The Historic Small Town Near Portland That Everyone Should Visit At Least Once
By Katherine Green
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Published February 14, 2018
Established in the 1850s, this small town just over 25 miles northwest of Portland, is teeming with history. A stop on the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1805, this area is as rich in stunning views as it is historical buildings, and a trip to the lovely town should definitely be on your agenda.
Boasting miles of Columbia River shoreline, the area draws a lot of visitors drawn into its beauty for cycling, birding, and nature loving.
The quiet St Helens Marina is a tree-lined beauty, tucked in on the banks of the Columbia River.
The city's Old Town area is loaded with restaurants, antique shops, and historic buildings galore.
The entire area is actually on the US Register of National Historic Places.
Founded in 1850, St Helens was originally named Plymouth by its New England founder Captain H.M. Knighton.
By the 1850s, the city was renamed for its amazing views of the nearby Mt. St. Helens.
The city's iconic Columbia County Courthouse building is a landmark above the waterfront.
Built in 1904, the building today has one active courtroom and also houses the Columbia County Museum.
Originally built as a bank in 1908, this historic building was converted to City Hall in 1937.
First National Bank opened its doors for business here in 1926 and remained in business for over 25 years.
Everywhere you look in this small town, there are remnants of the past intermingled with life of today.
A trip to St. Helens is not complete without a stop to the historic Columbia Theatre.
Built in 1928, the theater displays memorabilia from Hollywood's Golden Age in its lobby.
While completely modernized today, the theater will give you a glimpse back in time.
Don't miss the 1930s carbon arc projector on display to get a glimpse of movie theater history.
St Helens is host to an epic Halloween celebration - Halloweentown - a homage to the movie of the same name that was filmed in the city in 1998.
The area was also used to shoot many scenes from the movie Twilight. St Helens movie fame has drawn in crowds looking for shooting locations.
To visit St Helens, head north on US-30. A walk through history awaits at this fun small town with so much waiting to explore.
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