Cannon Beach, set along the one of the world’s most stunning coastlines in northern Oregon, is famous for romance and jaw-dropping scenery that includes the iconic Haystack Rock. The town itself is incredibly charming, with the streets lined with
world-class art galleries, elegant eateries and unique shops. One of those shops is a particular standout, however.
Historians and treasure hunters April and Robert Lewis Knecht are the owners of Cannon Beach Treasure Company, tucked along the main street, where visitors can discover incredible, authentic treasures, from the Spanish Main and far beyond.
In this week’s “Faces of the Northwest,” we’re proud to introduce you to this very unique business that you’re sure to want to check out when you’re in Cannon Beach.
Robert and April Knecht
photo credit: Cannon Beach Treasure Company
Can you give us an overview of your business?
Touch history: 3,000 years of it! From the buried treasures of ancient Celtic warriors to fabled shipwreck treasure from an age when kings ruled the land and pirates ruled the seas… walk through our doors and into 3,000 years of history! Coins, artifacts and treasure coin jewelry hand-crafted by Treasure Salvors and Historians April and Robert Lewis Knecht in their in-gallery studio are at your fingertips, and Robert and April are on hand to tell you the amazing story of each treasure. Be sure to bring your curiosity – we guarantee you’ll see and experience the glittering gold and shining silver of the Spanish Main, treasures of the greatest empires the world has ever known, hoards secreted hundreds of years ago and lost to memory, antiquities that will astound you, and some treasures you’ve never seen before.
photo credit: Cannon Beach Treasure Company
Do you have any insider tips?
OK, so here’s the skinny! Both Robert and I tend to have a little of the hoarder in us, so don’t be afraid to ask us what our favorite thing to recently emerge from the Conservation Lab is.
Perhaps I should explain: Each treasure presented in the gallery has been professionally conserved by Robert in our off-site Conservation Lab. Sometimes these items may end up in our personal stash behind our in-store jewelry studio… you never know, but asking has scored our regulars who know to ask some amazing, one-of-a-kind treasures!
photo credit: Cannon Beach Treasure Company
How did you get started in the business?
Now that’s an “over a beer” story! Robert actually got started as an underwater adventure filmmaker in the Florida Keys. He worked with the treasure hunters/shipwreck divers creating films of their discoveries. But you can only film so much treasure being recovered before you have to get in on the action. His background as an EMT and firefighter came in handy on treasure expeditions all over the world from the Arctic to Sri Lanka, where he made a documentary with Sir Arthur C. Clarke about the Taj Mahal Sunken Treasure. April, on the other hand, was raised by a history nut and spent several years living in Europe with the with Celtic, Greek and Roman history and artifacts. Together, we are the curators of treasures that date from 2,000 BC to the present, representing diverse cultures, fascinating eras and adventures almost too fantastical for belief!
photo credit: Cannon Beach Treasure Company
Is there something about Cannon Beach Treasure Company that not everyone knows?
We have 30 to 40 collections on display on any given day, but we curate over 300! After all, once someone adopts a treasure, we can’t order more! So every trip to the shop is unique – guests encounter new cultures, stories and artifacts with each visit. It’s never the same shop twice!
The other thing is that April has been a sea glass hunter for just over 45 years. Our gallery is home to the largest collection of rare authentic Sea Glass and Sea Glass jewelry in the Pacific Northwest. Each piece is genuine, surf-tumbled sea glass hand-gathered from the beaches of the world. Every color of the rainbow is hand-crafted into extraordinary, beach-themed jewelry! After all, treasure coins aren’t the only beauties that come from the sea!
Cannon Beach Treasure Company
photo credit: Cannon Beach Treasure Company
When you have a day off, what are some of your favorite things to do in the Northwest?
Go treasure hunting, of course! Whether it’s hunting deep red carnelian up the Nehalem river, agates in Lincoln City, coastal fossils south of Newport, or just a great local antique store (our kitchen is a living homage to early- to mid-20th century cookware), we never tire of hunting treasure! Oh, and, of course, crabbing for the legendary Dungeness at our neighborhood Kelly’s Brighton Marina is another great treasure hunting opportunity!
If you had to describe what you love about the Northwest in 3 words, what would you choose?
Sea, Rivers, Treasure!
Is there anything else you’d like people to know?
For us, the value of our treasures is in the story they have to tell. For if we would seek to shape the future, we must understand our shared past. Each treasure comes complete with a multi-page (sometimes 10 – 12 pages) Certificate of Authenticity that describes the culture who created the artifact, how it was made, how it was lost, and the fascinating story of its modern-day recovery. After all, when you adopt a treasure, you become a private curator of a one-of-a-kind piece of our shared history. These treasures were here before we were, and they will outlive us all… it is vital that we pass on not only the treasure, but the story it has to tell!
Oh, and we should let folks know that our gallery is also a working jewelry studio where Robert and April hand-craft treasure coin and artifact jewelry in sterling silver and 18K gold. Come on in and see just how we create the jewelry – we love to show guests what goes into creating these heirloom pieces!
Find out more by visiting Cannon Beach Treasure Company at 148 N Hemlock Street, or online at cannonbeachtreasure.com
