McKenzie River Drift Boat, circa 1949
McKenzie River Boat Co., Oregon
Donated by James F. Curtin in memory of all who have gone to sea, and those who waited for them to return

The McKenzie River runs west from Oregon’s Cascade Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. Known for its abundance of salmon and cutthroat, rainbow, and steelhead trout, it has been popular with sport fishermen since the early 20th century.

The fast, turbulent McKenzie requires a light, maneuverable boat. The fisherman stands in the front, facing upstream, as a guide steers the boat using a pair of oars. The shape of the bottom and the high ends make it possible for the guide to use the current to control the boat as it drifts backwards downstream.