Astoria

Understand

History

The history of Astoria begins with the Clatsop Indians who lived there for thousands of years. In 1792, Captain Robert Gray located the mouth of the Columbia River and sailed up the river. In 1805, the Lewis and Clark Expedition spent the winter near the current site of Astoria at Fort Clatsop. The city of Astoria itself was not settled until 1811 when John Jacob Astor's Pacific Fur Company established a fur trading post, making it the oldest American settlement west of the Rocky Mountains.

With the start of the War of 1812 between the United States and England, Astor's fur traders sold the post to the British Northwest Company so that from 1813 to 1818, the British owned Astoria and it was known as Fort George. The 1818 treaty with England established the Oregon Country, although the fur trade largely remained under British control until the mid-1840s.

Get in

By car

& U.S. Route 101 runs north-south through the city; the Astoria-Megler Bridge to Washington terminates near downtown (at W Maine Dr). U.S. Route 30 provides access from the east, including Portland. If you are coming from Longview/Kelso, Woodland or anywhere north (such as the Puget Sound Area) you can also go through take Exit #39 from I-5 in Longview and cross over the Columbia River to get on US Route 30. Astoria is the western terminus to US 30 after spanning 3,073 miles (4,946 km) across the country from Atlantic City. It is the third longest U.S. highway, after US 20 (Florence, OR) and US 6.

Another way from Portland is to go 77 mi northwest of Portland on U.S. Route 26 (Sunset Highway) to its western terminus at U.S. Route 101, south of Seaside, and continue north on U.S. 101 into Astoria. Likewise, one can leave US 26 at OR-103 (turn-off from side of the road, 25.7 miles from US 101) and go north to Jewell. Then take the scenic OR-202 north to Astoria. There are observation points along Highway 202 where it is common to see wild elk relaxing in a meadow. Highway 202 is known as a particularly enjoyable road to take if you happen to be driving a motorcycle or high-performance car. OR-202 enters into the southside of town as Cherry Ave, alongside Youngs River, which ends at US 101 in Smith's Point. Likewise travelers can go north on 7th Ave into town from Cherry. U.S. Route 26 leaves Portland as a six lane freeway (3 lanes each direction) and narrows down from a four lane freeway to a two lane road at the OR-6 ("To Banks, Tillamook"). Going west, the exit to OR-6 is on the left side. From OR-6 to US 101, US 26 continues at around 55 mile per hour without traffic lights to stop traffic. But beware of traffic leaving and entering from the cross-roads from both sides of US 26 and be prepared to slow or stop if necessary or to slow down as posted by sign.

By bus

The central bus station is the Astoria Transit Center on Marine Dr & 9th St in downtown Astoria for the following:

* 24 - Goes up to Ilwaco Port via Chinook Store. * 50 - goes up to Raymond via Rocket Diner in Naselle, Dock of Bay Center, and South Bend. In the other directions goes to Ilwaco via Chinook Store. Passengers connect with Wahkiakum on the Move (see below) at Rocket Diner to continue towards Longview/Kelso by bus. *

By cruise ship

Cruise ships stopping in Astoria typically dock at near the Astoria-Megler Bridge.

Get around

The Astoria Riverfront Trolley runs along the Riverfront between Basin St & 39th St (Pier 39 Retail complex), $1 for a round trip, $2 for full day. Schedule changes seasonally and is subject to weather. The 9th Street stop is the nearest stop to the transit center (central bus station).

Go next

• Seaside is Oregon's most popular beach destination. Just 30 minutes south on U.S. 101.
• Long Beach is a popular beach town on the Washington side of the Columbia River, and the gateway to the Long Beach Peninsula. Explore sites from Lewis and Clark National Historic Park along the way, just 30 minutes north on U.S. 101
• Astoria is an excellent home-base to explore the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park sites that are located on both sides of the Columbia River.