This Friday, take a scenic drive up the coast when 101 at 100: The History of Oregon’s Most Iconic Highway opens at the Oregon Historical Society in downtown Portland. On view through October 11, this interactive installation explores a century of transportation, culture, and coastal life shaped by one of Oregon’s most beloved roads.
Stretching 363 miles along the Pacific Coast, U.S. Highway 101 has connected communities from Astoria to Brookings since its designation as a federal highway in 1926. 101 at 100 traces the road’s evolution from Indigenous travel routes to a vital corridor for commerce, tourism, and daily life.
“Having grown up on the Oregon Coast in Reedsport, Highway 101 was a constant presence in my life,” said OHS Boyle Family Executive Director Kerry Tymchuk. “This exhibition invites visitors to discover the rich diversity of Oregon’s coastal communities and to appreciate the remarkable feat of engineering that made Highway 101 possible.”…