Published 04/01/09

History Jobs, Lighthouses and Shipwrecks on North Oregon Coast

(Astoria, Oregon) - Astoria is the kind of place where you can learn all about shipwrecks and lighthouses this weekend, and then maybe apply for an interesting summer job at a major Lewis & Clark landmark.

It all starts off with Lighthouses and Life-Saving Day at the Columbia River Maritime Museum on April 4. Columbia River Maritime Museum will present two renowned authors on the subject of shipwrecks and lighthouses. Family activities are also offered throughout the day, including experimenting with lenses and light, collecting weather information, designing a lighthouse and exploring a life raft.

At 11:30 a.m., Bill Hanable, historian and author of the book, Lighthouse and Life Saving on Washington's Outer Coast, will present a 30-minute slide presentation on light station preservation and interpretation. Participants will be able to watch the efforts being made on the lighthouses at Kilauea, Hawaii and Grays Harbor, Washington and learn about the plight of lighthouses in Oregon.

Hanable is Managing Director of Northwest Heritage Consultants. Hanable will be available for book sign-ing after his lecture and presentation. Copies of his book will be available at the Museum Store.

At 2:30 p.m., Dave Pinyerd will present the history of the U.S. Life-Saving Service on the Oregon coast. The Life-Saving Service was the precursor to the Coast Guard.

The Service arrived on Oregon's shores in 1878, and succeeded in rescuing many sailors, civilians and ships throughout its 37-year history. In 1915 the Life-Saving Service merged with the Revenue Cutter Service to form the Coast Guard. Pinyerd will also discuss the 1899 grounding of the Lightship Columbia at Mckenzie Head.

Pinyerd is an Oregon native and on the board of the U.S. Life-Saving Service Heritage Association, where he focuses on preserving the artifacts and stories of the early Coast Guard on the West Coast.

Pinyerd is the author of Lighthouses and Life-Saving on the Oregon Coast, and he will be available to sign his book after his presentation. Copies of his popular book will be available at the Museum Store.

Both Hanable and Pinyerd are avid researchers with extensive collections of previously unpublished photographs which they will share with us on April 4th. Please join us in commemorating the true heroes who served to warn, protect and rescue those who went to sea on Lighthouses and Life-Saving Day.

All is free with paid admission. The Columbia River Maritime Museum is located at 1792 Marine Drive in Astoria. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors 65 and older, $5 for children ages 6 – 17, and under 6 are free. Hours are 9:30 - 5 p.m. 503-325-2323. www.crmm.org.

Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, Fort Clatsop is looking for a few good men and women to join its outstanding team of Volunteers in Parks (VIPs). These VIPs assist the park with a wide variety of tasks. These include greeting and orienting visitors, assisting with special events, fee collection, custodial work, conducting tours, answering visitors’ questions, data entry, filing, answering phones, designing curriculum, library projects, collections work, and conducting living history and education programs.

This spring, the following two positions are being recruited and trained to help the visitor center staff one or more days per week:

Education assistant: Assist rangers with organizing school groups and conducting activities with school children. Share lessons relating to the Lewis and Clark Expedition with education groups visiting the park. Assist with the park’s traveling trunk program.

Visitor information assistant: Greet and orient visitors, collect admission fees, and answer questions about the area including the winter the Lewis and Clark Expedition camped at Fort Clatsop as well as give tours to tour groups.

RV sites with no hookups are available in the park for VIPs with RVs who don’t live locally. RV sites at a nearby campground can sometimes be arranged for RVers who are willing to work a minimum of three days per week for at least one month.

If you are interested in applying to be a Fort Clatsop VIP please complete the application at www.volunteer.gov/gov (type “Fort Clatsop” in the “Keyword”) or send your resume to Sally Freeman, Volunteer Program Manager, Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, 92343 Fort Clatsop Rd., Astoria, Oregon 97103. You can learn more about the National Park Service’s volunteer program at www.nps.gov/volunteer For more information, call the park at (503) 861-2471.

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