The Columbia County Museum Association (CCMA) organized in 2007 to manage the Historic Courthouse Museum in St. Helens, which origin ally opened in 1970. The CCMA also partners with the Vernonia Pioneer Museum, which opened in 1964. The courthouse museum was closed for seven years, 2003-2010, and reopened after an inventory and reorganization were completed. Both museums are run by volunteers and are registered nonprofits.

The Historic Courthouse Museum’s displays highlight the following: shipping, railroads, farming, schools, the military, natural history, towns, industry, logging, government, business, and general interest. One room is a research library with a wide variety of materials devoted to genealogy and Columbia County.