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Astoria is on the Columbia River, just a few miles
from the Pacific Ocean located in Clatsop County. It is surrounded by
pristine forest, mountains, 3 rivers and the sea. Due to Astoria's steep
hills and Historical Victorian homes, Astoria has been Called the "Little
San Francisco of the Pacific Northwest." Just across Youngs Bay is
Warrenton.
Astoria and Warrenton have a marine climate, with highs in the summer
between 65 70 degrees and mild winters. The area gets about 75 inches of
rain per year. The area of Astoria and Warrenton is a nationally
significant historic region at the western end of the
Lewis & Clark Trail.
Astoria is the oldest American settlement west of the Rockies with its architecture dominated by hundreds of
Victorian homes. Astoria and Warrenton have several first-class
interpretive attractions including
Fort Clatsop, the
Columbia River
Maritime Museum, the
Flavel House,
Fort Stevens State Park, the
Astoria
Riverfront Trolley, the Astoria Column and a unique Wood Carving called
"Whispering Giant" (see photo of Astoria's Wood Carving called "Whispering
Giant" by sculptor Peter Wolf Toth, honoring the Northwest Tribes on left
and the Columbia River Maritime Museum and the Flavel House below).
For hiking and horse back riding check
the Fort To Sea Trail.
History
Astoria is the oldest U.S. settlement west of the Rocky Mountains.
Members of the Pacific Fur Company, owned by John Jacob Astor, arrived in
March of 1811 and established Fort Astoria.
Lewis & Clark stayed near present day Astoria during the winter of
1805-06, and built Fort Clatsop for shelter.
In 1847, the first post office west of the Rockies was established in
Astoria by James Shively.
The first U.S. Customs house was established in 1849.
In the late 1800’s, Astoria’s salmon canneries, forest and shipping
industries turned the area into the liveliest boom town between Seattle
and San Francisco.
Immigrants came from Finland, Scandinavia and China, expanding the area’s
culture as well as its economy.
Captain George Flavel was one of the first licensed Columbia River Bar
Pilots and Astoria’s first millionaire. He built the Flavel Mansion in
1885, now open to the public as the Flavel House Museum.
Downtown businesses were first built on pilings over the Columbia River’s
edge. Nearly all of the downtown area burned to the “ground” in 1922. Fill
was added before downtown was rebuilt. Any flat land you see in Astoria is
most likely fill.
The Astoria Column was dedicated in 1926. It is a 125 foot high memorial
depicting the history of the area in a mural.
In 1854, Astoria became the Clatsop County seat.
Movies made in the Astoria area include The Goonies, Benji the Hunted,
Short Circuit, Come See the Paradise, Kindergarten Cop, Teenage Mutant
Ninja Turtles III and Free Willy.
The Astoria-Megler Bridge, which was formally dedicated August 27, 1966,
is 4.1 miles long and is considered the longest three-span truss bridge in
the world.
The English sailing vessel the Peter Iredale ran aground on the beach at
Fort Stevens during a storm in 1906 and its remains are still visible
there.
Fort Stevens Military Reservation guarded the mouth of the Columbia River
during the Civil War and World Wars I and II.
Astoria Riverfront Trolley
Astoria's River front trolley old Number 300 has been there since the end of May 1999
when it was restored and now is being run by volunteers.
Old Number 300 was built in 1913 by the American Car Company of St. Louis
and was in service in San Antonio until 1933. From then until now, the
trolley has gone through many changes, the car body even serving as a
lady’s residence for several years.
Columbia River Maritime Museum
1792 Marine Drive * Astoria OR 97103 * Phone: (503) 325-2323
Click on the picture for a live web cam!
Located on Astoria, Oregon's historic waterfront, the Columbia River
Maritime Museum displays an extensive collection of
nautical artifacts. It has been designated as Oregon's official state
maritime museum and was the first nationally accredited maritime museum in the
western United States.
Flavel House Museum
The Capt. George Flavel house, is a Queen Anne–style residence built
between 1884 and 1886. This historic Victorian Home and its period
furnishings enable visitors to imagine what life was like in Astoria at
the turn of the last century.
The beautifully kept grounds also include a recently restored 1880s carriage
house, which houses a gift shop and has orientation videos as well as
exhibits. Society staff and volunteers restored the Flavel house to
portray its Victorian elegance and the life of Captain Flavel who
prospered after becoming the first licensed bar pilot on the Columbia
River and from investments in
shipping, hotels, banking, and real estate. He eventually entered
politics, serving as a city councilman and a county commissioner. His
wife, Mary Flavel (maiden name Boelling), came from one of the county's oldest
families, who traveled from Ohio to Oregon over the Oregon Trail in 1847
and settled in Astoria in 1848. The house and its grounds are "one of the
most widely-known and best-preserved of the state's grand residential
properties of the late 19th-century," according to the description in the
National Register of Historic Places. Located at
8th and Duane. Admission: $5
adults, $4 seniors, $2 kids. 503-325-2203 Open daily Summer (May-Sept.)
10-5 Winter (Oct.-April) 11-4 |
