Developed by the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum in Ilwaco, WA
What's in a name
Why Clamshell Railroad?
In 1900, the Ilwaco Railway & Navigation Co. was acquired by the much larger Oregon Railway and Navigation Co. In 1903, a new superintendent was dispatched to inspect the line. Unimpressed with the small railroad, he muttered, “Hmph! Clamshell Railroad” and the name stuck!
The NAHCOTTA
Learn about the 1889 train car that ran along the Clamshell Railroad.
Gone but Not Forgotten
Remembering the Clamshell Railroad.
Clamshell Railroad Days
An annual celebration at the Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum.
Columbia Pacific Heritage Museum
Discover our Stories
Explore the crossroads of history where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. Discover the history of the railroad that ran by the tide, fishing, logging and early explorers of the Columbia-Pacific region.