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 city park called Astor Park.

The -tall column has a 164-step spiral staircase ascending to an exterior observation deck at the top.

History

The tower was built in 1926 with financing by the Great Northern Railway and Vincent Astor, the great-grandson of John Jacob Astor, in commemoration of the city's role in the family's business history. Patterned after the Trajan Column in Rome (and Place Vendôme Column in Paris), the Astoria Column was dedicated on July 22, 1926. Maintenance work was done in 1936. In 1974, the column was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The murals that make up the column were refurbished in 1995 and a granite plaza was added in 2004.

Details

thumb|upright=0.80|The column in 1938, as photographed by [[George A. Grant|left]]

The column stands atop Coxcomb Hill and includes an interior spiral staircase that leads to an observation deck at the top. The spiral sgraffito frieze on the exterior of the structure has a width of nearly and a length of . the mural shows 14 significant events in the early history of Oregon, as well as 18 scenes from the history of the region, including Captain Gray's discovery of the Columbia River in 1792 and the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

<!--Designed to resemble the Roman Trajan's Column, the Astoria Column was-->Constructed of concrete, its foundation is deep. Built at a cost of , the tower has 164 steps to the top, where there is a replica of the State Seal of Oregon.

The cast-iron spiral staircase inside the column was closed for safety reasons in November 2007. It was reopened to the public in time for the Regatta in August 2009.

<gallery>

File:Rainbow Column with Fuchsia top.jpg|Astoria Column in a rainbow

File:Dedication of Astoria Column.jpg|Newspaper on the day of dedication

File:Astoria Column 3.jpg|Detail of the column mural

File:Interior top of Astoria Column - Oregon.jpg|Roof

File:Stairs of Astoria Column - Oregon.jpg|Spiral staircase (looking down)

File:Inside the Astoria Column (Astoria, Oregon).jpg|Spiral staircase (looking up)

File:Astoria Column (Clatsop County, Oregon scenic images) (clatDA0074c).jpg|The column at night

File:Astoria Column Blue.jpg|The column in blue lighting

</gallery>

See also

Other Great Northern memorials

<!--in order from east to west-->

  • Verendrye, North Dakota
  • Camp Disappointment (Meriwether), Montana
  • Marias Pass (Summit), Montana
  • Bonners Ferry, Idaho
  • Wishram, Washington

References