Pieces of History...
October, 2025
a little History of Gleneden
Gleneden Beach began with early homesteading and the Siletz Reservation, but the community was formally platted and named by developers in the 1920s. Later, improved highway access and the opening of the Salishan Lodge in the 1960s transformed it into a popular tourist and weekend getaway destination.
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Before European American settlement, the area was part of the Coast Reservation and later the Siletz Reservation. Early homesteaders, including a Polish family named Sijota in the 1900s, lived in relative isolation and subsisted on farming, fishing, and hunting. A Polish immigrant, Joseph was a key figure in the family's homesteading efforts. Born in Poland in 1854, he lived in Lincoln, Oregon, in 1930 and passed away in Gleneden Beach in 1932 at the age of 78. Family records show he had numerous children with his spouse, Mary Szczepaniak. At that time, the community was essentially just their farm, and the area was sometimes referred to by their family name, "Sijota," before later development. The lush, coastal environment, while scenic, was ill-suited for traditional farming. Land had to be arduously cleared of brush and trees, a backbreaking task that constantly had to be repeated due to rapid regrowth;
the family likely kept a small herd of dairy cows for their own consumption and possibly for trade with other settlers.
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The new Roosevelt Highway's construction dramatically changed the landscape of the Gleneden area. The road was built directly through the Sijota family's farmland, which was the most prominent settlement in the area at the time. The underpass was created to allow a natural waterway, Sijota Creek, to pass beneath the new road.
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As the Roosevelt Military Highway (present-day Highway 101) was being constructed in the mid-1920s, the Carey family bought up parcels of land in the area. In 1927, they platted the new community and named it "Gleneden," combining their daughter's name, Glen, with the idea of a "land of Eden" (the word "Beach" was added to the name a few years later to promote the sale of properties.)
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Before a bridge was built over the Siletz River after World War II, access to the community from the north was by boat. The improved highway access in the mid-1940s helped turn Gleneden Beach into a popular weekend retreat. In 1947, residents incorporated the Gleneden Beach Community Club. They raised funds to build a community hall, with much of the construction completed by volunteers using locally made bricks. The hall was finished in 1949.
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The Kernville-Gleneden Beach-Lincoln Beach Water District was established in 1952 to serve the surrounding communities. In 1961, developer John D. Gray began purchasing land to build a high-end resort. The Salishan Lodge
opened in 1965, and its associated golf course opened a few years earlier. Salishan became a premier destination, drawing more visitors to the area. Oregon State Parks purchased land for the Gleneden Beach State Recreation Site in 1966 and 1967.
Did You Know?
- Oregon is one of the only states in the U.S. where the entire coastline is open to the public.
- The 1913 law that protected the beaches was only one sentence long.
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The Beach Bill was nearly defeated — until a public outcry and dramatic photos of fenced-off beaches swayed lawmakers.
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Governor Tom McCall famously called the beaches “a legacy we must pass on, unimpaired, to the next generation.”
August 2025
The People’s Coast: How Oregon’s Beaches Became Public​
Did you know that every inch of Oregon’s 363 miles of coastline is open to the public? It’s true — and this rare privilege didn’t happen by chance. It’s the result of bold leadership and strong public support that, for more than a century, has protected what we now call The People’s Coast.
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The story begins in 1913, when Governor Oswald West, an avid outdoorsman, convinced the state legislature to declare Oregon’s beaches a public highway. At the time, this designation allowed the shoreline to be used for travel, fishing, and recreation. More importantly, it guaranteed that the beaches would remain in public hands for generations to come.
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By the 1960s, however, private development threatened that legacy. Some landowners began fencing off sections of the beach, sparking fears that public access would be lost. In response, Governor Tom McCall and State Highway Commissioner Bob Straub championed the Beach Bill of 1967. This landmark law reaffirmed that the wet sand below the high tide line belonged to everyone and extended public rights up to the line of vegetation, preserving access to the dry sand as well. Public support for the bill was overwhelming, and the Oregon coast remained a place for everyone to enjoy.
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Today, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) ensures those rights are upheld. Private landowners can’t block access, and any development along the coast is carefully reviewed to protect the public’s ability to explore and enjoy the shoreline. This part gets a bit technical, but the OPRD & Oregon Department of Land Conservation & Development's literature is robust and can explain quite a bit on 'beach access'. The primary guidelines were constructed in the 1970's with State Land Use Planning Goal 17. Here is a guide that was written in 2024 that helps local governments plan for Public Access. These both speak to how the public has a right to access the beach.
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Thanks to these protections, our beaches remain a shared treasure — a place to watch the sunset, fly kites, explore tide pools, or simply take a quiet walk along the water’s edge. Oregon’s coast isn’t just a scenic wonder; it’s a testament to the idea that some natural spaces are meant to belong to everyone.
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July 2025
The Salishan Spit, located at the mouth of the Siletz River and separating the Pacific Ocean from Siletz Bay, has a complex history tied to the Siletz Indian Tribe and its evolving relationship with the U.S. government.
Historical Connection:
• Traditional Lands: The Siletz people traditionally inhabited the central coast of Oregon, including the area around the Siletz River and Bay, before the arrival of European settlers. They were a Salishan-speaking group and were considered the southernmost branch of the larger Coast Salish culture.
• Forced Relocation: In the mid-19th century, during or after the Rogue River Wars, the U.S. government forcibly relocated the Siletz people to the Coast Indian Reservation, later known as the Siletz Reservation. This reservation was initially established in 1855 and encompassed a large area, including the Siletz homeland.
• Loss of Lands: The Siletz Reservation was significantly reduced in size over time through various government actions, including treaties and the Dawes Act.
• Termination and Restoration: In 1954, the Western Oregon Termination Act ended the federal recognition of the Siletz Tribe. However, the Siletz Tribe successfully lobbied for restoration, and in 1977, became the second tribe in the nation to regain federal recognition.
• Reservation Reestablishment: The Siletz Reservation Act in 1980 reestablished a land base for the Siletz Tribe, though it was much smaller than the original reservation.
Salishan Spit Today:
• Property Ownership: While the beaches are public lands, much of the upland property on the Salishan Spit is privately owned, including by Salishan Leaseholders, Inc. The Salishan Coastal Lodge also owns the golf course on the southern part of the spit.
• Restoration Efforts: The Siletz Bay estuary, impacted by past practices such as diking and draining for agriculture, is undergoing restoration efforts to improve habitat for fish and wildlife. The Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians are actively involved in these restoration projects, working with various government agencies and organizations.
Significance:
The Salishan Spit is a place with historical significance for the Siletz Indian Tribe due to their traditional connection to the area. The history of the spit reflects the broader story of the Siletz people, including their forced displacement, loss of land, termination of federal recognition, and subsequent restoration and efforts to reclaim their heritage and resources. The name itself reflects the area's connection to the Salishan languages spoken by the Siletz people.
