Information
Landmark: Astoria ColumnCity: Astoria
Country: USA Oregon
Continent: North America
Astoria Column, Astoria, USA Oregon, North America
Overview
Perched high on Coxcomb Hill in Astoria, Oregon, the Astoria Column is a century-old tower and lookout, offering sweeping views where the Columbia River meets the sea.Towering 125 feet above the ground, it stands as one of the Oregon Coast’s most famous landmarks, where you can see the Columbia River winding toward the Pacific, the green sweep of the Coast Range, and the rooftops of Astoria below.The Column draws crowds for its sweeping views and for the spiraling artwork carved into its sides, each panel telling the region’s long, winding story.Built in 1926, it was part of the Great Northern Railway and Vincent Astor’s push to honor his family’s legacy in the region, while also drawing tourists to Astoria with its sweeping river views.The design takes its cue from Trajan’s Column in Rome, yet swaps marble legions for towering pines and rain-slick stone.Art: A sweeping spiral sgraffito mural wraps around the exterior-over 500 feet if you could roll it flat-capturing Oregon’s story from Indigenous traditions and Lewis and Clark’s trek to the grit of pioneer life and the roar of arriving trains.The Great Northern Railway, the City of Astoria, and the Astor family chipped in to fund the project.The structure rises 125 feet, and you’ll climb 164 narrow steps to reach the observation deck.The mural’s set on reinforced concrete, its surface coated in smooth plaster.Mural style: the sgraffito technique, where artists scratch through layers of plaster to expose bold colors underneath, adding rich depth and a rough, tactile texture.From the observation deck, you can take in sweeping 360-degree views-Astoria’s rooftops, the churning Columbia River Bar, calm Youngs Bay, the rugged Coast Range, and the endless blue edge of the Pacific.Visitor Experience – Climbing the Column: You can wind your way up the narrow spiral stairs to the top, where sweeping views of the hills and rooftops stretch out in every direction.Glider Tradition: Visitors have long bought small wooden gliders from the gift shop, then climbed to the top of the Column to send them spinning into the wind.Coxcomb Hill Park offers picnic tables under shady trees, benches to rest on, and landscaped spots with sweeping views-perfect for a family outing.Accessibility: The interior stairs can’t accommodate wheelchairs, but the park around them and the lower viewpoints are easy to reach, even for someone rolling along a smooth path.From the top of the Astoria Column, you can watch the Columbia River spill into its wide estuary, where it finally meets the restless Pacific.The Astoria-Megler Bridge stretches across the water, linking Oregon to Washington in a sweep of steel over the gray Columbia River.The rugged mountains and deep green forests of the Coast Range.The Pacific Ocean’s coastline rolls south, where waves slap against the rocks.Downtown Astoria bustles with charm, from its weathered Victorian homes to the salty breeze drifting off the waterfront.The Events and Community Role team hosts lively gatherings, from summer street fairs to candlelit memorials, all honoring Astoria’s rich heritage.It’s a proud emblem of Astoria’s seafaring roots, rich culture, and trailblazing past, often splashed across travel posters and brochures.The Column often takes center stage during seasonal celebrations, from heritage festivals filled with music and banners to the city’s milestone anniversaries.Spring through summer offers the best climbing weather, with warm air on your skin and sweeping, crystal-clear views from the summit.Fall brings crisp air you can almost taste, clear skies perfect for snapping photos, and far fewer people in your way.In winter, you might face biting wind, thick fog, or steady rain, yet the river and ocean take on a moody beauty, with waves shrouded in silver mist.Nearby Attractions: The Columbia River Maritime Museum dives into Astoria’s seafaring past, from weather-beaten ships to the smell of salt in the air.Fort Clatsop, part of Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, marks the spot where the explorers spent a cold, damp winter.The Flavel House Museum is a grand Victorian mansion, its tall windows catching the light like polished glass.Astoria Riverwalk - a quiet footpath tracing the Columbia’s edge, where you can hear gulls and the soft slap of water against the piers.The Astoria-Megler Bridge stretches across the water like a steel ribbon, an impressive feat of engineering and a beautiful route to drive.The Astoria Column rises as a historic landmark and a proud emblem of Oregon’s North Coast, its spiral murals telling the region’s story in weathered paint.With its winding spiral mural, soaring walls, and views that spill out to the horizon, it’s a must-see in Astoria, where art, history, and the wild beauty of the coast meet in one striking landmark.
