Oregon Black Pioneer Tours Continue on Coast (Astoria), Portland, Salem

Published 08/06/2026 at 9:55 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Astoria, Oregon) – It's an untold story to a large degree. Not something many think about when it comes to Oregon's history. Yet there were many pioneers in this state who weren't white Europeans. There were plenty of black men and women who helped create the foundation of the Beaver State. (Above: Astoria's Occident Hotel site is on the tour - Clatsop County Historical Society)

Thus the group Oregon Black Pioneers steps in to fill those gaps, and now they are keeping their statewide Black History Walking Tours open through September, offering residents a chance to explore the often-overlooked stories of African American life across Oregon. The tours, which run from Portland’s Albina neighborhood to Jacksonville, spotlight sites tied to Black-owned businesses, civil rights efforts, community change, and early Black pioneers.

One is even going to give you a unique glimpse into the Oregon coast. Astoria will host one of these walks on September 12. You'll also find them in Salem and Portland.

The organization launched the statewide series in 2023 after growing public interest in place-based ways to learn about Black history. Although Oregon is frequently perceived as having little Black heritage, the tours highlight a wide range of locations connected to that history, both within Portland and far beyond it.

Salem in the '80s / Oregon Coast Beach Connection

This year’s season began in May. Public Programs and Exhibits Manager Mariah Rocker updates each tour annually as new information emerges or as historic sites disappear.

“The actual buildings where Black history happened are often lost to displacement, time, or development, but the history remains and is important to acknowledge,” she said.

Rocker has also expanded the program by bringing in local experts for tours outside Portland. Oregon City Mayor Denyse McGriff joined one group earlier this summer. In Eugene, Black Cultural Initiative founder Talicia Brown opened the tour with historical context. Upcoming dates include guest appearances from Bush House Museum Director and former OBP board member Gwen Carr in Salem, and filmmaker and historian Ron Craig in Astoria.

OBP is also offering its Albina walking tours for $10 this year, supported by funding from The Collins Foundation. Tickets are available at this link.

OBP historian Zachary Stocks told Oregon Coast Beach Connection one of the spots in the Astoria tour is the site of the former Occident Hotel, which stood on what is today Marine Drive between 10th and 11th streets.

Tours are capped at 35 participants and take place Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon. Tickets are available online.

Portland: July 25, August 8, August 22, September 12, September 26
Salem (with Gwen Carr): August 22
Astoria (with Ron Craig): September 12

Hotels in Astoria - Where to eat - Astoria Maps and Virtual Tours

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