Turn your walk into a scavenger hunt, taking photos at each mural as proof of your discovery.
Love from Seaside, 800 S. Holladay Drive
As you enter Seaside from the south on Highway 101, make a slight detour onto Holladay Drive to arrive at the first mural on our tour and one of the most Instagrammed spots in Seaside. Adorning the street-facing side of the Coast River Inn, you’ll find an eye-popping sunset mural with the message, “Love from Seaside.” Painted by local artists Sarah Louise and Joseph Soller, the scene gives a whimsical nod to explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, with one looking through a telescope and the other riding a bike. While not historically accurate, it’s a reminder to guests that the hotel has bikes to borrow for exploring Seaside.
Now head to the Seaside Visitors Bureau (7 N. Roosevelt Dr.), where you can park your car. Take a moment to snap a photo in the oversized Adirondack chairs before proceeding down Broadway Street.
Native American History, Corner of Broadway Street and N. Holladay Drive
As you near the corner of Broadway and Holladay, you can’t miss Seaside’s largest outdoor art installation. Created by Oregon artist Roger Cooke, the 60-foot-long mural celebrates Seaside’s early Native American history. Witness the daily life of Clatsop and Nehalem tribes at the Seaside estuary, with Tillamook Head in the background. The mural includes images of historic tribal members including Tostum, chief of the Clatsop tribe in the early 1800s. Turn right on Holladay and then right on 1st Avenue to find the next mural.
Whales at Sea, 811 1st Avenue
The next mural seems at home next to the Starry Night Inn, whose name references the famous Van Gogh painting. While you won’t find any original Van Goghs here, you will see plenty of local art; in fact, the owners call it an art hotel, since it has its own artist-in-residency program. The mural — just west of the hotel — shows three orcas swimming in the sea. All year-round but especially in December and March, you can see whales migrating along the Oregon Coast. Head west on 1st Avenue across the bridge. Then turn left on Edgewood.
Greetings from Seaside, Corner of N. Edgewood and Oceanway Streets
Just outside of the Seaside Civic and Convention Center, you’ll spot Seaside’s most well-known mural, the iconic Seaside postcard. The mural is flanked on both sides by nostalgic images, courtesy of the Clatsop County Historical Society. It’s the perfect spot for a family photo to remember your time in Seaside. Now head south to Broadway. Take a right and enter the Seaside Carousel Mall.
The Turnaround, 300 Broadway Street
As you head toward the classic carousel, look up and to your right. Here you’ll see two murals depicting scenes at the Turnaround as it would have appeared in the 1920s — women with parasols and men wearing bowler hats. It’s a reminder of a simpler time at the shore. As you exit the mall, turn right and walk a half block.
Scenes from Seaside, Near 210 Broadway Street
On your right, you’ll find a small alcove that’s home to Zinger’s Homemade Ice Cream. To the right of the shop, you’ll spot the next mural. Painted in pastels, it shows a quilt hanging on display at the beach. Each square captures a different Seaside scene. Some are historic, like the arrival of Lewis and Clark, while others are more contemporary, like the hanging flower baskets that line the streets of downtown and the Promenade. Cross the street and continue west on Broadway for a half block.
Aloha Spirit, 111 Broadway Street
Hopefully, you’ve worked up an appetite because the next mural is inside the Big Kahuna Pub and Grill. Stretching the entire length of the wall, you’ll find a brilliant Hawaiian sunset on full display, complete with palm trees and lapping water. The palette here — deep oranges, glowing yellows and muted purples — are true to the real thing. Order one of Big Kahuna’s famous bloody Marys and soak up the aloha spirit.
For dinner, stop in at Angelina’s Pizzeria & Cafe (1815 S. Roosevelt Dr.) in the south part of town. Here you’ll see another full wall mural. This one highlights a Seaside sunset with equally splendid colors. Head down to the Turnaround. After snapping a shot with Lewis, Clark and their dog Seaman, walk south along the Promenade.
Bathing Beauty, 26 Avenue A
If you find these two murals at the WorldMark Seaside, you earn bonus points! On the northwest and southwest corners of this building, you’ll see two entrances. Only guests can open these doors, but if you peek inside, you’ll get a glimpse of the murals pointing in the direction of the beach. One features a man and the other features a woman — both sporting vintage swimwear. Continue walking along the Promenade to Avenue A. Turn left and walk three blocks.
Hood to Coast, 405 Avenue A
On the north side of the building that houses Beach N’ Brew, you’ll find the Hood to Coast mural. This annual overnight relay race is held in late August. The course starts at Timberline Lodge on the slopes of Mt. Hood and stretches 200 miles to Seaside. With more than 1,000 teams, it’s the largest walking and running relay race in the world. Continue on Avenue A to South Franklin Street. Turn left and then right on Broadway. Turn left onto the walking path pass Quatat Park and behind the convention center. Continue straight on Necanicum Drive to 6th Avenue.
Daddy Train, 570 Necanicum Dr.
All aboard! This next mural on the wall of the Seaside Museum and Historical Society commemorates the famed “Daddy Train.” In the late 1800s and early 1900s, families would make the journey by train to Seaside to escape Portland’s summer heat. While the mothers and children would stay, the fathers would commute back and forth — spending the weekdays in Portland and the weekends at the Coast. When Highway 26 was completed in 1938, the train became obsolete. Continue north on Necanicum Drive for five blocks until you reach 12th Avenue.
Jumping Salmon, Corner of Necanicum Drive and 12th Street
You’ll find one of Seaside’s newest murals on the backside of the building in Elvin C. Goodman Park. Made up of more than 34,000 tiles, this mosaic mural features a jumping salmon. Perhaps it will inspire you to catch one of your own on a chartered fishing trip with a local guide. You’ve officially completed the mural walk. Now head down 12th Avenue to the beach, where you can rest your feet in the sand.
