Glass Art is a Lincoln City Tradition

Ever since glass fishing floats began washing ashore along the Oregon Coast in the early 20th century, Lincoln City has had a fascination with glass. Pale blue and green fishing floats, once used by Japanese and Chinese fishermen, drifted across the Pacific and landed on Oregon beaches, sparking a local love for their color, craft, and mystery. Today, glass art is a core part of Lincoln City’s identity, celebrated through galleries, public art, and hands-on experiences.

Winter is one of the best times to explore it all. The beaches are quiet, and the glass glows even brighter against the gray skies.

A Legacy in Glass

Start at the North Lincoln County Historical Museum, home to a remarkable collection of glass fishing floats from around the world. Each tells a story, hand-blown from recycled bottle glass, marked with Japanese, Chinese, or European symbols, sometimes still bearing bits of netting or barnacles. These relics were once lost at sea and carried here by the tides.

That history inspired one of Lincoln City’s most beloved modern traditions: Finders Keepers. Every year, Pacific Northwest artists create thousands of hand-blown glass floats that are then hidden along the seven miles of beach in Lincoln City. If you find one, you keep it. Visitors coming in the off-season are especially lucky, because between September and May about fifty floats are dropped on the beach every week, roughly twenty more than in summer.

Make Your Own Masterpiece

At the Lincoln City Glass Center in the Historic Taft District, you can either watch artists at work or step up to the furnace yourself. Visitors can blow their own glass float, heart, bowl, or paperweight, guided by skilled glassblowers. It is a mesmerizing experience to watch molten glass come to life.

Nearby, Volta Gallery features contemporary glass art in every shape and hue, showcasing the creativity of local makers. Glass art often takes center stage at the Lincoln City Cultural Center, as it is regularly part of rotating exhibits, woven into the very fabric of its outdoor art. On the Cultural Plaza, the whimsical “Gary the Octopus” greets visitors with mesmerizing blown-glass eyes crafted by Kelly Howard, who, alongside fellow artists from the Lincoln City Glass Center, also brought vibrant stained-glass panels to life on the antennas of the sculpture known as “Poppy.”

Explore, Shop, and Sip

Continue your glass-inspired tour at Freed Gallery, where Northwest artists exhibit fine glass, sculpture, and mixed media. Just a short drive south, Mossy Creek Pottery offers a lovely contrast; earthy ceramics crafted with the same passion for handmade art.


Stop by the Explore Lincoln City Welcome Center to see an impressive glass float display and learn more about the artists behind Finders Keepers. And when you’re ready to warm up, head to Snug Harbor Bar & Grill, where a large collection of colorful glass floats decorate the bar like jewels of the sea.

A Coastal Tradition That Shines

In Lincoln City, glass is a living tradition that connects past and present. This winter, let the stormy coast lead you from beach to gallery to studio. Whether you find a hidden float or make one yourself, you’ll experience a piece of what makes Lincoln City so special.

Safe Times are Good Times

The winter ocean is a powerful and beautiful thing, but always wait until after the weather and King Tides have passed for the beach to be safe. Check for King Tide dates, beach closures, and other safety information before heading out for the day, and make sure to obey all beach closure signs. Have fun!

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