Greenwood State Beach
Beach Projects & Improvements
Operation of Greenwood Museum
UV tints on windows to protect artifacts
Elk Greenwood Museum & Visitor Center
Greenwood State Beach offers beach access and a picturesque view of the Pacific Ocean. The visitor center is in the middle of town (5980 Hwy 1, Elk) and provides a glimpse of what life was like in this lumber town during the late 1800s. The museum also has travel information, pamphlets, brochures, and a very knowledgeable and friendly docents to answer any questions you may have.
Originally the town's post office, the Elk Greenwood Museum & Visitor Center offers a glimpse into Elk's past as well as offering postcards and books for sale on a wide range of topics. It’s open Fridays and Saturdays.
The central theme of the visitor center is of Greenwood as a lumber town in the late 1800's through the early 1900's. You will find artifacts which were used in the lumber camps to harvest the redwoods and bark from the tan oak trees. The gallery room and main museum room are filled with photographs of early settlers of the town of Greenwood and nearby Cuffey's Cove and of the lumbering operations as well as photographs of the town during that era. There is an additional room filled with period furniture including an organ, stove, washing machine, steamer trunk, and bathtub.
Entering the visitor center you will see a mural depicting the Greenwood wharf which was built by the L.E. White Lumber Company. This wharf had an unique design as it was built on a series of outcropping rocks into the ocean. The schooners would tie to the wharf while loading redwood lumber, tan bark, railroad ties and passengers all destined for San Francisco. The ultimate destination of the railroad ties was China. The mural was painted by the well known muralist Michael Cole.
