Place of Mystery And Romance

Neahkahnie Mountain has been the subject of stories and legends for hundred of years. From Spanish galleons to buried treasure, the Mountain resonates with mystery and romance. How many of these stories are true? What do you think?

The Beeswax Wreck

Early in the 1800's, local native People brought beeswax to Astoria to trade. There were no honeybees here then - so were did the beeswax come from? They said it came from a big ship that had washed up on Nehalem Spit.
People have continued to fine bees wax here, along with teak ship timbers and Chinese porcelain. Today, archaeologists say the ship was a Spanish galleon, one of hundreds that brought exotic goods from the Philippines to Mexico in exchange for New World silver between 1565 and 1815.
Beeswax was especially valuable because candles were an important light source. Scientists theorize that a tsunami in 1700 may have scattered the wax and possible the wreck, as well.
Still-Hidden Treasure
The local native People told another story: There's a pirate treasure trunk buried on the Mountain! The spot is marked with an inscribed rock and guarded by the ghost of a man who was buried with the treasure.
Treasure hunters have searched the Mountain, finding stones with markings, like this one (top center) - but no treasure.



Theories and tale still abound. The State Land Board called a halt to treasure hunting in 1989.

Mysterious Shipwreck
On a clear, calm, sunny day in October of 1913, the Glenesslin sailed onto the rocks of Neahkahnie Mountain and eventually sank. Did the ship get caught in a current or a wind pattern? Or did the captain sail into the Mountain on purpose? Nobody knowns.

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Show me all markers in:  Nehalem, OR  |  Tillamook County  |  97131  |  Oregon  |  United States of America

The First People
From Footpath to Highway
Safety and Beauty
Oswald West
In Harmony with Nature
Oswald West
Roosevelt Elk
Neahkahnie Mountain
Cannon Beach
Ecola

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