Columbia River Maritime Museum, Maritime museum in Astoria, Oregon, US.
The Columbia River Maritime Museum houses over 30,000 artifacts related to Pacific Northwest navigation, displaying vessels, photographs, and maritime equipment across its galleries. The collection includes US Coast Guard rescue boats and historical gear that document seafaring life along this demanding coast.
The museum was established in 1963 in the Old Astoria City Hall building and moved to its current waterfront location in 1982. This relocation reflected successful fundraising efforts that enabled the institution to expand its collections.
The museum presents exhibits about the maritime traditions of the Chinook Indian Nation and other coastal tribes through partnerships with these communities. Visitors can learn how these groups shaped sailing practices and survival knowledge along the Pacific Northwest coast.
The museum is open daily and allows plenty of time to explore the galleries and collections at your own pace. The waterfront location makes it easy to combine your visit with a walk along the river.
Visitors can board and explore the Lightship Columbia, a working vessel that offers a firsthand experience of shipboard conditions. Walking through this floating structure gives a sense of how cramped and challenging life was for crews working the dangerous river.
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