COMING ATTRACTIONS

The Yaquina Art Association

(At the Nye Beach Turnaround)

The History

In 1902, Dr. Henry J. Minthorn, uncle of Pres. Herbert C. Hoover, built a sanitarium with hot sea water baths just north of what is now the Sylvia Beach Hotel. He donated the land for the public bathhouse, now the Yaquina Art Center, (or the CNC Gallery) which was financed and built by the Nye Beach Association in 1913. This building was used as a bath-house for visitors. It included changing rooms for men and women as well as a large rock fireplace. People went in these, changed to swimming clothes, went bathing in the surf, came out, washed off the sand in the bath house, dressed, and went on their way.

(The CNC building in 1939)(Second building on the left)

The city gave the building to the Yaquina Art Association in 1953. A loan for $500.00 was needed to make the building usable.

It has proven to be a challenge to maintain the old building, as it is built on a cement foundation literally on the sandy beach. The building is constantly exposed to the salty air, stormy weather and high tides. It sits victim to storm surges, where high winds push the water and waves right up against the building's walls causing severe erosion and damage. Driftwood has been known to come crashing through the gallery windows!

The oceanfront gallery underwent considerable renovation in 1992 and the main showroom was renamed the Cloe-Niemela-Clark Gallery in honor of the three artists who dedicated so many years to the Yaquina Art Association.; Jeanne Cloe, Anna May (Fritizi) and Harry Niemela.

Today

Currently there are approximately 125 members (all Lincoln County residents) representing all forms of the arts in the gallery. The CNC Gallery is centrally located in Newport, Oregon, 5 blocks west of Pacific Coast Highway 101 off NW Third Street (789 NW Beach St - in the Nye Beach Turnaround). Look for the Nye Beach Arch over NW Beach Drive to access the oceanfront parking.

Nearby you will find fine and casual dining and shopping. Public restrooms, picnic tables and a foot-wash area make this a wonderful place for the family to enjoy the beach.