The mission of the Columbia River Maritime Museum is to collect, preserve, display and interpret the maritime history, culture and art of the Columbia River, its tributaries, and the waters of the North Pacific for the education and enjoyment of the public. The collection is the Museum’s most important asset, the foundation for all of its other work. Beginning in 1962 with the personal collection of Rolf Klep, the Museum’s founder, the collection has grown from just a few hundred items to one of the largest collections of northwest maritime-related material in the United States.
The Columbia River Maritime Museum specializes in collecting and exhibiting maritime artifacts from the Columbia River and the Pacific Northwest. Ranging from the mundane to the magnificent, the collection has grown to more than 20,000+ objects, 30,000+ photographs, and a 20,000+ volume research library. Combined, these resources make the Columbia River Maritime Museum one of the foremost repositories of Pacific Northwest maritime history in the country.
CRMM was the first museum in Oregon to be fully accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Accreditation was largely due to the Museum’s overall commitment to excellence, including the stewardship of the collection by providing secure and climate-controlled storage.
One of the most important functions of the museum is to pass on the stories and share the history of the region to present and future generations while providing an entertaining and educational experience. Making the collections accessible are a vital part of that process.
The Columbia River Maritime Museum specializes in collecting and exhibiting maritime artifacts from the Columbia River and the Pacific Northwest. Ranging from the mundane to the magnificent, the collection has grown to more than 20,000+ objects, 30,000+ photographs, and a 20,000+ volume research library. Combined, these resources make the Columbia River Maritime Museum one of the foremost repositories of Pacific Northwest maritime history in the country.
CRMM was the first museum in Oregon to be fully accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Accreditation was largely due to the Museum’s overall commitment to excellence, including the stewardship of the collection by providing secure and climate-controlled storage.
One of the most important functions of the museum is to pass on the stories and share the history of the region to present and future generations while providing an entertaining and educational experience. Making the collections accessible are a vital part of that process.
Browse Our Collections
We welcome you to explore the online catalogues of our extensive collections of cultural material related to the Great River of the West, the mighty Columbia River. New material is uploaded on a regular basis so come back often to see what’s been added, and come to know the river!
KOHA Online Catalog
KOHA is the Museum’s online catalog of books and library materials. Browse our catalog to see what resources we have available in our reference library.
Do you have questions about something you are researching? We are glad to help. Send inquiries to research@crmm.org.
Reference Library
Donate to Curatorial
The Columbia River Maritime Museum accepts the donation of artifacts to the collection on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration the object’s relevance to the mission of the Museum, its space and preservation requirements and other factors. If you have something you would like to donate, please contact our Curator to consider your gift.