The Columbia River Maritime Museum Association was founded in 1962[1] by Rolf Klep,[10] a commercial artist and avid marine artifact collector.

[3] As well as providing more space for the growing collection of artifacts, the move would allow the museum's buildings to be adjacent to some of the historic ships moored in Astoria, such as the Lightship Columbia.

Visitors may experience what it is like to pilot a tugboat, participate in a Coast Guard rescue on the Columbia River Bar, and live in Astoria during the height of salmon fishing.

Huge windows make the Columbia River a living backdrop for exhibits that are interactive and touchable, many accompanied by interviews with people involved in the events depicted.

The 6,000-square-foot (560 m2) structure was designed by architect Thomas D'Arcy McMahon,[15] built in 1925 for the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway (SP&S), and was served regularly by passenger trains until 1952.

[18] Work started in June 2012 and was scheduled to include ADA-related accessibility modifications, seismic retrofits and restoration of historic doors and windows, among other changes.

The museum plans to use part of the building for constructing boats, and Clatsop Community College expects to use it as a work space for its classes about historic preservation.