Spike served as a Private for most of his military career. He was a member of a Marine Detachment at Naval Air Station Tillamook during World War II. His job: improve morale amongst other service members. It was a role that probably came naturally…considering he was an English bulldog.

Learn more about Spike and other animals with local military connections at the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum’s (TCPM) newest exhibit: “Loyal Service: Working Animals at War and Home.”

This is the first installation of “The Searchlight,” a rotating exhibition series dedicated to showcasing the stories of military personnel, operations, and conflicts that have shaped our local community. 

“The Museum wants to highlight Tillamook County’s military history,” said TCPM Executive Director Peyton Tracy. “We hope to better preserve the legacy of those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces and their communities, whose stories are inextricably woven into the fabric of local history.”

The new exhibit showcases the stories of local veterans who worked with animals during active combat and after returning home. From Civil War cavalrymen and Vietnam War Point Men, to the Oregon National Guard practicing skirmish lines on horseback at Camp West Tillamook, to a World War I veteran advocating for guide dog training programs. 



It also shares stories about the beloved mascot animals from Tillamook’s Naval Air Station during World War II. Like Spike who served at the base until his death in 1943. He was posthumously awarded the rank of  Sergeant and buried at the Naval Air Station with full military honors. And Zippy, most likely a golden retriever breed, who was the unofficial mascot for the Naval Air Station Tillamook’s Blimp Squadron. 

“‘The Searchlight’ is a rotating series located in an updated room separate from the original military exhibit,” shared Exhibit and Program Developer Jenny Teece. “The Museum has had many conversations, internally and with our community partners, about how we utilize the historic 1905 Tillamook County Courthouse’s space to interact with and engage our visitors. The need for a community space to host meetings, presentations, and educational programming has been a prominent topic in those discussions.” 

The original military exhibit is robustly researched and expansive, however only a quarter of the artifacts on display have any relation to Tillamook County’s residents or their involvement in military history. 

“The main goal of ‘The Searchlight,’ and this first exhibit, is to engage our local community with memories and stories they can see themselves, their friends, and family members in,” Teece said. “Moving and curating the military exhibit opens a space for a community room to fulfill that need, and allows us to provide more opportunities for visitors.”

Another goal of rotating exhibits at TCPM is to preserve the items on display. 

“We want to take care of artifacts so families and friends can come see them another 90 years from now,” said Collections Manager Clara Scillian Kennedy. “The Museum has the honor to preserve so much military history, starting with the Civil War all the way up to modern conflicts of the 1990s. We hope the community continues to entrust us with their memories so we can share them with generations to come.”

The “Loyal Service: Working Animals at War and Home” exhibit opened June 14 and is expected to be on display for a year. 

About the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum

Founded in 1935 by Tillamook Oregon pioneers, the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum offers 19 display areas that focus on the history of the North Oregon Coast. The museum’s mission is to preserve and interpret the Cultural Heritage of the North Oregon Coast and to foster appreciation and respect of the North Oregon Coast's environment. The current collection includes 55,000 items and 20,000 photographs ranging from prehistoric specimens to modern-day.

The Tillamook County Pioneer Museum is open to the public Tuesday-Saturday, 10 am - 4 pm. The research library can be used by the public by appointment only.