A closer look at the Tillamook Forest Center

Over the last century, several devastating fires scorched thousands of hectares of forest in Northwest Oregon. The charred wasteland became known as the Tillamook Burn and was abandoned. It might have remained so if not for dedicated Oregonians who re-planted millions of trees. The lush Tillamook State Forest of today symbolizes Oregonians' public spirit and demonstrates the benefits of the reforestation efforts for people and wildlife alike.

The 17,000-square-foot Tillamook Forest Center opened in March 2006, with interpretive exhibits designed by AldrichPears Associates. The exhibits were fabricated by Design Craftsmen and the film Legacy of Fire: The Story of the Tillamook Burn was produced by North Shore Productions. We used the following approaches to tell this amazing story and to foster connections between people and forest.

Integrate landscape, building and interpretive exhibits

AldrichPears worked very closely with the Miller|Hull Partnership, architects; Walker Macy, landscape architects; and the Oregon Department of Forestry to reinforce thematic connections between exhibits, sustainable architecture, and forest landscaping.

The result is an interpretive center that is intimately integrated with its forest surroundings while respecting the forest's human history.

To maintain a strong connection to the forest outside, the building was conceived as part of a path through the forest. The building links seamlessly to the outdoor interpretive trail, which leads visitors from the forest through the exhibit gallery, and outside over a suspension bridge.

Panoramic windows along one side of the exhibit gallery bring the forest inside. The wall opposite acts as a counterpoint, offering interpretive "windows" to the forest of the past.

Outside, visitors can climb a lookout tower. Period props in the tower help visitors understand what life was like for the men and women who spotted forest fires in the 1900s. A webcam on top of the tower links to the exhibit gallery, providing a bird's-eye view of the forest.

The interpretive exhibits and building incorporate recycled and green materials, such as insulation made of recycled glass bottles. An outdoor pond collects rainwater to help cool the building, flush toilets and supply the fire-sprinkler system. AldrichPears worked closely with the design team to interpret these sustainable features.

Interpret human history

The Tillamook forest has long been important to humans, first as a resource and now as a symbol of cooperation and as training ground for forest managers. Exhibits offer visitors opportunities to explore the forest's cultural past. They can weave a cedar bark mat and discover the importance of cedar to local Native Americans. A re-created train station, settler's home and logger's cabin provide perspectives on the lifestyles and experiences of early settlers and workers.

Convey fire's destructive power

Screenshot from: Legacy of Fire: The Story of the Tillamook Burn

Fire was the defining experience of the Tillamook Burn; we needed to highlight its role by helping visitors understand its destructive power. Visitors sit among recreated charred, ash-covered trees in an indoor theater. Onscreen, a firestorm engulfs everything in its path. As the fire roars through the forest, "smoke" and the smell of burnt wood suffuse the theater.

Reveal the forest on a deeper level

Helping visitors to develop a deeper connection with Oregon's forests was a key goal. To do this, we designed exhibits that encourage looking closer and provide new insights into the living forest. Visitors in one exhibit area open doors in trees to examine insects within layers of bark and use a sliding magnifying glass to examine plants and animals living in rotting wood. Just outside the window, a nurse stump covered in ferns, moss and shrubs illustrates the cycle of forest decay and re-growth.

Demonstrate how to take care of forests

The Tillamook Burn shaped modern sustainable forest management practices. Visitors learn about how forest managers care for the forest through a series of interactive experiences. The Forest Challenge, a computer interactive, puts visitors in the role of a forest manager. Nearby, a large stream model portrays salmon habitat and healthy watersheds. Young visitors can poke their heads into a "bubble" to get an underwater view of swimming salmon and stream habitat.

The Tillamook Forest Center is a one-of-a-kind facility in a special place. AldrichPears is privileged to have been part of this consultant and client team.

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