Discover 20 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Astoria (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: Astoria Column, Flavel House Museum, and Oregon Film Museum. Also, be sure to include Astoria–Megler Bridge in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Astoria (Oregon).
Table of Contents
Astoria Column
Column with murals and an observation deck. The Astoria Column is a tower in the northwest United States, overlooking the mouth of the Columbia River on Coxcomb Hill in Astoria, Oregon. Built in 1926, the concrete and steel structure is part of a 30-acre city park. The 125-foot -tall column has a 164-step spiral staircase ascending to an observation deck at the top and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 2, 1974.[1]
Address: 1 Coxcomb Drive, 97103 Astoria
Flavel House Museum
Museum in Astoria, Oregon. The Captain George Flavel House Museum known also as Capt. George Flavel House and Carriage House or the Flavel Mansion, is now a house museum in Astoria, Oregon, United States. It was built in 1885 in the Queen Anne architectural style, by George Flavel, a Columbia River bar pilot who was one of the area's first millionaires.[2]
Address: 441 8th St, 97103-4620 Astoria
Oregon Film Museum
Museum in Astoria, Oregon. The Oregon Film Museum is a museum highlighting and celebrating movies that were made in the U.S. state of Oregon. The museum is housed in the old Clatsop County Jail in Astoria, Oregon, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The building was used in the opening chase sequence of the 1985 film The Goonies. The museum opened in 2010, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the film.
The museum features hands-on exhibits related to films that were made in Oregon, which include, in addition to The Goonies, Kindergarten Cop, Free Willy, Twilight, Sometimes a Great Notion and National Lampoon's Animal House. It contains several props from The Goonies, in addition to memorabilia, costumes and various collectibles that are on display within the former jail cells. Visitors can also create their own short films in an exhibit that features small sets and green screens. As of 2015, an "ORV" similar to the one used by the Fratelli gang in The Goonies can be found in the parking lot complete with imitation bullet holes near the rear license plate.[3]
Address: 732 Duane St, 97103 Astoria
Astoria–Megler Bridge
Cantilever bridge in Clatsop County, Oregon. The Astoria–Megler Bridge is a steel cantilever through truss bridge in the northwest United States that spans the lower Columbia River, between Astoria, Oregon, and Point Ellice near Megler, Washington. Opened in 1966, it is the longest continuous truss bridge in North America.
The bridge is 14 miles (23 km) from the mouth of the river at the Pacific Ocean. The bridge is 4.067 miles (6.55 km) in length, and was the final segment of U.S. Route 101 to be completed between Olympia, Washington, and Los Angeles, California.[4]
Address: West Marine Drive, 97103 Astoria
United States lightship Columbia
United States lightship Columbia is a lightship located in Astoria, Oregon, United States of America. Columbia was formerly moored near the mouth of the Columbia River.[5]
Columbia River Maritime Museum
Museum in Astoria, Oregon. The Columbia River Maritime Museum is a museum of maritime history in the northwest United States, located about ten miles southeast of the mouth of the Columbia River in Astoria, Oregon.
It has a national reputation for the quality of its exhibits and the scope of its collections and was the first museum in Oregon to meet national accreditation standards. The museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It is the official state maritime museum for Oregon.
The museum opened 59 years ago in August 1963 in the Old Astoria City Hall and in 1982 it moved to its current location, on the waterfront. A remodeling and expansion was undertaken in 2001–02.[6]
Address: 1792 Marine Dr, 97103-3525 Astoria
Fort Columbia
Fort Columbia State Park is a public recreation area and historic preserve at the site of former Fort Columbia, located on Chinook Point at the mouth of the Columbia River in Chinook, Washington. The 618-acre state park features twelve historic wood-frame fort buildings as well as an interpretive center and hiking trails. The park's grounds are located over a tunneled section of U.S. Route 101.[7]
Astoria Victory Monument
Historical landmark in Astoria, Oregon. The Astoria Victory Monument, also known as the Doughboy Monument or Soldiers' Monument, is a monument located in Astoria, Oregon, in the United States. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The concrete, Spanish Revival monument designed by Charles T. Diamond was constructed in 1926, incorporating a cast of a sculpture by John Paulding. The structure was recognized individually by the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 and as part of the Uniontown–Alameda Historic District in 1988.[8]
Astoria City Hall
City government office in Astoria, Oregon. Astoria City Hall is the current city hall for the town of Astoria, Oregon, United States. Built in 1923 to house a bank, the building became the city hall in 1939, and it has remained Astoria's seat of government for more than 75 years.[9]
Address: 1095 Duane Street, Astoria
Liberty Theater
Performing arts theater in Astoria, Oregon. The Liberty Theater is a historic vaudeville theater and cinema in Astoria, Oregon, United States. The whole commercial building of which the theater is the major occupant is also known as the Astor Building, especially in the context of historic preservation.[10]
Address: 1203 Commercial St, 97103-4004 Astoria
Astoria City Hall
The Old Astoria City Hall, now known as the Clatsop County Historical Society Heritage Museum, is a historic building located in Astoria, Oregon, United States, that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building served as the city hall of Astoria from 1905 until 1939. It was the first location of the Columbia River Maritime Museum, from 1963 to 1982, and has been the Heritage Museum since 1985.[11]
Columbia River Eco Tours
Eco tours, Sailing, Outdoor activities, Tours, Marina
Address: West Mooring Basin Slip D-5 503 468-9197, Astoria
Museum of Whimsy
Museum, Architecture, Library, Art museum
Address: 1215 Duane St, 97103-4006 Astoria
Hanthorn Cannery Foundation
Museum, Specialty museum, History museum
Address: 100 39th St, 97103-2499 Astoria
New Youngs Bay Bridge
Vertical-lift bridge in Astoria, Oregon. The New Youngs Bay Bridge is a vertical-lift bridge over Youngs Bay on U.S. Route 101 between Astoria and Warrenton. Including the approaches, it is 4,200 feet long and was completed in 1964.
