The QuarterDeck • Fall 2025

Mariners Hall Campus

Transformation Races Ahead

Warnock Building’s Stunning Design Revealed

FALL 2025 NUMBER 2

CRMM.ORG

Treasure On A Deck – Steering Gear From The Battleship Oregon?

The Museum recently accepted the donation of a late 1800’s steering gear likely from the pre-dreadnought battleship USS Oregon (BB-3). A visitor who spotted the machinery at an estate sale contacted Curator Jeff Smith, who reached the owner’s family through the estate agent. The owner operated a scrap yard for many years, and had told his family that the steering gear was removed from BB-3 when it was scrapped. While we’ve been unable to find a paper trail confirming the provenance, the machinery patent date and owner’s story make it likely that the artifact is indeed from the USS Oregon. The Brown Telemotor provided a hydraulic link between the ship’s wheel and the ship’s steam-driven steering engines. Essentially, it was a remote control, allowing the helmsman fingertip control over the powerful steering engines – and thus the massive rudder - without a direct mechanical linkage. The Hyde Windlass Company was the machinery manufacturing component of Bath Iron Works.

from left:

The steering gear was displayed on the owner’s deck with other nautical collectibles for many years.

Illustration from the manufacturer’s equipment manual.

Manufacturer’s plate USS Oregon (BB-3) in New York Harbor just after the end of

From the Wheelhouse

A Dizzying Pace of Change

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

The pace of productive activity at CRMM is dizzying. In the past year, we’ve opened four new exhibits: This Is Our Place; Cedar and Sea; a display of work by members of the Pacific Rim Institute of Marine Artists, and Steamboats. During the same period, we broke ground on the Warnock Building site and, as of this writing, have nearly completed the roof. Exhibit design work for the new building is now finished. On top of all this, we’ve accepted the donation of the historic fireboat David Campbell, and are preparing it for permanent display on our campus.

Portland Firefighter Kelly Webber, CRMM Volunteer Boat Manager Doug Taylor, Firefighter and David Campbell Pilot Colin McGladrey and CRMM Executive Director Bruce Jones after delivering the David Campbell to Portland’s Diversified Marine, Inc shipyard.

All of these efforts are focused on performing our mission more completely, and to enhance the visitor experience for decades to come. They are only possible because of the extraordinary competence, dedication and teamwork of the entire CRMM staff, volunteers and Trustees, as well as our many professional partners on the Mariners Hall Campus Transformation project.

The generosity of our many donors has enabled us to reach for the moon. The Eagle has not yet landed, but we’re well on our way. Thank you for being part of our journey.

Bruce Jones, Executive Director

On the cover:

Worker guides the final arched beam into position, on June 27, 2025, as part of the Mariners Hall Topping Off Ceremony at Columbia River Maritime Museum.

Education Programs

The Museum in the Schools (MITS) program sends a Museum educator into K-5 classrooms in schools throughout NW Oregon and SW Washington, free of charge. MITS offers a range of maritime subject programs aligned with school curricula needs. Due to the extraordinary word of mouth reputation for excellence MITS has built among teachers and school districts over the years, in September, the school year was fully booked out only 63 hours after signups were opened.

Senior Centers across three counties welcome Education and Curatorial staff monthly for the well-loved Senior Enrichment Program. Through a presentation and close look at artifacts not currently on display, seniors can learn something new, relive a part of their past, or fill in blanks in staff knowledge.

Help us continue making a positive difference in young peoples’ lives

Generous donors and visitor-related revenue make our Education programs possible – please consider helping us maintain our Education programs with an end of year gift! Use the envelope included in this magazine or call (503) 325-2323 to make your donation to this or any other Museum program –thank you for supporting Columbia River Maritime Museum!

Quality,

impactful Education programs for all ages are a top Museum priority

From left: Our MITS program reaches nearly 10,000 students each school year through engaging Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts & Math (STEAM) programming. This student is smelling a piece of cedar after learning about its importance and uses to Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest.

Students on field trips to the museum can sign up for a Learning Lab based on their grade level. These programs connect youth to the water and geographic area through creative programs like this Simulated Grey Whale Necropsy.

Volunteers are essential to the Museum’s success! Our dedicated volunteers donate their time and talents across numerous departments. Volunteers also take advantage of training and enrichment opportunities like this tour of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Florence Finch, a new, 157 foot Fast Response Cutter stationed in Astoria.

Warnock Building Takes Shape

CRMM’s transformative Mariners Hall project is moving smartly ahead with the completion of a new parking lot around the Barbey Maritime Center, and the erection of the steel and timber beams, timber roof, and shear walls on the 24,500 square foot Warnock Building.

The community’s response to the building’s stunning architecture has been overwhelmingly positive. Thanks to the strong partnership between team members including all contractors and subcontractors, and museum staff, under the leadership of Project Director John McGowan, and the generosity of our donors, the project remains on schedule and on budget.

As work continues on the building, and preparations are made for excavation for new parking lots, exhibit design and content are being finalized for displays centered on the nearly two dozen boats, and hundreds of nautical artifacts, which will be removed from storage for our visitors to enjoy.

For those who haven’t had a chance to follow the construction in person, we are pleased to share these photographs.

Mariners Hall project is moving ahead

Workshop attendees

Mariners Hall Team Celebrates Roof Topping Out

And they’re off!

This undated photo from our collection shows the once-popular annual activity of gillnetters racing along Astoria’s waterfront near 12th Street, headed toward the Regatta Pavilion, where crowds wait to see them pass by.

