Oregon Coast: Astoria Column

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The Astoria Column was erected in 1926 at an elevation of 600 feet atop Coxcomb Hill, the location of the first permanent American Settlement west of the Rockies. It has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1974, and was refurbished in 1995. This impressive Oregon Coast historical monument is the only one of its kind in the world!

The column displays 14 scenes commemorating important events in the history of Astoria in cronological order. The mural scrolls around the 125-foot-high structure in an upward spiral direction, with the earliest scene at the base of the column. An interior 164-step spiral staircase leads to the top of a viewing platform with spectacular views.

Descriptions of the scenes are listed in reverse order, as they appear on the column from top to bottom.

14) Coming of the white settler and the railroad.
13) Fort Astoria returned to the United States, 1818.
12) Fort Astoria sold to the British and renamed Fort George, 1815.
11) The Tonquin, the Pacific Fur Company ship, blown up at Vancouver Island, 1811.
10) Pacific Fur Company Overland Party arrives at Astoria, 1812.
9) The Tonquin arrives at Astoria, 1811. Building Fort Astoria.
8) The Tonquin, the ship belonging to John Jacob Astor's Pacific Fur Company, sails from New York, 1810.

7) Lewis & Clark Expedition builds Fort Clatsop.
6) Lewis & Clark Expedition spends the winter of 1805-1806 on the Lewis & Clark River near Astoria.
5) Lewis & Clark Expedition boiling sea water to make salt.
4) Lewis & Clark Expedition, first to cross the continent, arrives at Astoria, 1805.
3) Native American village on land now known as Astoria.
2) Discovery of the Columbia River by Captain Robert Gray in the ship Columbia, 1792.
1) Native Wilderness.

New York architect Electus D. Litchfield designed the column, patterning it after the Trajan Column erected in Rome by Emperor Trajan in 114 A.D. It was decorated by Attilio Pusterla, an Italian-born artist, using a sgraffito technique (bas-relief etching in cement) developed during the Italian Renaissance. In 1926, it cost $27,133.96 to build and decorate the Column.

John Jacob Astor, for whom Astoria is named, was the head of the fur trading company that built Fort Astoria. His great-grandson, Vincent Astor, helped finance the building of the Column. The Great Northern Railroad paid for the rest of it.

Due to years of inclement coastal weather, the images on the Column had become so damaged that many of them could no longer be seen. Thanks to the efforts of the Friends of Astoria Column and countless others, restoration of the column began in April 1995. The finished project was unveiled in November 1995. The cost to repair it was approximately $750,000.

The Column's interior 164-step spiral staircase leads to the top of a viewing platform with breathtaking panoramic views of the Astoria Bridge, Pacific Ocean, mouth of the Columbia River, Youngs Bay, various lakes, the shoreline of Washington State, the peaks of Mount St. Helens and Mount Rainier, and Saddle Mountain. As you can see, the climb is well worth the effort.

The Friends of Astoria Column is a citizens group that was founded in 1988. They are dedicated to maintaining and preserving this historic one-of-a-kind monument. Due to their tireless efforts, and through the generous support of individuals, foundations, and corporations, the Column underwent extensive renovation in 1995. The pictoral frieze is once again legible, and has been impregnated with a water repellent that should help to preserve it.

Plans are under way to establish an Interpretive Center. The highlight of the Center will be a scaled-down version of the Column. A staircase will wind around the outside of it in order to allow close-up views of the 14 scenes. The Center will also display information about the Column, its history and purpose, and other exhibits about Oregon history and the settling of the region.

If you wish to contribute to this worthy cause, you can join Friends of Astoria Column by making a donation through the box at the Column, or by mailing it to PO Box 717, 1095 Duane Street, Astoria, OR 97103. If you would like to obtain additional information, please call 503-325-4530 or send a fax to 503-325-2467.

History of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Fort Clatsop National Memorial
Trajan's Column: Rome