Our Past Builds Our Future!

     Site preparation is beginning for construction in the spring of 2012 of the new Coos Historical & Maritime Center. This history-centered gathering place will help heighten enjoyment and awareness of the region with significant cultural and economic benefits for all. The new CH&MC is designed to celebrate our unique regional identity and heritage. It ensures that today’s visitors, and future generations, will understand the story of the people, places, and events that make Oregon’s South Coast special.

(Click here to see CH&MC construction photos on our Facebook page).

    This community resource, created by and for the hard-working people of Coos County, reflects core regional values: authenticity, hospitality, and self-reliance. We hope YOU will join the hundreds of others who are helping to bring this project to completion! Please click on the "Donate Now" icon to the left and find out how easy it is for you to make a contribution.

Location and Funding

      The prominent bay-front property is east of Highway 101, along historic Front Street across from the Sun Printing Museum in Coos Bay. (Click here to see map)  The site was generously donated for this project to the Coos County Historical Society by the City of Coos Bay’s Urban Renewal Agency.  The Society has hired architects and other design and engineering consultants, contracted with local service providers, created partnerships with other local non-profits, and nearly completed the funding required to make this dream a reality.

     Despite a difficult economy, including a lack of state and federal funds, determined local donors have thus far provided enough support to trigger more than $1.5 million in additional foundation grants so that construction can proceed. Now we need YOUR help to raise the last funds necessary to complete and furnish this exciting new gateway to the beauty and treasures of Coos County.

Design

     The exterior of the CH&MC was designed to evoke waterfront buildings of the early 1900s. Many buildings had large print signs (see Marshfield waterfront, left) and varied roof lines (see North Bend wharf, right). The monitors along the rooftop and down the east face of the new Center will allow some light into the building by day and to shine out by night.

CH&MC from the east (waterfront) and west (highway)

CH&MC from the north (parking lot) and south (plaza)

View from the southwest (plaza entrance)

View from the northeast (parking lot entrance) 

New Opportunities

The interior was designed to encourage social interaction and enjoyment of our waterfront, including:

• A community hall, off the main lobby, to host author talks, videos, special exhibits, and other presentations. A small kitchenette will support events. The hall, with bayside window views, will have doors that allow for connections to the plaza and the sky-lit lobby, creating versatility for Society events and group rentals.  
• A 2nd floor, bay-view, research library will enhance comfort and access to thousands of images, maps and printed materials.
• Improved climate controlled artifact storage and preparation areas that will further protect our collection.
• A larger museum store, with bay window views, that will provide books and locally-relevant items which visitors can purchase and share with others.
• An ample parking lot, right off Hwy. 101with space to accommodate cars, tour buses, and RVs.
• Large facility grounds will allow us to showcase outside maritime artifacts.
• A wind-sheltered waterfront plaza on the south side of the Center for outdoor events.

Who We Are, What We Do

     The 11,000 square foot Center will provide a modern and attractive setting for one of the region’s oldest community supported institutions. Since 1891 when Coos County citizens formed our historical society, the organization has grown in its efforts to preserve the history of the South Coast. Over the years, patrons have donated over 50,000 artifacts and 250,000 images – all focused on our region - to the Coos County Historical Society, a non-profit organization with no government funding.      

      The Society has hired a professionally-trained collections manager to create frequently rotated exhibits, has created an award-winning local history education program reaching all county 4th and 5th graders, has led history-based field trips and hikes, and has aided in the research used in a number of books and video production.

Research and presentations

Field trip to a local dairy  farm

The new Center will be located near other historical sites on Front Street, like the Marshfield Sun Printing Museum, the Coos Bay Iron Works, and the Coos Bay Boardwalk.

            Sun Museum                  

Coos Bay Iron Works

                                                                                                        Coos Bay Boardwalk   

History Matters

     Oregon’s South Coast residents have a long heritage of living and working along the rivers, sloughs, bays, lakes, and ocean coastline. The Coos Historical & Maritime Center will tell the authentic story of the entire region and create a positive memory of the South Coast for its visitors, providing numerous itinerary options and a reason to stay a little longer as folks tour the region. The Center will be a starting point for a “South Coast Adventure” as visitors and residents orient themselves to our past and learn about the many exciting places in the area to discover.

