Columbia River Maritime Museum

01/16/2025

LIGHTSHIP COLUMBIA at COLUMBIA RIVER MARITIME MUSEUM
WELCOMES FAMILY OF RADIO OPERATORS!

On Sunday, January 5, 2025, Rich W3ACO, his daughter Melissa W7MAH and family members Erica, Karen and John joined volunteers on the Lightship Columbia to operate the Amateur Radio station W7BU.

Via an email to SEARC (Sunset Empire Amateur Radio Club), Rich, a HAM for 67 years, asked for the chance to use the station while visiting from Iowa over the holidays. Rich was able to complete a planned contact with a friend in Iowa and Melissa completed a contact with a POTA (Parks on the Air) activation.

Rich and daughter Erica live in Iowa City, Iowa, Melissa and John live in Brownsville, OR, Karen lives here in Astoria.

While at the Museum, Rich also demonstrated his Morse code skills to visitors in the Naval History Gallery!

01/15/2025

ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMMING AVAILABLE FOR REGISTRATION!
ONLY 4 SEATS LEFT!

Undersea Icons: Creating Archival Direct Impressions from Chinook Salmon and Giant Pacific Octopus with Duncan Berry
Saturday, February 22, 2025
1:00PM - 3:30PM

Barbey Maritime Center at the Columbia River Maritime Museum
(located on the east end of the Museum's campus)

Explore the underwater world of creatures off Oregon’s wild coastline creating beautiful archival prints from two of its most iconic species: The Chinook Salmon and Giant Pacific Octopus. We will also be making visual “stories” by using other elements from their natural habitats including beautiful seaweeds, shell fish and sea rocks. Each participant will take home a minimum of a dozen fine art prints.

As context we will be learning in depth and fascinating facts about the extraordinary land-sea journey of the Chinook Salmon and secrets of the super adaptive trickster, the Giant Pacific Octopus.

No previous art experience necessary. Come and surprise yourself by making stunning prints!

Note: If you have taken one of Duncan’s workshops previously there will be LOADS of new techniques and specimens offered during our time together.

LIMITED SEATING - REGISTER TODAY!
https://crmmeducation.wufoo.com/forms/undersea-icons-gyotaku-with-duncan-berry/

01/14/2025

Lightship Columbia's accommodations spaces, located below deck, will be closed on Tuesday, January 14 and Wednesday, January 15, 2025 for routine maintenance.

Visitors to the lightship are welcome to explore the top deck of the vessel and can access more information on our 360-degree virtual tour at crmm.org: https://panoroo.com/virtual-tours/8v0qyQBg.

We appreciate your understanding as we continue to care for the museum's largest artifact!

Photos from the Columbia River Maritime Museum's collection. Video courtesy of the Don McCune Library.

01/13/2025

Happy National Sticker Day!

To celebrate, the Columbia River Maritime Museum is giving away a FREE Cedar and Sea sticker to celebrate our newest exhibit!

These beautiful stickers are a perfect way to show off your love for the Columbia River and its rich maritime history.

Interested? Simply send us a message on Facebook with your name and address, and we'll drop one in the mail to you—on the house!

01/10/2025

MARK YOUR CALENDAR
UPCOMING PAST TO PRESENT LECTURE

Dams and Traffic Jams: Impacts on Water and Salmon
Graham Klagg and Kelli Daffron, North Coast Watershed Association
January 14, 2025, 11:00AM – 12:00Nooon
Ford/Kern Room, Columbia River Maritime Museum
1792 Marine Drive, Astoria, OR

Graham and Kelli will share how the North Coast Watershed Association is working with our partners to mitigate the effects of hatchery dams on salmon migration without impacting their ability to raise fish; highlighting work done and planned at the Klaskanine Salmon Hatchery in Olney. They will also talk about how the organization is approaching the issue of the chemical 6PPD-Quinone which is derived from tires and has devastating effects on aquatic life - coho salmon in particular.

Lecture included with Museum Admission - MEMBERS are FREE!
Seating for up to 80, first come first served.

SAVE THE DATE for the upcoming Past to Present Lectures:

January 21: The Tragic Voyage of the USS Valencia: What Doomed the Ship of Lost Souls? Rod Scher, Author

January 28: Samurai Explorers and Castaway Adventures in Historical Manga. Jim Mockford, Historian

February 4: A History and Evolution of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. Jared Moultrie and Josh Goodwin, International Longshore and Warehouse Union

February 11: U.S. Life-Saving Service in the Pacific Northwest. Katy Menne, Columbia River Maritime Museum.

