A lot to see at Odyssey

A popular exhibit has floated south along the coast to Newport’s Pacific Maritime Heritage Center and will be on display through Oct. 12.

The opening reception for “Float Odyssey,” running from noon to 3 pm this Saturday, Feb. 8, will include Glass Float Identification Day.

Float expert and exhibit co-curator, Dr. Nick Simpson, and fellow float expert, Ken Busse, will answer questions and help identify floats. Bring in that old glass float you have hanging in your garage or from a tree in your yard to learn its history from experts. The opening reception is free and will include light refreshments.

Float Odyssey’s regular home is at the North Lincoln County Historical Museum in Lincoln City. It was curated by Simpson and then director, Jeff Syrop, now the executive director of the Lincoln County Historical Society. The exhibit showcases beautiful glass fishing floats and their stories. Odysseys are described as long and adventurous journeys, making it a great word to describe the epic voyages that the fishing floats in this exhibit have endured. After being used and lost at sea by fishermen, these floats were caught in the circular Pacific currents for decades until large storms forced them ashore.

This exhibit follows extraordinary float odysseys, highlighting their place of origin, their use in the fishing industry, where and when they were found and how they wound up in the special collection. Many of these floats originate from Japan but also include experimental American-made floats and more.

The Lincoln County Historical Society will also include spectacular floats from their own collection, including repurposed World War II air tank floats used in soupfin shark fishing.

The Pacific Maritime Heritage Center is located at 333 SE Bay Blvd. in Newport. For more information, go to oregoncoasthistory.org or call 541-265-7509.