St. Helens, Rainier museums get huge boost from state grants

The Columbia County Museum received an economic shot in the arm at just the right time.

While the museum is in the process of moving from its current Columbia County Courthouse location to the John Gumm Building in St. Helens, lawmakers are handing down $400,000 in state arts and culture funding to the organization. Over $11 million more will be doled out across Oregon.

The boost will help the museum as it moves to its new digs, which museum curator Les Watters hopes will happen in early 2025, due to the vast collection of museum items that will have to be transported. Moving the museum’s existing collection to the Gumm Building will be done with county and volunteer support.

According to Columbia County Commissioner Casey Garrett, the state created a Cultural Resources Economic Fund (CREF), making the grant money possible.

“Historically, the state legislators, when they release dollars in the budgeting process, have a dedicated CREF fund that they can allocate funds out of,” Garrett said, noting that the funds need the support of the Cultural Advocacy Coalition of Oregon.

“This funding opportunity popped up that Watters made us aware of,” Garrett said, adding that a team was assembled that included Garrett, county public service officer Mark Pacheco and Paul Vogel of the Columbia Economic Team. “We put together a pretty comprehensive application that turned out to be about 160 some pages.”

The money will help the museum in several ways, including protection on the windows, specialized lighting, wood floor refinishing and the building of display cases in the Gumm building.

“It supplements the overall project, but specifically to make specialized space for their displays,” Garrett said.

Columbia County also announced that another grant will go to the Rainier Historical Museum.

“Rainier received a $500,000 grant out of the same program,” Garrett said. “They are building a new building next to the senior center, so they will relocate their collection from city hall, where it currently resides, to a brand-new building.”

Garrett said Rainier received another $1 million donation from a contractor who will help construct the building.

With Rainier, “We helped them get letters of support and did the same prodding with our state senators and representatives,” Garrett said.

Noting that the $400,000 for the Columbia County Museum was awarded during the last legislative session, Garrett said he was pleased that even former state legislators helped during the process.

“Sen. Betsy Johnson, she has been involved with so many things over the years,” he said. “She had some good contacts at the state level.”

The Columbia County Museum certainly won’t be the only occupant once the historic John Gumm Building, at one time the John Gumm School, is fully restored. The building will also house the Columbia County Board of Commissioners, the Columbia Economic Team, and the Small Business Development Center.

The county said substantial completion of the Gumm improvements will be in late August or early September, with occupancy expected this fall.