Astoria
The day in Astoria began in fog, but the sun soon burned through, bathing the mountains and water in light. Our first stop was the excellent Columbia River Maritime Museum, right at the top of the dock. This facility portrays the rich history of the north Pacific coast, from earliest inhabitants, through the days of sail, to the present. It is impossible to look at the displays and hear the docent’s narration without thinking of the many lives and fortunes won and lost in these waters.
Next stop was the Astoria Column, a 125-foot structure on 600-foot Coxcomb Hill. Built as a historic memorial to the early days of Oregon, there are text and figures spanning time from earliest inhabitants to the coming of the railroads. In addition to the column itself, the location offers a magnificent view all around the horizon. In the clear air we could see Tillamook Head, Cape Disappointment, the Netul River, Young’s Bay, and many other historic and geographic features.
After lunch we finished our exploration with a stop at the replica Ft. Clatsop, the winter camp of the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1805-06. Walking through the beautiful forest and stepping into the tiny rooms of the fort, we certainly could feel a little of what those intrepid travelers experienced almost 200 years ago.
So ends our collective travel In the Wake of Lewis and Clark. Tomorrow we go our separate ways, carrying with us our individual impressions of that grand adventure.
The day in Astoria began in fog, but the sun soon burned through, bathing the mountains and water in light. Our first stop was the excellent Columbia River Maritime Museum, right at the top of the dock. This facility portrays the rich history of the north Pacific coast, from earliest inhabitants, through the days of sail, to the present. It is impossible to look at the displays and hear the docent’s narration without thinking of the many lives and fortunes won and lost in these waters.
Next stop was the Astoria Column, a 125-foot structure on 600-foot Coxcomb Hill. Built as a historic memorial to the early days of Oregon, there are text and figures spanning time from earliest inhabitants to the coming of the railroads. In addition to the column itself, the location offers a magnificent view all around the horizon. In the clear air we could see Tillamook Head, Cape Disappointment, the Netul River, Young’s Bay, and many other historic and geographic features.
After lunch we finished our exploration with a stop at the replica Ft. Clatsop, the winter camp of the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1805-06. Walking through the beautiful forest and stepping into the tiny rooms of the fort, we certainly could feel a little of what those intrepid travelers experienced almost 200 years ago.
So ends our collective travel In the Wake of Lewis and Clark. Tomorrow we go our separate ways, carrying with us our individual impressions of that grand adventure.
