The Lightship Columbia made the journey to drydock on October 20, 2021.
We look forward to her return to the Museum in spring 2022.
We look forward to her return to the Museum in spring 2022.
The Lightship Columbia, a National Historic Landmark that once guided ships to safety at the mouth of the Columbia River offers an opportunity to hop aboard and see for yourself where the sailors would cook, eat, sleep, and work.
The Lightship Columbia functioned as a floating lighthouse to mark the mouth of the Columbia River from 1951-1979. Since the lightship was essentially a small town anchored 5 miles out to sea, all of the supplies for the crew had to be on board. The lightship had a crew of 17 men who worked 2-4 week rotations, with 10 men on duty at a time. Life on board consisted of long periods of monotony punctuated by fierce storms, particularly in the winter.
The Lightship Columbia functioned as a floating lighthouse to mark the mouth of the Columbia River from 1951-1979. Since the lightship was essentially a small town anchored 5 miles out to sea, all of the supplies for the crew had to be on board. The lightship had a crew of 17 men who worked 2-4 week rotations, with 10 men on duty at a time. Life on board consisted of long periods of monotony punctuated by fierce storms, particularly in the winter.
October 2021
Columbia River Maritime Museum’s Lightship Columbia
Heads to Drydock for Repair, Preservation and Expansion
Beginning October 5, 2021, the Lightship Columbia, the largest exhibit at the Columbia River Maritime Museum, will be closed to visitors as the Museum completes work to ready the ship for tow to Portland, where she to be drydocked for some much needed work.
Diversified Marine, Inc. will inspect, clean, sandblast, repair and repaint the hull, decks, superstructure, masts, fittings and rigging. While undergoing her face lift, the engine room and other areas below deck that have been closed to the public since 1979 will be restored and modified into new exhibit spaces.
The Columbia is anticipated to return to the Museum in Astoria in early 2022.
After spending 28 years riding out storms and marking the treacherous entrance to the Columbia River Bar, also known as the Graveyard of the Pacific, the U.S. Coast Guard retired WLV604 and gave her to the Columba River Maritime Museum where she has been a floating exhibit since 1980. She is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is considered an important Oregon cultural resource by the Oregon Historic Preservation Office.
Diversified Marine, Inc., offering repair, retrofit and construction of tugs, barges, and commercial steel vessels, ancillary services of drydocking, repowering and mechanical contracting, and a fleet of marine construction vessels to provide water-based construction and environmental services, has served the maritime industry for over 30 years. Diversified Marine, Inc. has been a Business Partner of the Columbia River Maritime Museum since 2009.
Diversified Marine, Inc. will inspect, clean, sandblast, repair and repaint the hull, decks, superstructure, masts, fittings and rigging. While undergoing her face lift, the engine room and other areas below deck that have been closed to the public since 1979 will be restored and modified into new exhibit spaces.
The Columbia is anticipated to return to the Museum in Astoria in early 2022.
After spending 28 years riding out storms and marking the treacherous entrance to the Columbia River Bar, also known as the Graveyard of the Pacific, the U.S. Coast Guard retired WLV604 and gave her to the Columba River Maritime Museum where she has been a floating exhibit since 1980. She is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is considered an important Oregon cultural resource by the Oregon Historic Preservation Office.
Diversified Marine, Inc., offering repair, retrofit and construction of tugs, barges, and commercial steel vessels, ancillary services of drydocking, repowering and mechanical contracting, and a fleet of marine construction vessels to provide water-based construction and environmental services, has served the maritime industry for over 30 years. Diversified Marine, Inc. has been a Business Partner of the Columbia River Maritime Museum since 2009.
The Lightship Columbia
By Al Olson
Once upon a time not too long ago
Our lightship left her mooring and up the stream did go;
The tugs were pushing mightily, her crew was working hard
As she went up the river and headed for the yard;
They’re going to improve her with every passing day
And she’ll be so much better in every sort of way;
Soon she’ll be returning having righted all her wrongs
And she will come back home again because that’s where she belongs.
By Al Olson
Once upon a time not too long ago
Our lightship left her mooring and up the stream did go;
The tugs were pushing mightily, her crew was working hard
As she went up the river and headed for the yard;
They’re going to improve her with every passing day
And she’ll be so much better in every sort of way;
Soon she’ll be returning having righted all her wrongs
And she will come back home again because that’s where she belongs.
HELP SUPPORT THE PRESERVATION OF THE LIGHTSHIP COLUMBIA
The Lightship Preservation Project involves towing the Columbia to dry dock
to be inspected, cleaned, repaired and repainted from the hull to the masts.
Additionally, the engine room and other areas below deck that have been closed to the public since 1979
will be restored and modified into new exhibit spaces with public access.
We need your support!
Please donate today and help the Museum preserve this most important vessel.
NOTE: Please be sure to use the "Add A Comment" box on the Donation Checkout page to ensure your donation goes to the Lightship Columbia project
Thank you!
The Lightship Preservation Project involves towing the Columbia to dry dock
to be inspected, cleaned, repaired and repainted from the hull to the masts.
Additionally, the engine room and other areas below deck that have been closed to the public since 1979
will be restored and modified into new exhibit spaces with public access.
We need your support!
Please donate today and help the Museum preserve this most important vessel.
NOTE: Please be sure to use the "Add A Comment" box on the Donation Checkout page to ensure your donation goes to the Lightship Columbia project
Thank you!
