Astoria is the oldest American settlement west of the Rockies, Astoria offers a rich history for your exploration. It was first visited by Captain Robert Gray in 1792, by the Lewis & Clark Corps of Discovery in 1805, then adventuresome pioneers by the thousands. Now its your turn to experience the excitement of exploring Astoria. Within a 20 mile radius, one can see dozens of exciting attractions including Fort Clatsop National Memorial, Fort Stevens State Park, Fort Astoria, Heritage Center Museum, Flavel House Museum, Uppertown Fire Fighters Museum, Astoria Column, and the Columbia River Maritime Museum, home to one of the nation's finest displays of model ships and nautical artifacts. Astoria offers other fun discoveries, such as historic Victorian homes, the beautiful 4.1 mile long Astoria Bridge, cruise ships, and fishing charters offering the thrill of landing your own salmon, sturgeon, or crab. A walk to explore the city's waterfront should include stops at the 6th Street Viewing Dock, the 14th Street Riverpark with its interpretive panels of river activity, and the 17th Street Pier where there's a chance to tour visiting ships. Discover the bustling business district with its many unique shops and galleries. For the kids, there's nothing like a trip to the Uppertown Firefighters Museum at 30th and Marine Drive. It is full of fire fighting memorabilia from 1877 to 1963. The collection includes motorized, hand-pulled and horse-drawn fire engines, as well as a large photographic collection of some of Astoria's spectacular fires.
Sightseeing ........................ Astoria Column, Coxcomb Hill - Known as the symbol of Astoria, the 125 foot tower has 164 spiral stairs that you can climb for a grand view of the Columbia River, the volcanic cone of Mt. St. Helens and the Pacific Ocean. It was built in 1926 by the Great Northern Railway, and is a favorite of kids. Astoria Children's Museum - 11th and Exchange Streets The Museum offers families an opportunity to explore and play in a comfortable indoor setting. Hours of operation are Monday, Thursday and Friday from 11am-3pm. Saturday from 11am-4pm and Sunday 1pm - 4pm. The Museum is closed Tuesday and Wednesday. (Call for school break and summer schedule). For more information, call the Museum at 325-8669. Uppertown Firefighter's Museum - 30th and Marine Drive An extensive collection of fire fighting equipment makes this museum fun for kids of all ages! Heritage Museum - 16th Street and Exchange Ave Features regional history, natural history, geology, Native American artifacts and important nautical events. Captain George Flavel Museum - 8th Street and Duane Ave Elegant Victorian home built by Captain George Flavel. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Columbia River Maritime Museum - 17th Street and Marine Drive Seven galleries display and interpret the region's maritime history. 24,000 square feet of exhibit space and the enormous collection of artifacts, models, paintings and displays make it worth the visit. Ft. Clatsop National Memorial - 6 miles south of Astoria, off Hwy. 101 Winter quarters for Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, this replica has a living history program. Fort Astoria - 15th and Exchange Streets A small park is located at the intersection of 15th and Exchange streets, where John J. Astor's fur traders originally constructed a small fort. The Astoria Aquatics Center - The Astoria Aquatic Center is located on the east end of town at the juncture of 20th Street and Marine Drive. The Aquatic Center has four pools and almost 200,000 gallons of water. The center is open seven days a week. Call 503-325-7027 for center hours.
Camping ................. Fort Stevens State Park features camping and day use areas located near several mile of ocean beach and a variety of historical and recreational attractions. (503)-861-1671 Park Attractions The camping area at Ft. Stevens provides 9 yurt sites, 253 tent campsites, 128 water/electrical sites and 215 full-hook up sites. Five campsites and one yurt site are accessible to those with disabilities and are located near the accessible restroom. The park also features 5 group sites and 7 hiker/biker campsites. Yurts (circular domed tents with plywood floors) are available for nightly rentals. Furnished with a space heater, lights and beds, they are reservable up to 11 months in advance, as are the campsites, by calling 1-800-452-5687. A recreational vehicle waste water dump station is located 400 feet east of the registration booth. Near the registration booth is information concerning tides and evening programs, public telephones and a message board. Freshwater Lakes ....................... Coffenbury Lake provides two swimming areas, restroom, picnicking and a boat ramp. The speed limit on the lake is 10 mpg. Creep, Crawl and Crabapple Lakes are small, but each does have a boat ramp for fishing or canoeing. Hiking Trails and Bike Paths..................... Fort Stevens has over six miles of hiking trails and nine miles of bike paths, and is the beginning of the Oregon Coast Trail traversing south to California. Other Camping Sites...................... Astoria Warrenton Seaside KOA - 1100 Ridge Road The 310 sites include 54 Kamping Kabins. 503-861-2606, or 1-800-562-8506 Kampers West- 1140 NW Warrenton Drive 503-861-1814 or 1-800-880-5267 Abandoned Fort .................. The Fort Stevens Military Reservation guarded the mouth of the Columbia River from the Civil War until World War II. The fort, located one mile north of the campground, was turned over to the State Parks and Recreation Department in 1976. Park visitors can explore the abandoned gun batteries. You can climb to the nearby commander's station for a scenic view of the Columbia River and South Jetty. A brochure for a self-guided walking tour is available on request. Shipwreck Remains...................... Near the beach parking area is the rusting wreck of the "Peter Iredale". Military Museum.......................... The Military Museum contains many military artifacts and interpretive displays depicting the history of the fort from the Civil War era to the shelling of Battery Russell by a Japanese submarine during World War II. The museum is open daily from June through September and Wednesday through Sunday during the remainder of the year. Guided Tours............................. During the summer months, guided tours of one-of-a-kind underground Battery Mishler and a tour in the back of a restored 1954 "deuce-and-a-half" army truck are also available. Group tours may be arranged by calling the Historic Area Military Museum at (503) 861-2000 between 10 am and 2 pm Monday through Friday. Allow two weeks advance notice. Tours, special events and museum services are provided by the Friends of Old Fort Stevens, a private, non-profit group. South Jetty on Clatsop Spit................................ South Jetty was built in the late 1800's by the Corps of Engineers. An observation platform located near the jetty is a good spot to watch waves breaking and see big ships crossing the Columbia River bar. Wildlife viewing platforms, located on the Clatsop Spit overlooking the Columbia River and near Swash Lake, are excellent spots for bird watching. Jesse's House in Free Willy .............................. Used as the home of Jesse and his foster family in Free Willy, it is located at 3992 Harrison.
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