Family Programs
The Education Department offers Family Programs in the Ford Family Room throughout the summer. These drop-in sessions commence at 10:30 A.M. and run until 3:30 P.M. Monday through Friday. Family members are sure to have fun as they experiment with buoyancy; examine whale bones, teeth, whaling tools and create a keepsake to take home; send messages using telegraph keys; and discover the many different boats that ply the Columbia River and build a boat as a souvenir. Call 503-325-2323 for more details.

Re-Visioning This Place:
Chinookan Communities on the
Lower Columbia River
Saturday, September 19 10:30 – 3:30 pm

Imagine a time when Chinookan communities dominated the landscape, canoes plied the Columbia River and its tributaries, and the Chinook controlled trade into the interior. In the nineteenth century, canoes connected the Chinookan people to a complex world of trade through the coast’s many estuaries and rivers, and became renowned worldwide for their beauty and craftsmanship. With canoes as a focus, family friendly presentations by Native and non-native historians will provide insight into the role the Chinook played in early international trade. A traditional canoe will be on display outside the museum.
Opening ceremonies begin at 10:30 a.m., followed by presentations and family activities. Historian, archaeologist, and author, Ken Ames, will discuss historically significant but altered communities along the Columbia River. Chinook Nation members, Sam Robinson and Charlie Funk, will introduce visitors to traditional and contemporary Chinookan culture. The event includes carving demonstrations, singing and drumming. Children’s activities include hands-on crafts to take home.
This program is sponsored by the Center for Columbia River History with the Columbia River Maritime Museum through a grant from the Oregon Council for the Humanities. For a complete schedule of activities, view www.crmm.org or www.ccrh.org.

The Archaeology of Shipwrecks
State Archaeologist Dr. Dennis Griffin Saturday, October 24 2:30 pm

The Archaeology of Shipwrecks: Plotting a course between the public’s interest in shipwrecks and treasure trove. Dennis Griffin, State Archaeologist with the State Historic Preservation Office in Salem, will speak about the importance of shipwrecks to archaeology and their relevance to Oregon. Griffin’s presentation will include many shipwrecks including the appearance
of Spanish galleons off the coast to the many shipwrecks that have surfaced recently. Updates regarding these latest uncovered wrecks will be highlighted.