The bridge was built to the west of, closely in parallel to, a 1.6-mile (2.6 km) railroad trestle which also crossed the bay. It was built in 1896 for the Astoria and Columbia River Railway Company. The New Youngs Bay Bridge passed over the top of the railway bridge near the north river bank. The railroad bridge was used for the last time in 1982 and was dismantled in 1986.[12]
Youngs Bay
Youngs Bay, or Youngs River Bay, is located in the northwestern corner of the U.S. state of Oregon. The Youngs River meets the Columbia River at this point, which is situated between Astoria and Warrenton.
The bay is named for the Youngs River, which was discovered in 1792 by William Robert Broughton of the Vancouver Expedition. The river was named for Admiral Sir George Young of the Royal Navy.
There are two road bridges that cross the bay, with the busiest being the new Youngs Bay Bridge, a vertical-lift bridge completed in 1964, that spans approximately 1.75 miles (2.82 km) and is a two-lane part of U.S. Route 101 running north to south. There is also the Old Youngs Bay Bridge about two miles to the east, completed in 1921. From 1895 to 1986, a 1.6-mile (2.6 km) railroad trestle also crossed the bay. Built in 1896 for the Astoria and Columbia River Railway Company, it was later transferred to the Spokane, Portland and Seattle Railway, and finally to Burlington Northern Railroad. It included a swing-type draw span. The New Youngs Bay Bridge passed over the top of the SP&S bridge near the north river bank. The railroad bridge was used for the last time in 1982 and was dismantled in 1986.
The bay is fished extensively for sturgeon and salmon, when in season. Most of the gillnetting community moors and fishes in Youngs Bay. The bay can be seen rising and falling significantly with the tides created where the bay meets the Columbia River, which meets the Pacific Ocean approximately 10 miles (16 km) to the west.[13]
Astoria Fire House No. 2
The Astoria Fire House No. 2, also known originally as the North Pacific Brewing Company Beer Storage Building and as the Uppertown Firefighter's Museum since 1989, is a historic building located in Astoria, Oregon, United States.
The fire house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
The Uppertown Firefighter's Museum is operated by the Clatsop County Historical Society. The museum features fire-fighting equipment from 1879 to 1963, hand-pulled, horse-drawn, and motorized fire engines, fire fighting memorabilia and photos.[14]
Astoria Wharf and Warehouse Company
The Astoria Wharf and Warehouse Company building is a historic warehouse located in Astoria, Oregon, United States.
The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.[15]
Grace Episcopal Church
Episcopal church in Astoria, Oregon. Grace Episcopal Church, also referred to as Grace Episcopal Church and Rectory in the context of historic preservation, is a church, historic church building, and accompanying parsonage, all located in Astoria, Oregon, United States.
The church and rectory were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.[16]
Address: 1545 Franklin Ave, Astoria
USS Knapp
USS Knapp, a Fletcher-class destroyer, was the only ship of the United States Navy to be named for Harry Shepard Knapp a Vice Admiral of the United States Navy and Military Governor of Santo Domingo. Her keel was laid down on 8 March 1943 by Bath Iron Works, in Bath, Maine. She was launched on 10 July 1943, sponsored by Margaret L. and Mary C. Knapp and commissioned on 16 September 1943, with Commander Frank Virden in command.[17]