The Pacific Maritime Museum and Heritage and Heritage Center is located in Newport, Oregon.
Shown above is a desk from the Yaquina City. It was salvaged in 1887 for use in a machine shop.
The dugout canoe shown above was carved by Siletz Indian Archie Johnson (1875-1967) in 1959. This was his eighth canoe. It took him three months to carve it.
By law vessel are to have: Red Light on the Port side; Green Light on the Starboard; and a White Light behind the Red and Green Lights.
A transit and tripod (shown above) were essential equipment in surveying. Surveys provided the basis for nautical charts.
Navigation technology is shown above.
One of the important navigation devices is the compass (shown above). Shown above is a Ritchie 1901 compass.
According to the display:
“Until the mid-19th century, dry-mount compasses were the standard for mariners. In 1860, Edward Ritchie patented the liquid dampened marine compass. Liquid dampens the shock and vibration of a boat in motion, making them more accurate. Ritchie compasses became standard for both U.S. Navy and the American merchant mariners.”
Sextants, such as the one shown above, are used at night to determine latitude (distance from the equator) by measuring a celestial object relative to the horizon.
According to the display:
“Despite technological advances since the sextant’s invention, the mariners on commercial and merchant vessels are required to master navigation by the stars. Since it requires no electricity or satellite GPS, it is a reliable backup.”
Another view of the sextant.
Shown above is a 1907 boat engine.
Shown above is a brass compass.
Shown above is a beeswax ball. Beeswax was an important trade item and was used for candles.
Shown above is a display of artifacts from the Lifesaving Service.
Harbor Views
Museums 101
Museums 101 is a series of photo tours of museum exhibits. Museums are an important part of understanding history. More from this series:
Museums 101: Motoring the Coast (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: The Burrows House Museum (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Fishing and Glass Net Floats (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: The Deschutes Historical Museum (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: The Hood River Historical Museum (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Tillamook County Pioneer Museum (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Seaside Historical Society Museum (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: The Butterfield Cottage (Photo Diary)