Near the mouth of the mighty Columbia River, this relatively small Oregon city is filled with interesting stories and activities.
Visit Astoria, Oregon, to learn about life over the last several centuries for soldiers, riverboat operators, fishermen and others who lived near the Columbia River. Astoria’s riverside area provides insights to the city’s past and modern times. Ride the historic Astoria Riverfront Trolley, known as Old 300. Listen to tales of early salmon and tuna canning operations and see operations today focused on shrimp and sardines.
Check out the city’s museums. The Oregon Film Museum is a celebration of The Goonies and other movies filmed in Astoria and elsewhere in the state.
Across the street, the Flavel House Museum reveals how an affluent river captain lived in the late 1800s.
Learn about the history and treacherous conditions of the river separating Oregon and Washington at the Columbia River Maritime Museum. The Hanthorn Cannery Museum has even more specific information related to the century-long fish processing industry in Astoria.
Centuries of Clatsop County history are recounted in the Heritage Museum.
Next to the water, the Maritime Memorial and the surrounding park are relatively new. Individual squares on granite walls honor people who loved the river or made their lives on it. Stop to read interesting inscriptions of hundreds of honorees.
At the Liberty Theatre attend music performances of all types, along with poetry, dance and other eclectic events.
Climb Coxcomb Hill and the Astoria Column for excellent views of the city, the river and northward to Washington state.
Travel west of town to visit Fort Stevens State Park to understand the region’s preparedness for protecting the United States from the time of the Civil War through World War II.
See the Fort Clatsop National Memorial in Lewis and Clark National Historic Park to learn about the explorers’ early experiences.
Travel to Astoria from Portland in about 2 hours by car or from Seattle, Washington, in just over 3 hours. The presence of the Astoria-Megler Bridge completes a continuous highway through the United States along the Pacific Coast from Mexico to Canada.