​Explore the extreme forces at work along the Columbia River Bar.  Hear about waves that can exceed 40 feet in height during the most severe winter storms.  See exciting exhibits about the U.S. Coast Guard and the Columbia River Bar Pilots.  Witness the legendary fishing runs, and take a tour of the floating lighthouse, the Lightship Columbia.  Learn about the maritime culture of Pacific Northwest Indigenous peoples.

New to Gallery 6
On The River ​Exhibit Series

Step into the past with our "On the River" exhibit series, where we explore the vibrant history of Columbia River transport and travel.  The first chapter, now open, takes you back to the golden age of steamboats
​(circa 1850-1920).  Through life-size photographs, detailed models, captivating videos, and immersive soundscapes, experience the sights and sound of this bygone era.

Come back often as we continue to expand this exhibit over the coming months, diving deeper into the various aspects of river life and commerce.

NEW LONG-TERM EXHIBIT NOW OPEN
​

Cedar and Sea: The Maritime Culture of the Indigenous People
of the Pacific Northwest Coast

Pacific Northwest Coastal Indigenous People used their deep knowledge of their environment to harvest its natural wealth, developing sophisticated technologies that enabled them to create and maintain some of North America's most complex and rich cultures.

Cedar and Sea features voices of contemporary Indigenous artisans presenting their work as part of their living traditions, demonstrating resilience as they blend old and new tools, technologies and knowledge to prosper in the face of continuing threats to traditional lifeways.

The exhibit will showcase tools and implements fashioned from stone, bone, shell, wood, and other natural materials, representing thousands of years of innovation by coast Indigenous People from Yakutat, Alaska to southern Oregon, as well as present-day materials and practices used by the living descendants today.

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​This is Our Place

A collaboration with the Chinook Indian Nation to share Chinook maritime traditions and culture
as lived today ​through the photography of Amiran White.

This is Our Place is expected to be in place at least two years.

This exhibit made possible by a generous donation
​from the Roundhouse Foundation.

SHIPWRECKS!
​
EXPERIENCE the terror and fascination surrounding the shipwrecks
on our shores.
LEARN about what causes shipwrecks.
SEE how people have responded to such tragedies in the past,
and what can be learned from studying these events.
DISCOVER the far-reaching impact such events have
on the environment and the economy.
FIND OUT how maritime archaeologists are using new methods
to study these remote sites to learn more about our past.

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The "Twin Palaces of the Pacific"
S.S. Great Northern &
S.S. Northern Pacific

"The fastest and most luxurious twin ships in the Pacific now providing a new route between San Francisco and
Portland via Astoria"

Marketed to showcase speed and luxury of travel
"by far the most delightful travel route between San Fransicsco and Astoria is the "ocean way" on the floating "Palaces of the Pacific", the S.S. Great Northern and S.S. Northern Pacific each of which provide a pleasant and expeditious trip with all the comforts and luxuries of a first-class hotel"

​The Brix Maritime Hall

​Settle in and watch the ebb and flow of the mighty Columbia River while experiencing a full size fishing troller at work on display inside the Museum’s Brix Maritime Hall.  From the life-size display of fish found in the Pacific Northwest to the top of the mast of the Sailing Gillnetter, the exhibit towers over 30 feet tall.  The centerpiece of the Brix Maritime Hall is the 44-foot U.S. Coast Guard Motor Lifeboat shown in action climbing a 20-foot wave, just at the moment of a daring rescue, at the mouth of the Columbia River.​

Crossing the Bar: 
​​Perilous Passage

This exhibit takes an exciting look at the legendary Columbia River entrance, where the forces of the mighty Columbia River and Pacific Ocean meet to create one of the most dangerous bar crossings on the planet.  The coastline of the Pacific Northwest is no stranger to violent winter weather, but nothing can compare to the extreme forces at work along the Columbia River Bar. Here, waves can exceed 40 feet in height during the most severe winter storms.  The exhibit features never-before-seen video of rough water passages captured while working with the U.S. Coast Guard and Columbia River Bar Pilots. Also on display is a rare bar pilot pulling boat that was used for decades to transfer pilots to ships. This historic boat is from the Museum’s collection.

Graveyard of the Pacific

​Since 1792 approximately 2000 vessels, including over 200 large ships, have sunk at the Columbia River Bar.  More than 700 people have lost their lives to the sea.  These dangers have earned this area the title “Graveyard of the Pacific”.  Mariners agree that the combination of high seas, a mighty river, land shallow, and shifting sand bars make the Columbia River bar one of the most dangerous bar crossings in the world.  The large interactive map in the Museum’s lobby provides information about the many historic shipwrecks in the area.

A Peaceful Return:
The Story of Yosegaki Hinomaru

Japanese soldiers in World War II carried with them a very personal memento into battle: Yosegaki Hinomaru. These flags, covered with signatures and well-wishes for a safe return, were given by family and friends to the soldiers as they were sent off to war.  American soldiers in World War II collected flags from the bodies of Japanese combatants to take home as souvenirs. Now, decades later, many veterans and their families are realizing that these flags might be the only tangible evidence of a beloved family member lost in a war fought long ago.  Although these Japanese soldiers never saw their families again, their flags are now returning home with the help of the ​​OBON Society.

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 Columbia River Bar Pilots

The Columbia River is the second largest river, by volume, in the United States.  The mouth of the Columbia is regarded as one of the most treacherous river bars in the world.  The Columbia River Bar Pilots are a group of 20, based in Astoria, Oregon, chosen for the work of assisting all ships across the bar safely, day or night, in any weather.  The Columbia River Maritime Museum is now home to the retired pilot boat, Peacock.  This pilot boat is legendary in its seaworthiness, keeping the bar open and on schedule through decades of hard winter storms.  The Peacock displays proudly at the east end of the Museum’s campus.