"The town that put the US on the Pacific coast" Astoria by Segolily

Astoria Travel Guide: 78 reviews and 250 photos

Astoria

Historical

John Jacob Astor was in the fur business. He had competition though and knew that a physical presence on the pacific coast would go a long ways to cementing the U.S. rights there. He sent two parties of trappers to build a town at the mouth of the Columbia River. One went by land and the other by sea. The Tonoquin ship arrived first and in the summer of 1811 the crew was able to build a fort which they named after their benefactor. The ship was lost later in the summer in a fight with the natives. In the winter of 1812 most of the land party had arrived. Without a ship of their own and not having a supply ship arrive in a timely manner the fort did not last long. However it was enough to keep the territory in the hands of the US after the war of 1812.

Now

For years the town lived on the needs of the fishing, fish processing and lumber industries. Those all declined in the late 1900's. Now light manufacturing, tourism and art keep it thriving. With a population of 10,000 Astoria is small town built on pennisula of land between the bluffs of the Columbia River and the waters of Young's Bay. With a view of the Pacific ocean at the Columbia's mouth it is a very picturesque and quaint town.

Astoria

Last visit to Astoria: Sep 2008
Intro Updated Jan 12, 2010
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Reviews (4)

Peter Iredale wreck Off The Beaten Path (1)

On the same long and wide sandy beach where people lay out, kite surf and build sand castles is the rusting iron hulk of... more travel advice

George Flavel House and Museum Things to Do (2)

This is a beautiful old Victorian home in Queen Anne style that was built in 1885 by one of the leading shipmen of the... more travel advice

Astoria Column Things to Do (2)

This column commemorating the long history of Astoria is an easy landmark from miles around. We wandered up the hills... more travel advice

Astoria-Megler Bridge Transportation (1)

The mouth of the Columbia River is close to 4 miles wide at Astoria. Crossing it during the first half of the 20th... more travel advice

Comments (1)

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balhannah Jun 11, 2013 at 3:44 PM

A lovely small page! The Queen Anne house architecture is beautiful, I think I have seen more photo's of that style house in America. We have a few wrecks like that in Oz, I quite like seeing them and reading the history on the wreck. I can't believe this page has sat here so long without being read, though I have quite a few like that too!
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  Segolily Jun 12, 2013 at 1:35 PM
  
  Thank you for reading it. It was fun for me to read it again as well.