Small Town America

The John Day Fossil beds hold testament to 44 million years of plant and animal life and present visitors with some of the most stunning geological features in the country. Hillsides formed over millions of years appear painted with blood red and blue-green stripes, while rocky bluffs tower over sweeping ranchlands and meandering valleys.

When US explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark arrived in October of 1805, the residents of the area spoke Sahaptian and Chinookian, and lived in wooden plank lodges roofed with bark. Clark referred to the area as the “Great Mart”, as it was teeming with traders hocking baskets, boxes, furs, seashells, and precious blue beads.

While the small town is home to just 16,000, its presence makes a considerable impression on new visitors. The largest bay in Oregon, the largest airport and the largest hospital on the Oregon coast are all squeezed into about 15 square miles. But it makes sense that Coos Bay would be home to the largest town on the Oregon coast, as this part of the Coastline has been home to human settlements for thousands of years.