NORTH COAST • OREGON COAST CITY GUIDE
Astoria, Oregon
A historic river city at the mouth of the Columbia, Astoria mixes a working waterfront, steep hillside neighborhoods, maritime history and some of the North Coast’s biggest views.
HISTORY & CHARACTER
A little Astoria history
Astoria traces its modern American history to 1811, when John Jacob Astor’s Pacific Fur Company established a trading post near the mouth of the Columbia River. It became the first permanent U.S. settlement west of the Rocky Mountains and grew into an important fishing, canning, shipping and timber port.
The city was rebuilt after major fires in 1883 and 1922, and much of today’s downtown reflects that 1920s rebuilding era. Scandinavian and Chinese immigrants were central to Astoria’s fishing and cannery economy, adding layers to a city already shaped by the Columbia River and the Indigenous peoples who have lived in the region since time immemorial.
Astoria still feels like a working river town rather than a beach resort. Cargo ships, fishing boats and Coast Guard traffic share the river with a walkable historic downtown, museums, old homes and neighborhoods climbing the hills above the water.
DID YOU KNOW?
A city built above the river
Parts of early downtown Astoria were constructed on timber pilings over marshy ground. That unusual layout helped fire spread beneath streets during the devastating 1922 fire, which reshaped the downtown visitors see today.
LANDMARKS • SCENERY • EXPERIENCES
Things to see & do in Astoria
Astoria rewards slow exploring. The best stops combine big Columbia River views with the maritime and cultural history that made the city what it is.
01
Astoria Riverwalk
Follow the Columbia River past old cannery sites, docks and broad river views. The Riverwalk is one of the easiest ways to understand Astoria as a living port city.
02
Astoria Column
Climb the 164-step spiral staircase inside the 1926 hilltop monument for a sweeping view of the Columbia, Youngs Bay, surrounding forests and the Pacific horizon.
03
Columbia River Maritime Museum
Learn why the Columbia Bar became famous among mariners and explore the fishing, rescue, navigation and shipping history of the river and Pacific Coast.
04
Historic downtown & Flavel House
Walk the compact downtown, look for restored early-20th-century architecture and visit the 1885 Flavel House for a glimpse of Victorian-era Astoria.
Around Astoria
Astoria waterfront and Columbia River scenery. Photo via Pexels.
Astoria Wharf and Warehouse Co. building on the riverfront. Photo by Steve Morgan via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0).
NATURE & WILDLIFE
Wildlife to watch for
The Columbia estuary attracts bald eagles, great blue herons, cormorants, shorebirds and migrating waterfowl. California sea lions are often heard around the waterfront, while elk and black-tailed deer live in nearby forest and meadow habitat. Gray whales can sometimes be seen from coastal viewpoints west of town during migration seasons.
SEASONAL WEATHER
What the weather feels like
Typical daytime high / overnight low ranges. Coastal weather can change quickly, so treat these as seasonal guideposts rather than a forecast.
Spring
Highs about 53–61°F • lows 39–47°F
Summer
Highs about 63–69°F • lows 49–54°F
Fall
Highs about 56–66°F • lows 43–52°F
Winter
Highs about 48–53°F • lows 37–43°F
Photo: Another Believer, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
OREGON ON SCREEN
Movies Filmed in Astoria
Astoria is one of Oregon’s best-known film towns. The former Clatsop County Jail, now the Oregon Film Museum, appears in the opening jailbreak of The Goonies. The city also supplied locations for Kindergarten Cop, Free Willy, Short Circuit and Green Room.
Start at the museum, then follow the waterfront and public film-trail signs. Please view private homes only from public streets and be considerate of residents.
GOOD TO KNOW
Practical tips for Astoria
Dress for layers
River wind, fog and passing showers can make Astoria feel cooler than the thermometer suggests. A light waterproof layer is useful in every season.
Give the hills some respect
Downtown is walkable, but many residential streets climb steeply. Comfortable shoes matter, and parking near the top of the hill can be limited at popular viewpoints.
Leave time for the river
Ship traffic, changing light and weather are part of the experience. The waterfront is worth revisiting at different times of day rather than treating it as a quick stop.
LOCAL HISTORY • CULTURE • STRANGE & TRUE STORIES
Stories from Astoria
Fresh stories connected to Astoria appear here automatically when they are tagged Astoria-blog.
LOCAL STORY
Astoria’s Dark Side: Exploring the Locations of The Mortuary Collection & Cthulhu
LOCAL STORY
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LOCAL STORY
Screams by the Sea: 5 Horror Movies Actually Filmed on the Oregon Coast
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LOCAL STORY
UFOs Over the Shoreline: Documented Encounters from Astoria to Brookings
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LOCAL STORY
The Mystery of the Beeswax Wreck: Oregon’s Oldest Unsolved Maritime Puzzle
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LOCAL STORY
Beyond the Legends: Documented Ghost Stories from Oregon’s Coast
The Oregon Coast is a place where the majestic Pacific Ocean meets the rugged, vibrant cliffs in a harmonious display of natural power. Yet,…
THE COAST KEEPS GOING
Explore more of the Oregon Coast
Keep traveling town by town for more local history, viewpoints, beaches, wildlife and stories from communities up and down the coast.