    The Coos Historical & Maritime Center will be a beautiful new hub of activity for cultural events, an important education and research facility, and a great place to host community events.  Showcasing the South Coast waterways heritage will also be an important component in the economic redevelopment of the region.  (Click here to read highlights of the recent “Sustainable Design Assessment Team Report”)

     Take a positive step toward the revitalization of our region by becoming a donor to the Coos Historical and Maritime Center.

“Our Past Builds Our Future”

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Coos Historical & Maritime Center

Donor Naming Opportunities

Donor Board

ALL DONORS, regardless of amount of contribution, will have their names included on a beautifully designed donor board located in the new Center’s lobby on a wall across from the reception desk.  At higher levels of donation, some naming opportunities are limited and will be assigned on a “first-come, first served” basis.  Naming opportunities below marked "reserved" have already been claimed by donors.

Under $500          “Mariners”

• Your name(s) will be included on the CH&MC donor board at this level if your donation is received prior to the donor board construction cutoff date

$500+                     “Voyagers”

• Your name(s) will be included on the CH&MC donor board at this level if your donation is received prior to the donor board construction cutoff date
• You will receive membership in the Coos County Historical Society thru 2012.
• A specially designed bronze survey marker with your name(s), business, or organization will be placed outside the north entrance of the CH&MC.

$1,000+                 “Explorers”

• Your name(s) will be included on the CH&MC donor board at this level if your donation is received prior to the donor board construction cutoff date
• You will receive membership in the Coos County Historical Society thru 2013.
• A specially designed bronze survey marker with your name(s), business, or organization will be placed outside the north entrance of the CH&MC.

$5000+                  “Navigator”

• Your name(s) will be included on the CH&MC donor board at this level if your donation is received prior to the donor board construction cutoff date
• You will receive membership in the Coos County Historical Society thru 2013.
• A beautiful map of Coos County (with northern Curry County) will be etched on the lobby floor of the CH&MC next to the entrance to the Community Hall. The map will show many water features and other important landmarks (see list below).  As a donor, your name will be listed on a special wall plaque near the map with the name of a place you have chosen to”sponsor”. More than one donor may be listed per “place”.

Example plaque listing:              

South Slough:          Bob Smith

Bandon:                    John Doe, Sue Jones

Possible Floor Map Places (for $5000)

Tenmile Lakes                                  Lakeside

Elliot State Forest                            Oregon Dunes

South Slough                                    North Bend

Pacific Ocean                                   Coos Bay

Millicoma River                                 Empire

Coos River                                        Charleston

Allegany                                             Coquille

Dellwood                                            Eastside

Riverton                                              Isthmus Slough

Cape Arago                                       Myrtle Point             

Arago                                                 Dora

Coquille River                                    Sitkum         

Bandon                                              Powers

Cape Blanco                                     Remote

Sixes River                                        Langlois

                                              Mt. Bolivar                                         Port Orford

                                              Hwy 101                                            SWOCC

                                              CB Wagon Road                              Coaledo            

                                              Shore Acres                                      Hwy 42

$10,000+             “Helmsmen”

• Your name(s) will be included on the CH&MC donor board at this level if your donation is received prior to the donor board construction cutoff date.
• You will receive membership in the Coos County Historical Society thru 2013.
• Your name(s) will be honored on a plaque on one of the 19 stairs leading up through the west stairwell from the main Exhibit Hall to the 2nd floor bridge exhibit area. This area is located in the beautiful light shaft on the west side of the Exhibit Hall. Each stair has a timber tread with steel nosing on it. Your plaque on each tread will be affixed to railing material at tread level.  Only one donor per stair for this exclusive naming right.  (Note: in the event that the 2nd floor bridge exhibit area is not funded for construction, we will notify you of another prominent naming opportunity.)

