For decades, Columbia River Maritime Museum (CRMM) has connected students and communities throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington to the maritime world through engaging, hands-on educational experiences. With the opening of the Warnock Building, home of Mariners Hall, the Museum is expanding those opportunities with dedicated learning spaces, interactive exhibits, and new ways for students to explore Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) through the lens of maritime heritage.
Last year, the Museum’s Education Department’s educational interactions exceeded 40,000, and the new space aims to build on that established foundation, inviting people of all ages to discover how STEAM can connect to future careers.
“In education, we are keenly aware that people learn through experience,” shared Katy Menne, education director at the Museum. “Allowing visitors to climb aboard vessels, imagine themselves in these moments, seeing the waves firsthand – it puts people in a scenario they may never experience.”
Students Learning Through Discovery
Tailored to different grade levels, students visiting Mariners Hall can participate in learning labs. There is also a new purpose-built classroom and approximately 3,700 square feet dedicated to educational programming. Throughout the STEAM area, interactive exhibits invite visitors to investigate questions such as: How does a lighthouse lens bend light? How can a pulley make lifting heavy objects easier? Why can a massive steel ship float? Other activities explore gears and the transfer of power, flywheels, bridge construction, and the science behind hydrofoils. By connecting these concepts to familiar maritime objects and technologies, the exhibits make complex principles fun and engaging.
One of the biggest additions to the area is a permanent tank dedicated to remotely operated vehicle (ROV) programming, which introduces students to underwater exploration while building skills in electronics, propulsion, structural engineering, and teamwork. Working in small teams, students receive a collection of components and collaborate to construct an ROV. Once their vehicles are assembled, teams put their designs to the test in the tank, maneuvering them to the bottom to retrieve objects and return them to the surface. CRMM is the only organization in the region offering a submersible ROV program for youth in grades four through seven.
The Museum’s emphasis on maritime careers also helps students see how the concepts they encounter in school translate into real-world opportunities. From engineering and electronics to vessel design, underwater exploration and environmental science, maritime industries offer a wide range of STEAM pathways.
Education for Other Ages and Stages
For younger children, Block Harbor is an indoor maritime-themed play space that welcomes kids and their parents to explore the sights and activities of a working harbor through imaginative play. Large blue foam blocks provide the building materials for young visitors to create, stack and experiment. At the heart of the space is a boat children can climb on and explore.
Menne said, “Block Harbor not only helps provide an indoor space for families to enjoy, but it also sparks curiosity from the youngest visitors. Many people who now work in the maritime industry often talk about an early memory that informed their future career choice. Who knows, this could be that memory for the next generation.”
Programs also take place throughout the community, including via senior engagement programs delivered at residential senior facilities for people unable to visit the campus.
Additionally, Mariners Hall offers new opportunities for families, school groups and other visitors to learn together. Its interactive exhibits encourage visitors of different ages and backgrounds to engage with maritime technology, explore scientific concepts and discover the people and innovations behind the area’s rich history.
Plan Your Trip
The new Warnock Building opens at 1 PM, November 20, and it’s truly a new way of telling maritime history. So, come and explore the Columbia River Maritime Museum this autumn and learn about the people’s lives that were shaped by the water. A quick drive from Portland, Astoria invites guests to take in the breathtaking water views and learn about some of the Columbia River’s amazing history. Learn more and plan your visit today at www.crmm.org.
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