The Oregon Film Museum occupies the historic former Clatsop County Jail in downtown Astoria, Oregon — a building that famously doubled as a filming location in the 1985 adventure film *The Goonies*. Today the museum celebrates Oregon's long and varied history as a backdrop for Hollywood productions, with exhibits spanning decades of films shot in the state. Visitors can browse props, costumes, and memorabilia connected to *The Goonies*, including items tied directly to the scenes filmed in and around the old jail. The building itself is part of the appeal: the exterior and interior retain enough of their original character that fans of the film will immediately recognize the setting. Gates stopped here during his investigation of the real-life legend that reportedly inspired *The Goonies* — a centuries-old tale of shipwrecked pirates and buried treasure along the Oregon coast that the episode explores with genuine curiosity rather than easy answers.
Clatsop County Jail constructed in Astoria, Oregon, serving as the county's primary detention facility for decades
*The Goonies* filmed in and around Astoria, with the old Clatsop County Jail used as a key location
Oregon Film Museum opened in the former Clatsop County Jail, repurposing the historic structure as a cultural attraction
Gates visits the museum as the launch point for his *Expedition Unknown* S16E05 investigation into the real-life treasure legend behind *The Goonies*
The Oregon Film Museum sits at the intersection of pop culture history and genuine regional heritage. The former Clatsop County Jail is a tangible piece of Astoria's past, and its second life as a film museum reflects how deeply *The Goonies* is woven into the identity of the town. Astoria has leaned into that legacy with considerable enthusiasm — the museum is one of several Goonies-related attractions in the area, and fans make pilgrimages from around the world to visit the sites featured in the film.
The episode's historical argument, introduced at the museum, centers on a real shipwreck known locally as the Beeswax Wreck — believed by some researchers to be the *Santo Cristo de Burgos*, a Manila galleon that disappeared in the late 17th century. According to the episode, timbers from a Spanish galleon have been identified as a treasure ship from 1694, and the discovery of a skeleton in the area has added another layer of intrigue. These claims represent the work of local researchers and historians rather than conclusions from a broad archaeological consensus, and the episode is appropriately careful to present them as promising leads rather than settled findings.
Mainstream historians generally acknowledge that Spanish galleons did travel the Pacific coast during the colonial era, and that shipwrecks along the Oregon coast are plausible given the treacherous conditions. However, claims about buried pirate treasure and specific cargo manifests remain speculative without physical evidence recovered through systematic excavation. The episode explores whether the legend has a factual basis — it does not claim to resolve that question.
Gates uses the Oregon Film Museum as an effective narrative on-ramp: by grounding the investigation in the cultural touchstone of *The Goonies*, the episode makes a genuinely obscure piece of Pacific Northwest maritime history accessible to a broad audience. Whether the treasure exists is left open — honestly so.
The Oregon Film Museum is housed in the former Clatsop County Jail, the very building used as a filming location in *The Goonies* (1985).
Gates has credited *The Goonies* with inspiring his lifelong passion for exploration, saying on camera that Mikey, Mouth, Data, and Chunk were his first inspiration to 'explore the legends and mysteries of the world.'
The episode was filmed around the 40th anniversary of *The Goonies*, which was released in 1985.
Astoria, Oregon is home to multiple *Goonies*-related filming locations beyond the museum, making it a popular destination for fans of the film.
The Oregon Film Museum is generally open to the public in downtown Astoria and is considered a family-friendly stop, particularly for fans of *The Goonies*. Visitors can expect exhibits focused on Oregon's film history, props and costumes from notable productions, and the atmospheric setting of the old jail itself. Check the museum's current hours and admission fees before visiting, as these may vary seasonally.
Astoria, Oregon — the museum is located in the city center. Portland, Oregon is approximately 95 miles to the southeast.
Astoria's coastal climate means mild but often overcast and rainy weather year-round; summer months offer the most reliable conditions for exploring the town and surrounding Goonies filming locations. The museum itself is an indoor attraction and can be enjoyed in any weather.
Goonies House, Astoria
The Goonies House is the most iconic filming location from the 1985 film and is featured in the same S16E05 episode as part of Gates' investigation into the Goonies legend.
Beeswax Wreck Beach (Santo Cristo de Burgos wreck site)
The Beeswax Wreck site is the archaeological centerpiece of the S16E05 episode — the Spanish galleon shipwreck that Gates investigates as the possible real-world inspiration for the treasure in *The Goonies*.
Neahkahnie Mountain
Neahkahnie Mountain is a key site in the same episode, connected to local legends about buried pirate treasure on the Oregon coast that Gates investigates alongside the Beeswax Wreck story.