Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor Explained

Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor
Map:	Oregon#USA
Map Width:	220
Type:	Public, state
Location:	Curry County, Oregon, United States
Nearest City:	Brookings
Coords:	42.1201°N -124.3537°W
Coords Ref:	^[1]
Created:	1949
Operator:	Oregon Parks and Recreation Department

Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor is a linear state park in southwestern Oregon, in the United States. It is 12miles long and thickly forested along steep and rugged coastline with a few small sand beaches. It is named in honor of Samuel H. Boardman, the first Oregon Parks superintendent.^[2]

It is located from 3to north of Brookings, between the Pacific Ocean and U.S. Route 101. The north end abuts the Pistol River State Scenic Viewpoint. More than 14 named creeks cross the corridor.

The Oregon Coast Trail meanders for about 27miles through the park, among 300-year-old Sitka spruce trees and several natural arches and bridges. There is beach access and some sand dunes.The Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge and Oregon Islands Wilderness protect wildlife and habitat on all of the approximately 130 rocks and islands along the corridor's shore.

History

The area was used by Native Americans. Later, it was used by several (now abandoned) mining operations, whose ruins are still visible. At the Indian Sands site within the park, archaeological finds have provided evidence of human activity in this area 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, which is likely the result of migration along the Pacific coast from the area of the Bering Land Bridge.^{[3] [4] [5]}

A national park on the southern Oregon Coast was proposed in the late 1930s; it was to encompass 30000acres from Gold Beach to Brookings. A Congressional bill to formally create the national park was introduced in 1940, but it was never realized.^[6] The first acquisition for a state park along the coast was 121acres purchased in May 1949. There were at least 12 additional purchases made by May 1957. The Oregon Parks Commission received its first alien gift of 367acres made in 1950 by Borax Consolidated, Ltd of London, which retains the right to mine underground minerals such as borax. The company acquired the land c. 1880 for mining purposes.^[7] The park was named in 1950 for Oregon parks superintendent Samuel H. Boardman.^[6]

There have never been overnight facilities.^[7]

See also

• List of Oregon State Parks

External links

• Web site: Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor map. Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. 2014-05-21. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130822213819/http://oregonstateparks.org/index.cfm?do=main.loadFile&load=_siteFiles%2Fpublications%2Fboardman.pdf. 2013-08-22.

Notes and References

1. 1149017 . Samuel H Boardman State Park . 2011-07-01.
2. Web site: Samuel H Boardman State Scenic corridor . Oregon Parks and Recreation Department . 2008-05-28.
3. Web site: Ancient site of human activity found on Oregon coast . Oregon State University . 6 November 2002 .
4. Davis, Loren G.. Geoarchaeological Insights from Indian Sands, a Late Pleistocene Site on the Southern Northwest Coast, USA . Geoarchaeology. 21. 4. 351–61. April 2006. 10.1002/gea.20108.
5. Davis, Loren G.. A Late Pleistocene Occupation on the Southern Coast of Oregon. Journal of Field Archaeology. 29. 1/2. Spring 2002. 7–16. 10.2307/3181482. etal. 3181482.
6. News: Hale . Jamie . February 7, 2017 . In search of the lost Oregon Coast National Park . The Oregonian . June 27, 2024.
7. Book: Chester H. Armstrong . History of the Oregon State Parks . July 1, 1965 . 184 . Another tract, 304.1acres to parks and 62.90 to right of way, was a gift from the Borax Consolidated, Limited, of London, England, in 1950. Milo K. McIver, a State Highway commissioner at the time, honored the officials of Borax Consolidated in November, 1950, by personally accepting, at their London office, the deed from the English concern conveying the land to the State of Oregon, and at the same time delivering to them a letter from the Highway Commission accepting their generous gift. ... A plaque has been placed in the park commemorating the gift from Borax Consolidated, Limited, of London, England. It was placed near Lone Ranch Creek at the southern end of the gift area. Dedication was in May, 1962. The gift from Borax Consolidated bears the distinction of being the first grant made by an alien owner in the history of the Commission..