The original Shelburne - The Shelburne Inn Bed & Breakfast - Northwest romantic getaway on the Long Beach Peninsula in Seaview, Washington
Photo by PhotO'Neil

History of The Shelburne Inn

The Shelburne Inn was established as a retreat to the Washington coast for visitors from Portland, Oregon, and has operated continuously since 1896. Charles Beaver chose the name Shelburne for the home and boarding house he built, naming it after a grand hotel in Dublin, Ireland.

In 1911, to better accommodate increasing numbers of summer visitors, a team of horses was used to pull The Shelburne across the street to join it to another building. In those early days, travelers ventured up the Columbia River to Astoria on the sternwheeler T.J. Potter. From Astoria they ferried to Megler and then traversed the Long Beach Peninsula via the narrow-gauge Clamshell Railroad. The Shelburne Station was one of the main stops, dropping off summer residents and visitors to the Inn.

The old sign - The Shelburne Inn Bed & Breakfast - Northwest romantic getaway on the Long Beach Peninsula in Seaview, WashingtonTo date, four major phases of refurbishing and new construction of the Inn have been completed. Meanwhile, a transformation of the dining room was begun in 1983 with the expansion and enclosure of the old front porch that surrounded the building. The glorious Art Nouveau stained glass windows which dominate the restaurant's front dining room and pub date back to the late 1800's. Fortunately, we were able to salvage them from a soon-to-be-razed church in Morecambe, England. The photo to the right is of an old sign from the Ocean Beach Transportation Company.

TJ Potter - The Shelburne Inn Bed & Breakfast - Northwest romantic getaway on the Long Beach Peninsula in Seaview, Washington
The old sternwheeler, T.J. Potter		 Steam Train - The Shelburne Inn Bed & Breakfast - Northwest romantic getaway on the Long Beach Peninsula in Seaview, Washington
The Old Clamshell Railroad

The present day Long Beach Peninsula is strongly linked to the rich history surrounding the culmination of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1805. Read here for the fascinating details of that story, and for links to other Lewis and Clark websites.
The cover of Bon Appetit - The Shelburne Inn Bed & Breakfast - Northwest romantic getaway on the Long Beach Peninsula in Seaview, Washington A Senate Resolution was passed by the Washington State Senate in 1996, in recognition of The Shelburne Inn’s 100th birthday at that time. The Resolution confirms the historic value of the inn as well as the business’s contribution to the community and ability to ‘adapt to changing times.’ You’ll find a copy of the official resolution here: [pdf]

    

"For a century, the Shelburne has drawn visitors to the small beach town of Seaview, a short walk from the expansive sands of the Long Beach Peninsula. Rooms, up stairwells and charmingly tucked away, have a timeless appeal with antique armoires, floral decor, and claw-foot tubs."
Sunset Magazine "The West's Best Small Inns" 2/01
The cover of Bon Appetit - The Shelburne Inn Bed & Breakfast - Northwest romantic getaway on the Long Beach Peninsula in Seaview, Washington

"One of the best ways to pick up some local history on your travels is to stay in a place with a history of its own. The Shelburne Inn is a perfect setting in which to be comforted and well fed-just as it was for the men and women who first called it home many years ago."


Bon Appetit "The Best B&B's in Historic Homes" 3/93  [Read More Reviews]


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P.O. Box 250  °   4415 Pacific Way  °  Seaview, Washington  98644

   or  P.O. Box 96 °  Long Beach, Washington 98631

Toll free (800) 466-1896  or  (360) 642-2442

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