In 1846, a cannon from the US Navy schooner Shark washed ashore just north of Arch Cape, a few miles to the south of Elk Creek, the current Cannon Beach.

The schooner was wrecked while attempting to cross the Columbia Bar, also known as the "Graveyard of the Pacific" because of the danger of the bar.

The townspeople of Elk Creek thought Cannon Beach to be a more interesting name and so renamed their town.

The cannon is in the town's museum and a replica of it can be seen alongside U.S. Route 101.

I love this in b&w.....I can almost feel the sand! Carley · 2007-10-02: 23:22

I love the grittiness to the photo. Great work. Cool backstory too. vollenda · 2007-10-03: 01:40

beautiful... and thanks for the history! josephinep · 2007-10-03: 01:42

nice composition but slightly to overexposed. slowpete · 2007-10-03: 08:21

Buena foto... una escalera peculiar, misteriosa... escalón a escalón, hacia arriba... o hacia abajo. (good shot... mysterious stairs... step to step, towards above... or down) txerra · 2007-10-03: 11:52

lovely composition and tone fionarobinson · 2007-10-03: 13:42

thanks for the trivia and wonderful snap!! like the lighting!! SheriJ · 2007-10-03: 13:52

love this shot... nice work! fishbrain · 2007-10-03: 14:09

nice shot there. :) vmathewk · 2007-10-03: 19:18

Amazing! I love it! miclaud · 2007-10-03: 21:23

I always did like 'stairs' as a subject and find your image fascinating to look at. maharba · 2007-10-03: 23:16

cool shot... Love it. garysktam · 2007-10-04: 08:36

b]This is such a nice addition thanks!!![/b] سعودي كول شات سعودي كول nataly1 · 2011-10-19: 03:40

Exellant Lologwadazouk · 2011-10-24: 14:04

Tagged: beach stairs