U. S. Coast Guard Cutter visits Astoria and Portland

The U. S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle (WIX-327), sail training ship of the USCG Academy, made port calls in Astoria and Portland in conjunction with this year’s Rose Festival. Eagle was built in Hamburg for the German Navy in 1936, and taken as a war prize in 1945. The 295 foot Eagle is a three masted barque, with over 6 miles of running rigging and 22,280 square feet of sail area.

Historic Fireboat David Campbell Coming to CRMM

CRMM is thrilled to announce the acceptance of the City of Portland’s donation of the retired, 1927-built fireboat, along with a $300,000 grant to assist with creating a permanent display on land near the Barbey Maritime Center. The second boat to be named after Fire Chief David Campbell, who was killed while heroically fighting a fire on June 26, 1911, Campbell is 87 feet long and has a 20 foot beam. It will be displayed with a gangway allowing access to the public when a volunteer or staff member are present. Look for more information about the display in the next Quarterdeck!

Retired 1927-built fireboat donated by The City of Portland

The boat is being given a top notch paint job, under the supervision of Diversified Marine Inc’s Crystal

in order to maintain a great appearance for as long as possible while displayed outdoors for the rest of its life.

An Unexpected Gift of Lasting Impact

The Museum is deeply grateful to the late Capt Joseph L. Bruneau for his generous decision to include the Museum as a beneficiary in the Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT) he established prior to his 2008 death. Under the terms of the CRT, which received assets in 2009, income was disbursed to other beneficiaries for 15 years. In 2024, the CRT distributed its remaining assets to CRMM, which was unaware of its designation as a beneficiary.

The bulk of the total gift of $465,278 was placed in the Museum’s endowment, where it will provide a revenue stream in perpetuity, with the balance going to fund operations and the cash reserve.

Charitable Remainder Trusts

A charitable gift while generating income

A CRT generates a potential income stream for the donor, or other beneficiaries, with the remainder of the donated assets passing to the donor’s designated charitable beneficiaries after a term of no more than 20 years.

A CRT can be a good option if you want both an immediate charitable deduction and an income stream for yourself or another beneficiary. CRTs may be funded with cash, publicly traded securities, real estate, and certain other assets. Please consult a financial advisor to explore your options.

Charitable Gifts With Benefits

In 2017, longtime Trustee Ward Cook and his wife Lois generously donated their second home, then valued at approximately $500,000, to the Museum, reserving a life estate to continue occupying the home until death. In 2025, the Cooks chose to terminate the life estate early, under the condition that the home would be sold, and proceeds placed in an endowment to support the operation of the new Mariners Hall.

The home has been sold, with net proceeds to the Museum of $938,000, which will generate approximately $40,000 annually towards the significant new operations costs associated with Mariners Hall. The Museum is grateful to the Cooks for their thoughtful gift.

Creating a Life Estate

The most common way to create a life estate is for the property owner to file a new deed naming the beneficiary who will receive the property after the life tenant’s death. Please see your financial advisor or attorney to explore your options for this important way to support the nonprofits you care most about.

Mariners Hall Fundraising Reaches 97% of Goal

With a year to go until the projected October, 2026 completion of our Mariners Hall campus transformation, and the grand opening of the Warnock Building, and its world class exhibits and programs, the Museum has reached the 97% mark in our campaign to raise $31.5 million. As of September 30, 2025, 168 donors, including individuals, foundations and the State of Oregon, have donated $30,542,000, leaving $958,000 yet to raise to bring our vision to reality.

Your Gift Makes A Difference

Won’t you please join us as a “plankowner” of this beautiful and inspiring new building and visitor experience? Your gift, in any amount, brings us closer to our goal, and will help us serve the 115,000+ visitors who enter the Museum annually with memorable and inspiring exhibits. Your gift also helps complete the purpose-built, dedicated classroom and interactive Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (S.T.E.A.M.) exhibit area which will inspire young people towards careers in S.T.E.A.M. professions. Thank you for being part of our historic campus transformation!

New Members

In Honor Of

Memorial Commemorative Bricks

2025 Annual Appeal

Dear Members and Friends,

As we approach the holiday season, we are grateful for the community of believers in CRMM’s mission who make our work possible. As you consider your year-end giving, know that your gift to CRMM directly supports impactful educational programming and insightful exhibits, and enable us to sustain the operations of the entire CRMM campus. We thank you for your past generosity, and humbly ask for your continued support.

Are you aware we can receive contributions not only in cash, but in appreciated securities, and from your IRA if you are over 70 ½? Here is a refresher on how this works:

Gifting Stock: The Museum can accept shares in publicly traded stocks, mutual funds, and Exchange Traded Funds. Gifting these shares without selling them can save capital gains tax and potentially the Medicare surtax. This can be a great way to maximize your gift and still take advantage of the tax deduction.

Gifting money from your IRA: The IRS allows people 70 ½ or older to make direct transfers up to $105,000 per year per person to a charitable organization from their IRA, without the withdrawal being treated as taxable income.

We always recommend speaking with your CPA or Investment Advisor to ensure these options make sense for you.

Our Vision is to be a world class maritime museum, telling powerful stories that inspire people with enthusiasm, curiosity and appreciation for our maritime heritage, through excellence in collections, exhibits and programming. We can only achieve this vision with your partnership and continued support. Thank you for your past support, and for considering us again this year.

2025 Board of Trustees

1792 Marine Drive, Astoria, Oregon 97103

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