Columbia River Maritime MuseumAbout Columbia River Maritime Museum
The Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria, Oregon, documents the maritime history of the Columbia River, the Pacific Northwest and the notoriously hazardous Columbia River Bar. Its exhibits cover shipwrecks, commercial fishing, shipbuilding and navigation on the river and adjacent Pacific coast.
Museum displays include ship models, historic artifacts, audiovisual presentations and rotating special exhibitions that interpret the human, technological and environmental aspects of maritime life in the region. Educational programmes and seasonal events focus on the river’s role in regional commerce and culture.
Located in downtown Astoria near the mouth of the Columbia River, the museum sits in a port town long linked to fishing, shipping and coastal trade.
Nearby Attractions to Columbia River Maritime Museum
Best Time to Visit Columbia River Maritime Museum
Summer for full programming and demonstrations; shoulder seasons for fewer crowds and good river views.
Weather & Climate near Columbia River Maritime Museum
Columbia River Maritime Museum's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Mediterranean - Warm-Summer Mediterranean climate with mild summers (peaking in August) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 2°C to 22°C. Abundant rainfall (1938 mm/year), wettest in December.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | - | 2° - 9° | 2° | 286 mm | - | - | 4.7 m/s | - | - |
| February | - | 3° - 11° | 4° | 230 mm | - | - | 4.4 m/s | - | - |
| March | - | 3° - 12° | 5° | 207 mm | - | - | 4.4 m/s | - | - |
| April | - | 5° - 14° | 7° | 140 mm | - | - | 4.2 m/s | - | - |
| May | - | 7° - 16° | 12° | 89 mm | - | - | 3.9 m/s | - | - |
| June | - | 9° - 19° | 14° | 69 mm | - | - | 3.9 m/s | - | - |
| July | - | 11° - 21° | 16° | 35 mm | - | - | 3.8 m/s | - | - |
| August | - | 12° - 22° | 17° | 38 mm | - | - | 3.6 m/s | - | - |
| September | - | 10° - 21° | 15° | 77 mm | - | - | 3.5 m/s | - | - |
| October | - | 6° - 17° | 11° | 164 mm | - | - | 3.7 m/s | - | - |
| November | - | 4° - 12° | 5° | 296 mm | - | - | 4.6 m/s | - | - |
| December | - | 2° - 9° | 2° | 307 mm | - | - | 4.9 m/s | - | - |
How to Get to Columbia River Maritime Museum
The museum is on Astoria’s riverfront at 1792 Marine Drive, roughly a 10-15 minute walk from downtown Astoria and the Astoria-Megler Bridge approaches. From Portland, Astoria is about a 2-2.5 hour drive west on US-26 and US-101; there are also seasonal Amtrak Thruway and bus connections.
Tips for Visiting Columbia River Maritime Museum
- Position yourself on the museum's outdoor balcony for sweeping views of the Columbia River and to watch commercial tugs work the channel
- Ask the volunteer docents about the Columbia's bar pilots - their stories about fog and currents are consistently compelling
- Check times for the museum's working boat demonstrations; they sell out on summer weekends