01/09/2025

The foundation work for Mariners Hall continues to move forward!

Pilings have been cut off and capped, and the excavation around them is now complete. We're building the forms for the pile caps – a strong concrete base placed atop the piles to create a stable foundation for the building.

Next up: constructing the pile caps and grade beams! This involves setting up the forms, adding rebar to them, and pouring concrete to form the pile caps. These will then be connected to the grade beams, which are also built with reinforced concrete, helping distribute the building’s load across the entire foundation.

If you've been by the construction site, you've likely noticed the large pit on the east side. This is the boat pit for the Triumph – a key feature of the new Mariners Hall. The Triumph will provide visitors with an immersive, hands-on experience, allowing them to step aboard and experience a towing operation through surging seas.

This work marks another milestone in our Museum's Campus Transformation – a two-year project that will bring the new Mariners Hall to life. Once completed, it will honor our region’s maritime history, from the Indigenous peoples who navigated the Columbia River to the present-day heroes. We’ll showcase inspiring stories from those who helped build and operate our remarkable collection of boats and artifacts, many of which are currently in storage.

We’re redefining the Museum experience, and we can't wait to share it with you! Stay tuned for more updates.

01/08/2025

Oregon and Washington 5th graders join the Columbia River Maritime Museum’s miniboat community sailing their own path in the Pacific Ocean!

Gaston Elementary 5th graders christened S/V Greyhound 5 and Wallace Elementary 5th graders christened S/V Wolverine on Thursday Dec 19th at Columbia River Maritime Museum's Barbey Maritime Center. The ceremony included students from Gaston, OR; Kelso, WA; and Jewell, OR. There were many family members in attendance to christen the vessels into the fleet and support their youth's project.

Next stop –the NYK Lines deploying vessel and then, the Pacific Ocean!

01/07/2025

JOIN the COLUMBIA RIVER MARITIME MUSEUM for
CRIBBAGE on the RIVER!

Tuesday, January 14, 2025, 6-8PM
Obelisk Brewing, 598 Bond Avenue, Astoria, OR

Learn about the fascinating history that connects the maritime world to cribbage – then, try your hand at playing!

All experience levels welcome; no registration necessary.
Bring your own board and play!

No registration required, no fees required
Walk-ins to Obelisk welcome!

01/06/2025

NEW ADULT EDUCATION OPEN FOR REGISTRATION!

Sailors' Valentines Sea-cuterie
Thursday, February 13 OR Friday, February 14, 2025
6:00PM - 8:00PM

Barbey Maritime Center at the Columbia River Maritime Museum
(located on the east end of the Museum's campus)

Sailors’ Valentines were souvenirs made from seashells that sailors brought back to their friends and family from long voyages at sea. Join us for a special program that puts a twist on this maritime favorite. Hear about traditional valentines sent around the world – then, try your hand at making a valentine out of food offerings while enjoying some adult beverages!

Participants will design their valentine out of an assortment of meats, cheeses, fruits, and other snacks on a handmade pine charcuterie board. The group will then be invited to wrap their creation and take it or enjoy it in the Barbey Maritime Center.

Register today! https://crmmeducation.wufoo.com/forms/sailors-valentines-seacuterie/

01/03/2025

Columbia River Maritime Museum's
Popular Past to Present Lecture Series Returns for 2025!

Mark your calendar and plan to join us for these January lectures:

14 - Dams and Traffic Jams: Impacts on Water and Salmon, Graham Klagg and Kelli Daffron, North Coast Watershed Association

21 - The Tragic Voyage of the SS 'Valencia': What Doomed the Ship of Lost Souls?, Rod Scher, Author

28 - Samurai Explorers and Castaway Adventures in Historical Manga, Jim Mockford, Historian

All lectures are held in the Ford/Kern Room at the Museum.
1792 Marine Drive, Astoria, OR
Lectures begin at 11:00AM
Seating for up to 80, first come first serve.
Lectures are included with Museum Admission.
MEMBERS are FREE!

01/02/2025

Visit the Columbia River Maritime Museum and
Search for Rubber Ducks in the Galleries!
Friday, January 10 - Friday, January 17, 2025
during Museum hours, 9:30AM - 5:00PM

Have you heard of the Evergreen "Ever Laurel"? This vessel lost 29,000 rubber ducks in 1992 while in the Pacific Ocean. They have been tracked around the world and taught scientists so much about ocean currents!

