This week has been a celebration of Coos Bay’s rich history with the culmination of efforts made over several months by multiple organizations and individuals. This coordinated effort resulted in the designation of Coos Bay as a Heritage All-Star Community. Earlier this year, a collaborative group came together to build Coos Bay’s application, including meeting 17 out of 24 possible criteria options. Coos Bay’s completed application was submitted in early 2024 to the Oregon Heritage Commission (OHC) who reviewed our application at their April 17, 2024 commission meeting. With OHC’s approval, Coos Bay became the eighth city in Oregon to be designated a Heritage All-Star Community.

OHC is a group of leaders from across the state, appointed by the Governor, working together to preserve Oregon’s past. Their work is guided by the 2020-2025 Oregon Heritage Plan. They hold several meetings throughout the year, around the state, and take opportunity to visit local heritage sites around their meeting schedule. Their commission meetings and planned tours are open to the public. Their July meeting was held in Coos Bay on Monday, July 22, 2024, and was hosted at Coos Bay City Hall in the Council Chambers. Many members of OHC arrived in Coos Bay on Sunday to participate in the local heritage tour that started at the Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians Tribal Hall, continued at the Oregon Coast Historical Railway Museum, followed with a Front Street tour with stops at the Boardwalk, Coos Bay Iron Works, 999 Front Street building, and the Marshfield Sun Printing Museum, and ending at the Egyptian Theatre. 

At Tuesday’s City Council work session, members of OHC presented Coos Bay with the Heritage All-Star Designation certificate. This title provides for several opportunities, including access to heritage signage and logo, recognition on the Travel Oregon website, technical support for designation maintenance, and potential for funding access supporting heritage related programs and facilities.

I would like to extend a special thank you to all of the organizations and individuals that helped with the completion of the application and who participated in the heritage tour on Sunday. Coos Bay is proud to be a Heritage All-Star Community! 

-Joe Benetti, Mayor of Coos Bay