Hoquarton Interpretive Center

The Story

A decade of collaboration

The Hoquarton Historical Interpretive Center is the result of more than a decade of community collaboration connected to the Hoquarton Trail Project. The project began through partnerships with the City of Tillamook, the Tillamook Estuaries Partnership, the National Park Service, the Oregon Arts Commission, and Bay City Arts Center. Early visiting artists identified the historic Carlich House, now known as Hoquarton House, as a natural cultural hub along the trail.

A place of deep history

The Hoquarton area has long been significant, first as a gathering place for local Native American tribes, later as an industrial center built around a lumber mill. After the mill closed in the 1940s, the area fell into decades of neglect. Community-led restoration beginning in the early 2000s transformed the Hoquarton Slough into a waterfront park and interpretive trail, with future bridge connections planned.

As the Hoquarton Trail vision expanded, the county-owned Hoquarton House became a focal point for meetings, exhibits and planning. In 2014, BCAC launched Phase 1 by relocating the historic house away from Highway 101 to ensure its preservation and improve public access. The house is being transitioned into a museum exploring the cultural, environmental and economic importance of the slough.