The Coos History Museum is a place to heighten enjoyment and awareness of the region with significant cultural and economic benefits for all. The new Coos History Museum & Maritime Collection (CHM&MC) is designed to celebrate our unique regional identity and heritage. It ensures that today’s visitors, and future generations, will understand the story of the people, places, and events that make Oregon’s South Coast special.

Click here to see CHM&MC construction photos!

This community resource, created by and for the hard-working people of Coos County, reflects core regional values: authenticity, hospitality, and self-reliance. We hope YOU will join the hundreds of others who are helping to bring this project to completion! Please visit our Donor Opportunities page for more information on how you can get involved.

1st FLOOR

New Opportunities

The interior was designed to encourage social interaction and enjoyment of our waterfront, including:

• A community hall, off the main lobby, to host author talks, videos, special exhibits, and other presentations. A small kitchenette will support events. The hall, with bayside window views, will have doors that allow for connections to the plaza and the sky-lit lobby, creating versatility for Society events and group rentals.  
• A 2nd floor, bay-view, research library will enhance comfort and access to thousands of images, maps and printed materials.
• Improved climate controlled artifact storage and preparation areas that will further protect our collection.
• A larger museum store, with bay window views, that will provide books and locally-relevant items which visitors can purchase and share with others.
• An ample parking lot, right off Hwy. 101 with space to accommodate cars, tour buses, and RVs.
• Large facility grounds will allow us to showcase outside maritime artifacts.
• A wind-sheltered waterfront plaza on the south side of the Museum for outdoor events.

 

Who We Are, What We Do

The 11,000 square foot Museum will provide a modern and attractive setting for one of the region’s oldest community supported institutions. Since 1891 when Coos County citizens formed our historical society, the organization has grown in its efforts to preserve the history of the South Coast. Over the years, patrons have donated over 50,000 artifacts and 250,000 images – all focused on our region - to the Coos County Historical Society, a non-profit organization with no government funding.

    

The Society has hired a professionally-trained collections manager to create frequently rotated exhibits, has created an award-winning local history education program reaching all county 4th and 5th graders, has led history-based field trips and hikes, and has aided in the research used in a number of books and video production.

 

Research and Education

Field Trip to Dairy Farm

             

The new Museum is located near other historical sites on Front Street, like the Marshfield Sun Printing Museum, the Coos Bay Iron Works, and the Coos Bay Boardwalk.

 

Coos Bay Iron Works

Sun Museum

History Matters

Oregon’s South Coast residents have a long heritage of living and working along the rivers, sloughs, bays, lakes, and ocean coastline. The Coos History Museum & Maritime Collection will tell the authentic story of the entire region and create a positive memory of the South Coast for its visitors, providing numerous itinerary options and a reason to stay a little longer as folks tour the region. The Museum will be a starting point for a “South Coast Adventure” as visitors and residents orient themselves to our past and learn about the many exciting places in the area to discover.

The Coos History Museum & Maritime Collection will be a beautiful new hub of activity for cultural events, an important education and research facility, and a great place to host community events.  Showcasing the South Coast waterways heritage will also be an important component in the economic redevelopment of the region.  (Click here to read highlights of the recent “Sustainable Design Assessment Team Report.”)

Take a positive step toward the revitalization of our region by becoming a donor to the Coos History Museum & Maritime Collection.

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