For the fourth year in a row, the shipwreck heritage at the mouth of the Columbia River is being commemorated through a series of special events. Washington State Parks is teaming up with the Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria, Oregon to tell stories of the “Graveyard of the Pacific.” This name refers to the hundreds of ships that have met their fate where the Columbia River collides with the Pacific Ocean, also known as the Columbia River bar.
The third annual “Sea Shanty Camp of the Columbia” is being held at Fort Columbia State Park, one mile east of Chinook, Washington on Saturday, October 24. Shanty-man Hank Cramer will emcee this year’s camp, leading participants with his booming bass voice.
Instructors will also include:
- Mary Garvey and Hobe Kytr leading original songs about the Columbia-Pacific region
- Captain Matt Moeller talking and singing about nautical lore aboard tall ships
- Jon Broderick, Jay Speakman and Moe Bowstern presenting Fisher poetry and songs
- Joanne Rideout, of the Columbia River Ship Report, will be interviewing several women in the maritime industry.
The family-friendly programs start at 9 a.m. at the historic riverfront theater and continues throughout the day until 5 p.m.. Participants are welcome to attend one or all of the programs. Call (360) 642-3029 to reserve a boxed lunch. After the camp, a free concert, featuring the instructors will be held at the theater starting at 7:30 pm.
The Columbia River Maritime Museum in Astoria, Oregon will be featuring a program on Saturday, October 24 by Dennis Griffin, State Archaeologist with the State Historic Preservation Office in Salem. Griffin’s program, “The Archaeology of Shipwrecks: Plotting a course between the public’s interest in shipwrecks and treasure trove” will be held at 2:30 pm. This program will interpret the importance of shipwrecks to archaeology and their relevance to Oregon. Griffin’s presentation will include many shipwrecks including the appearance of Spanish galleons off the coast to the many shipwrecks that have surfaced recently. Updates regarding these latest uncovered wrecks will be highlighted. The Columbia River Maritime Museum is the official maritime museum for the state of Oregon with exhibits that focus on the rich maritime history at the mouth of the Columbia River. Call (503) 325-2323 for more information.
The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center at Cape Disappointment State Park, three miles west of Ilwaco, Washington is featuring a slide show by Bill Hanable, historian and author of “Lighthouses and Life Saving on Washington’s Outer Coast” on Sunday, October 25th at 1 pm. A book signing will be held after the program. Additional maritime-related programs will be offered throughout the day at the center. Maritime artifacts at the interpretive center include a 1st Order Fresnel lens that was in both Cape Disappointment and North Head Lighthouses, a turn of the century surf boat and numerous items salvaged from local shipwrecks. Admission to the interpretive center is $5 for adults and seniors; $2.50 for children ages 7-17, kids 6 and under are free. There is no additional charge to attend Bill Hanable’s program. The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center is open seven days a week, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sea Shanty Camp of the Columbia Schedule
Saturday, October 24th
- 9-10:00 (Jon Schmidt) Graveyard of the Pacific
- 10-11:00 (Hank Cramer) Form and Function of Shanties
- 11-11:30 (Joanne Rideout) Columbia River Ship Report interview with: Wendy Joseph, Audra Poor and Maggie MacInnis
- 11:30-12:00 (Marek Skoczlas) Polish Shanties
- 12:00 Lunch
- 1:00 (Matthew Moeller) Nautical Lore
- 2-2:30 (Audra Poor and Maggie MacInnis) Ladies aboard the Lady
- 2:30-3:00 (Commander (Ret.) Alda Siebrands) Coast Guard Heroine
- 3-4:00 (Mary Garvey and Hobe Kytr) Columbia-Pacific Songs
- 4-5:00 (Jon Broderick, Jay Speakman and Moe Bowstern) Fisher Poetry and Music
- 5:00 Dinner Break
- 7:30 Concert
