Independent Columbia River and North Pacific maritime museum

Columbia River Maritime Museum

Across from the trolley's 17th Street stop; about 1.4 miles along the waterfront from Basin Street

Explore the Columbia River Bar, Coast Guard rescues, Indigenous maritime culture, working vessels, fishing, towboating, shipwrecks, and Lightship Columbia at Oregon's official maritime museum.

The place

About Columbia River Maritime Museum

Columbia River Maritime Museum is an independent nonprofit founded in 1962 and designated Oregon's official maritime museum. Its focus is the Columbia River, its tributaries, and the North Pacific.

Current galleries combine full-size vessels, dramatic Columbia River Bar rescue media, Indigenous maritime traditions, fishing and towboating interpretation, shipwrecks, navigation, and hands-on controls. The floating Lightship Columbia is a separate, day-of-dependent experience.

The museum is directly across Marine Drive from the trolley's 17th Street stop. It works as a natural same-day pairing after trolley service returns and as a complete standalone destination during the current generator outage.

The main museum and 3D theater have accessible routes, but several features—including Lightship Columbia, the Brix Maritime Hall mezzanine, Knapp bridge, and Achiever pilot house—are not wheelchair accessible. The homepage also reports the Brix upper-platform wheelchair lift currently out of order.

What stands out

Cross the Columbia River Bar

Use rescue footage, a Coast Guard motor lifeboat, and the Graveyard of the Pacific map to understand one of the region's defining hazards.

Hear living Indigenous maritime stories

Explore exhibits created with Indigenous voices on Chinook and broader Pacific Northwest maritime culture as living traditions.

Work the waterfront

Pilot a tugboat model and connect fishing, towboating, navigation, shipwrecks, trade, and industrial river life.

Board the Lightship carefully

When available, visit the National Historic Landmark that guided vessels at the river mouth; treat its access and 11-3 window separately.

Pair it with the train

Why it belongs in an Astoria Riverfront Trolley trip

From the Basin Street trolley stop, the museum is about 2.3 kilometers or 1.4 miles east along the waterfront. When the trolley is operating, its 17th Street stop is directly across from the museum and has nearby parking. During the outage, reach the museum independently and use its own free visitor parking.

Before you go

Plan your visit

  • Museum hoursDaily 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day
  • Lightship ColumbiaPublished 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; call for day-of availability
  • General admission$18 adult 18+, $15 senior 65+, $8 child 6-17, and free age 5 and under
  • Additional tickets$5 Lightship-only ticket and $5 per 3D film; museum members free
  • Discount access$3 Museums for All admission for up to four people with EBT or WIC card and matching ID; active-duty military free
  • ParkingFree museum parking with entrances at 17th, 18th, and 22nd Streets; four accessible spaces near the main entrance
  • Main accessBarrier-free entrance at the south door; drop-off at the loading area; parking-to-museum route crosses trolley tracks
  • MobilityLimited wheelchairs and rollators available free, first come; most galleries and the 3D theater are wheelchair accessible
  • Current limitBrix Maritime Hall upper-platform wheelchair lift is currently out of order
  • Sensory and communication toolsSocial narratives, verbal communication card, comfort cart, captioned gallery videos, and scheduled Sensory Sundays are published

Return to the waterfront trolley status guide

Add Astoria Riverfront Trolley

Check the generator-replacement outage first, then use the guide for the planned 2026 season, fares, stops, construction limits, weather, route, and history.

View the guide →

Useful answers

Frequently asked questions

When is Columbia River Maritime Museum open?

The museum publishes daily hours of 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

How much is admission?

General admission is $18 for adults 18+, $15 for seniors 65+, $8 for ages 6-17, and free for children 5 and under. Separate Lightship-only and 3D film tickets are $5.

Is Lightship Columbia always open?

No. Its published window is 11 a.m.-3 p.m., but the museum explicitly says to call for day-of availability.

Is the museum wheelchair accessible?

Most galleries and the 3D theater are accessible, with a south-door barrier-free entrance. The Lightship, several elevated vessel features, and the Brix mezzanine are not; the Brix upper-platform lift is also currently out of order.

Does the museum have accessible parking?

Yes. Four accessible spaces are published by the main entrance, and the front loading area can be used for drop-off. The route from parking crosses the trolley tracks.

Are mobility devices available?

A limited number of wheelchairs and rollators are available free from Admissions on a first-come basis.

Is the museum part of the trolley?

No. It is an independent nonprofit with separate hours, admission, parking, and access policies. The 17th Street trolley stop is directly across the road.

Can I visit while the trolley is out of service?

Yes. The museum remains independently accessible by road and is a complete destination even when the trolley's generator outage prevents rides.

Trust and accuracy

Sources

Source checked 2026-08-25. This free guide has not yet been confirmed by the venue. Current hours, prices, services, and accessibility can change; confirm time-sensitive details directly.