[Heritage] Oregon Heritage News 2012-04-10

[Heritage Info]

In this Issue:
1.  Registration deadline nears for Heritage Conference
2.  Conservationists working on Arch Cape cannons
3.  Correction, update on previous announcements


REGISTRATION DEADLINE NEARS FOR HERITAGE CONFERENCE

If you've delayed registering for the Oregon Heritage Conference/Northwest Archivists Annual Meeting, procrastinate no more. Go to the registration page at http://northwestarchivistsinc.wildapricot.org/Default.aspx?pageId=1232289to ensure your seat at invaluable sessions and food at your meal tables.

You won't want to miss out on thoughtful and stimulating plenary talks by Eliza Canty-Jones of the Century of Action women's history project, chief historian Bob Sutton of the National Park Service, and teacher/author/entrepreneur Matt Love. Or workshops on topics ranging from social media marketing to emergency preparedness to collections care to preservation contracting tips.

This year's theme, "Fertile Ground: Planting the Seeds for Restoration, Innovation  and Collaboration." Sessions include talks by professionals and other experts from Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Alaska.

The joint conference will take place April 26-28 with many of the sessions at the Salem Conference Center. Other events are taking place at the Oregon State Archives and the Willamette Heritage Center at the Mill. There are both pre- and post-conference meetings and activities as well. In addition, you will also be able to visit booths staffed by vendors and organizations, and view posters about archives care and management.

You will also be able to meet and talk with hundreds of other community leaders, staff and volunteers from archives, records repositories, historical societies, museums, historic cemeteries, ethnic organizations, schools, historic preservation commissions, humanities groups, Main Street programs, the tourism industry, economic development, history buffs and professional historians, youth, and local, tribal, state and federal governments.

More information about the conference is available at www.oregon.gov/OPRD/HCD/OHC/Conference.shtml  And be sure to register now.


CONSERVATIONISTS WORKING ON ARCH CAPE CANNONS

In 2008, Arch Cape visitors discovered two misshapen, rocky blobs partially buried in the beach sand. The lumps had odd, cannon-like shapes and streaks of rust weeping from between the rocks. The nearby town of Cannon Beach earned its name from the 1846 shipwreck of the USS Shark. Chunks of wreckage floated to Arch Cape, including a portion of the deck bearing three short cannons called carronades. The beach hid all three cannons for 52 years, exposing one weapon in 1898. Was the beach revealing the other two 110 years later? 

Arch Cape State Park staff, with help from the community and archaeologists, rescued both objects. Consulting with the US Navy and a team of local partners, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department hired experts from Texas A&M Universitys Nautical Archaeology program to start the long, careful process of removing the cannons from their rocky prison. Using tools resembling pencil-sized jackhammers, chemical baths and electricity, Texas students and their mentors are slowly removing the outer coating and salt. To date, they have removed the rock from both cannons. They have removed damaging salts from one cannon, while the other is still soaking. 

So, are these cannons truly from the USS Shark? When the archaeologists finish their work, well let you know. In the meantime, visit www.oregon.gov/OPRD/PARKS/cannon.shtml for updates and to learn more.


UPDATE, CORRECTION OF PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Scenic Bikeway notice that ran in the April 9 issue contained an incorrect website. Visit www.oregonscenicbikeways.org ( http://www.oregonscenicbikeways.org/ )( http://www.oregonscenicbikeways.org/) to learn more about the new Scenic Bikeway along the Oregon Trail Route.

The Lincoln County Historical Society presentation by Tracy Prince on April 14 has been canceled.

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Visit www.oregon.gov/OPRD/HCD/OHC/Conference.shtmlto register now for the joint Oregon Heritage Conference / Northwest Archivists Annual Meeting April 26-28. 

Follow us on Facebook ( www.facebook.com/pages/Oregon-Heritage-Conference/194597583890959) for updates.