Imagine one rubber duck got stuck in our galleries!. Can you help us find it?
(*You will not be hunting for the artifact.)

Snag a duck sticker after finding our friend in celebration ​of Rubber Ducky Day on January 13, 2025!

See you at the Museum!

01/01/2025

HAPPY NEW YEAR! from the Crew at the Columbia River Maritime Museum.

We are OPEN TODAY, 9:30AM - 5:00PM.

12/31/2024

Exciting times at the Columbia River Maritime Museum!

The Campus Transformation project, which includes the new Mariners Hall building, is taking shape thanks to the incredible work of local tradesmen and businesses. This collaborative effort, led by Rickenbach Construction, Astoria's premier General Contractor, is made possible by a talented group of local subcontractors, each playing a crucial role in bringing this vision to life:

All Metals Fabrication & Machine Corp. – Architectural steel fabrication and installation
Bayview Asphalt – Paving
Bergerson Construction – Foundation work
Big River Excavating – Site work
Brothers Wood Finishes LLC – Wood siding
Coast Garage Door – Overhead doors
Custom Concrete Services (Rainier) – Site concrete
JP Plumbing – Plumbing
Morris Glass & Construction – Windows and doors
Nehalem Bay Painting – Interior painting
Olson Asphalt Maintenance – Seal coating, striping, and parking lot signage
P&L Johnson Mechanical – HVAC systems
RGS Structures – Concrete and framing
Wadsworth Electric – Electrical
Weatherguard Roofing Inc. (Longview) – Canopy structure roofing

The Museum is proud to support and collaborate with our local community—this project is truly a team effort!

12/30/2024

MEMBER RECIPROCAL ADMISSION BENEFIT
JANUARY 2025 – THE OREGON ZOO

Originally the Portland Zoo and later the Washington Park Zoo, the Oregon Zoo is located in Washington Park, approximately 2 miles southwest of downtown Portland. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest zoo west of the Mississippi River.

4001 SW Canyon Rd, Portland, OR 97221, (503) 226-1561, oregonzoo.org

17 regional attractions have partnered to offer reciprocal admission to their members in 2025. From January to December, membership to one of the participating organizations is your key to FREE ADMISSION for the member and up to three guests of any age to a different attraction each month. Be sure to check with the month’s attraction for hours of operations and other information before you visit.

Take advantage of your Member Reciprocal Admission Benefit – plan to visit the Oregon Zoo in January!

Not a Member of the Columbia River Maritime Museum?
Join TODAY and take advantage of this Member-Only benefit! https://www.crmm.org/individualfamily-memberships.html

12/26/2024

Mariners Hall Construction Update!

Last week was another exciting one at the Mariners Hall construction site with the successful completion of pile driving!

We’re also working hard to increase the amount of visitor parking! The Museum’s lot to the east of the Barbey Maritime Center has been cleaned up and temporarily striped to provide more parking for our guests. Additionally, we’ve laid out parking spaces for buses and RVs on the City’s property behind City Lumber.

Now that the piling work is done, we’re moving the east end construction site fencing westward, which will open up more museum parking between Mariners Hall and the Barbey Maritime Center.

This is a major milestone in our Museum's Campus Transformation—a two-year project that includes the exciting new Mariners Hall. Once complete, Mariners Hall will honor our region’s mariners and maritime heritage, from the Indigenous peoples who first navigated the Columbia River to the present day. We'll be showcasing inspiring stories from those who helped build and operate our incredible collection of boats and artifacts, many of which are currently in storage.

We’re redefining the Museum experience and can’t wait to share it with you! Stay tuned for more updates!

12/25/2024

HAPPY HOLIDAYS from the Crew at the Columbia River Maritime Museum.

We are closed today, Christmas Day, December 25, 2024.

We look forward to seeing you when we reopen at 9:30AM on Thursday, December 26, 2024.

12/24/2024

Check out this fantastic article about the Museum's two new Indigenous exhibits!

The exhibits focus on Native culture and craft over historical artifacts.

12/23/2024

The Columbia River Maritime Museum will be CLOSING at 2:00PM on Christmas Eve, Tuesday, December 24, 2024.

The Museum will be CLOSED on Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25, 2024.

We will reopen at 9:30AM on Thursday, December 26, 2024.