An unusual beach in Seaside features rocks painted with pictures and messages
There are many unusual sights to see on the Oregon Coast. Most are special places made by nature, such as the famous Haystack Rock near Cannon Beach. Some are made by people, such as the historic Heceta Head Lighthouse near Florence. Painted Rock Beach in Seaside is a little bit of both.
Painted Rock Beach is a public path that begins near the intersection of Ocean Vista Drive and Avenue W. and leads to a sandy beach. Along the path, visitors can see rocks that people have painted. Some have pictures; others have personal messages or words of inspiration.
The tradition of painting rocks and leaving them in this area began a few decades ago. A family lived next to the path and placed the rocks near the path. Then other people began adding their own. Now there are hundreds.
“When you see a display of many [painted rocks], you kind of want to become a part of that, and I think that’s what a lot of people have done,” says Robin Montero in an article in The Oregonian newspaper. She works for the Seaside Historical Society Museum. “It’s a fun little thing,” she adds.
Jamie Hale is a journalist for The Oregonian. He writes, “With so many messages of loss, love, and years gone by, Painted Rock Beach is like a cross between a cemetery and a family photo album. It often feels like a sentimental or even a sacred place, locals said. And it’s not unusual to see people sitting out there quietly alone, searching the rocks or staring out at the ocean.”
Montero notes that more people have been visiting the painted rocks during the COVID-19 pandemic. She says people come to release stress. Leaving a painted rock — or just reading rocks by others — helps people get through difficult times.
“Something about that salt air just cleanses the soul,” Montero says. “That’s what Seaside does for people, it just lets people offload everything, and if they want to leave behind a memorial for their stay or just a little remembrance, Painted Rock Beach is the place to do it.”
-This story was first published in ESOL News Oregon February 25, 2022.
Check
Discuss
- The article says some special places are made by nature, some are made by people, and some are a little bit of both, like the painted rocks in Seaside. Talk with your group about special places that you know in Oregon and/or in your country that fit into those three categories: made by people, made by nature, and both.
- How do you think writing a message on a rock helps people feel better? Can you think of other examples of writing something down to help release feelings, such as a letter or journal?
- For some people, writing isn’t an effective way of expressing themselves, but art is. These people can create art to leave on the rocks at Seaside. Which do you prefer to express yourself: writing or art? Why?
- What is the difference between painting a rock and leaving it in public for everyone to see vs. painting a rock and keeping it private, just for yourself? What makes anonymous public art powerful? Why?
Write
- The article says that Painted Rock Beach is like a cross between a cemetery and a family photo album. What does this mean? Write about the purposes of each of those things and explain how Painted Rock Beach fulfills the same purposes.
- Painted Rock Beach is described in the article as a sentimental or sacred place. Look up these two words in an online English-English dictionary like Longman. Do you think these are appropriate words to describe the beach? Why? What are other places you know that you would describe with these words?
- Imagine you are at Painted Rock Beach. What art or words will you put on a rock to leave behind? Why? Explain your choice thoroughly.
- Imagine you are at Painted Rock Beach. You look through the hundreds of rocks for one that is meaningful to you. Describe what it looks like: what are the words? What are the images? Why does this rock mean something to you?
Sources
Garhofer, Josh. “Painted Rocks & Secret Spots.” Seaside Oregon, 26 Feb. 2017, www.seasideor.com/seaside-stories/painted-rocks-secret-spots/. Accessed 21 Feb. 2022.
Hale, Jamie. “Tucked Away in Seaside, Painted Rock Beach Is a ‘Sacred Place.’” Oregonlive, 17 Feb. 2022, www.oregonlive.com/travel/2022/02/tucked-away-in-seaside-painted-rock-beach-is-a-sacred-place.html. Accessed 21 Feb. 2022.