Stair 1,  Stair 2 (reserved),  Stair 3,  Stair 4 (reserved), Stair 5, Stair 6 (reserved), Stair 7,  Stair 8 (reserved),  Stair 9,  Stair 10,  Stair 11,  Stair 12,  Stair 13, Stair 14, Stair 15, Stair 16,  Stair 17,  Stair 18,  Stair 19

$25,000+             “Pathfinders”

• Your name(s) will be included on the CH&MC donor board at this level if your donation is received prior to the donor board construction cutoff date.
• You will receive honorary life membership in the Coos County Historical Society
• A plaque with your exclusive name(s) will be placed near one of the eleven windows in the CH&MC

Museum Store Windows

A (reserved)

B (reserved)

Community Hall Windows

C (reserved)

D (reserved)

E (reserved)

F

    Staff Area Windows

     G (reserved)

     H (reserved)

     Research/ArchiveWindows

      I

     J

     K

Or, if you prefer, your name(s) could be displayed as a donor on our Directors office on Floor 2 or one of our three Artifact Storage Rooms 1, 2, or 3 or on one of the restroom entrances.

$50,000+             “Pioneers”

• Your name(s) will be included on the CH&MC donor board at this level if your donation is received prior to the donor board construction cutoff date.
• You will receive honorary life membership in the Coos County Historical Society
• A special, artistically designed and locally handcrafted bench will be placed on the interior or exterior of the new CH&MC.  Your donor name(s) will be placed exclusively on a plaque on the bench.

OR …

If you prefer, at this $50,000 donor level, one of these specific rooms will be named exclusively in your honor and a sign displaying your name will be prominently mounted:

Kitchenette

Elevator

$100,000+           “Pacesetters”

• Your name(s) will be included on the CH&MC donor board at this level if your donation is received prior to the donor board construction cutoff date.
• You will receive honorary life membership in the Coos County Historical Society
• We are designing special wall-mounted, wooden exhibit cases that will be about 12 inches deep and house small exhibits outside of the main Exhibit Hall.  Your donor name(s) will be placed exclusively on one of the six exhibit cases.

             Welcoming Gallery:  case A

             Welcoming Gallery:  case B (reserved)

             East wall lobby:         case C

             East wall lobby:         case D

             West wall lobby:        case E

             West wall lobby:        case F

                           OR …

• If you prefer, at this $100,000 donor level, one of these      specific rooms will be named exclusively in your honor and a  sign displaying your name(s) will be prominently mounted.

Reception Desk (reserved)

Exhibit Preparation Room

                          Small Exhibits Gallery  (reserved)                          

Flagpole & Parking Lot Landscaping  (reserved)

$250,000+           “Pilots”

• Your name(s) will be included on the CH&MC donor board at this level if your donation is received prior to the donor board construction cutoff date.
• You will receive honorary life membership in the Coos County Historical Society
• At this $250,000 donor level, one of these specific rooms or major exhibits in the Exhibit Hall will be named exclusively in your honor and a sign displaying your name(s) will be prominently mounted.

Atrium Lobby

Maritime Exhibit  (reserved)

Timber and Mining Exhibit  (reserved)

Native Culture Exhibit

Agriculture Exhibit

Society & Culture since 1850

$350,000+           “Trailblazers”

• Your name(s) will be included on the CH&MC donor board at this level if your donation is received prior to the donor board construction cutoff date.
• You will receive honorary life membership in the Coos County Historical Society
• At this $350,000 donor level, one of these specific rooms or major exhibit areas will be named exclusively in your honor and a sign displaying your name(s) will be prominently mounted.

Research/Archive Room  (reserved)

Museum Store                     (reserved)

Community Hall

(Note: the "Exhibit Bridge" on the 2nd floor level is also a naming opportunity. As this is a newly designed and optional structure that will take additional funds to construct beyond our basic building, it will be a naming opportunity for a new donation.

$1,000,000          “Leaders”

• Your name(s) will be included on the CH&MC donor board at this level if your donation is received prior to the donor board construction cutoff date.
• You will receive honorary life membership in the Coos County Historical Society
• At this $1,000,000 donor level, one of these specific areas will be named exclusively in your honor and a sign displaying your name will be prominently mounted.

North and South Entrance plaque (reserved)

Exhibit Hall Wing   (reserved)

South Plaza

Contact Steve Greif (home ph. 541.756.7871) or home email (stevenandjoan@gmail.com) for more information on any of these naming opportunities.