Our Beautiful & Wild Oregon Fisheries
150 Years of Innovation

The story told in this exciting new exhibit is of Oregon’s successful emergence as a world leader in sustainable seafood and the very sound reasons for eating local seafood.

This is the story of our fishermen, fish processors, fishery managers, scientists, conservation groups and port communities meeting the challenges and opportunities of wild harvest fisheries to feed a growing population.

Museum visitors will be afforded a rare opportunity to be immersed in the fascinating and little understood story behind Oregon and the Yaquina Bay’s far reaching and economically vital commercial fishing fleet. The largest fisheries in Oregon: Dungeness crab, pink shrimp, albacore tuna, Chinook salmon, groundfish, and pacific whiting are central to this exhibit. Politics, regulations, globalization, consumer food preferences, environmental conservation, and old fashion seat-of-your pants ingenuity have all shaped the region’s commercial fishing fleet and maritime culture.

Rescued Recovered and Lost: Oregon Shipwrecks

This exhibit explores the history of shipwrecks along the Central Oregon Coast.

Shipwrecks, both as things and events, capture the imagination. The drama of a shipwreck is often used by artists and writers to symbolize life gone awry and the ability, or inability, of people to overcome tragedy.

Locally, shipwrecks have changed the course of our history — lives and fortunes have been lost, the environment damaged. Despite their tragic nature, objects recovered from shipwrecks are coveted as collector’s items, or a beachcomber’s windfall.

The day-to-day prevention of the loss and life of shipwrecks may not be dramatic, but it is central to maritime living. Safety at sea, wayfinding, and  search and rescue are a matter of life and death for mariners.

In addition to these exhibits and more, visitors to the Pacific Maritime Heritage Center can enjoy the spectacular bayfront views, and browse our gift shop and bookstore.

The Maritime Center is located at 333 SE Bay Blvd on Newport’s historic bayfront.
Parking is available at the top of the hill next to the building. All Historical Society buildings are wheelchair accessible.

For more information call 541-265-7509.