The vast majority of items within the Museum's collections, Archives and Exhibit Hall are donated to the Museum for use within the facility. From these donated artifacts, the Museum works to craft a story of Oregon's Veterans and their service in the United States Armed Forces. Though most items are from local Florence Veterans or their families, others have arrived from across Oregon, the West Coast, the United States, and even as far away as Hong Kong and France.
Donations of artifacts, pictures, and documents create the backbone of our facility and provide a resource for researchers and public alike to access and learn from. Our archives are ever growing, and we are always looking for new history to add to the Museum's collections.
The Museum does not Currently Accept Loans of Items
Acceptance of Artifacts
The acceptance of any artifacts or collections into the Museum's collection is governed by the Museum's collections management policy adopted in October 2017. The authority of accepting artifacts is the responsibility of OCMM's Director and must be approved by them. As of April 2023, all donations must have an appointment scheduled with our Director to go over the donation process and paperwork. Some items may not be accepted by the Museum due to a variety of reasons. If you are unsure if the items you would like to donate will be accepted, please feel free to call and ask for our Director.
The Following Items have Restrictions Placed on Their Acceptance
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American or Burial Flags - Due to U.S. Flag Code, we are unable to accept anything newer than a 48 star flag.
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Certain American Uniforms - Military Dress Uniforms will no longer be accepted unless information and personal accounts of their service are included alongside it. Current Exceptions: United States Merchant Marine, United States Space Force. If you are unsure an item fits one of the restrictions, please give us a call and we would be happy to help.
More InformationSchedule a private meeting with the Director of the Museum to discuss Donating Artifact(s).
Schedule a Donation Appointment
Can I see my items if they are not on display?
Donors are welcome (with an appointment) to bring family members to view their donations if they are not on public display.
Frequently Asked Donation Questions
Will the Museum staff appraise artifacts for donors?
No. The Internal Revenue Service considers such activity by a 501c(3) a conflict of interest. If you plan to get an appraisal for artifacts, please get them photographed, photocopied and/or appraised before sending them.
When will my donation be on exhibit?
The Museum does not guarantee artifacts will ever be exhibited. Once an object, document or photo is donated, it immediately becomes available to staff and researchers who are working on a variety of projects. We cannot predict what specific uses your items will have, but your generosity will instantly and permanently expand the amount of information available to the public!
The Oregon Coast Military Museum does not place its artifacts on “permanent display.”
Is my donation going to sit on a shelf, never to be displayed?
What visitors don’t see on display is just as important as what they do. In telling the story of our Veterans, we depend on a large collection, of which only a small percentage can ever be displayed. Once an object, document or photo is donated, it immediately becomes available to staff and researchers who are working on a variety of projects. We cannot predict what specific uses your items will have, but your generosity will instantly expand the amount of information available to the public!
Click the following button to download our full "Frequently Asked Questions about Donations" Flyer: