With Native American artifacts, relics from shipwrecks, maritime documents and more, the Coos History Museum tells the story of the Coos region and Oregon's southern coast. Learn about the people, places and events that have shaped the area.
The museum is a repository of more than 50,000 objects and over 250,000 images. A fraction are on display at any one time, so revisit frequently to see new featured items. Explore two floors of exhibits that span pre-history to the 1970s.
Tour the themed exhibits in the first-floor permanent collection. Browse materials that trace the origin and development of the logging and lumbering industry. Photos and other exhibits delve into the history of the local shipbuilding industry. In the Seashore section, pore over displays that cover the natural history of the Coos region. Among the other topics addressed by the first-floor main gallery are mining, fishing and using rivers as transportation systems.
Go up to the second-floor mezzanine gallery to see the temporary exhibits. Previous showings have focused on such topics as tattoos inspired by military service and the history of Native American and Alaska Native men and women who served in the United States military.
Glean additional insights into the region's past at the First Tuesday Talks Lecture Series, held on the first Tuesdays of every month except January and July. Visit the museum's official website for details and prices. You will also find information about other paid and free events.
The museum is open every day except Mondays and major holidays. Admission charges apply, with discounts for family tickets and children. There's no charge for children under age five. Admission is free for everyone during the second Saturday of the month.
Find Coos History Museum on the waterfront adjacent to downtown Coos Bay. There is plenty of free car parking in the museum's parking lot.
