The One Small Town In Oregon With More Historic Buildings Than Any Other
By Christy Articola|Published August 30, 2022
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Christy Articola
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Christy Articola has lived in Colorado since 2013 and considers herself a Centennial State enthusiast and expert through and through. She's based in Denver metro, but over the past decade, she has traveled to every corner, river, village, park, town, and city in the state and continues to explore it deeper and further whenever she can. Christy simply can't get enough of Colorado, and loves sharing all her adventures with you through Only In Your State! She graduated with a degree in journalism from Fordham University and is thrilled to be working as a full time travel writer for this and other sites - she finally found her perfect niche - and is so grateful for that.
If you love the feeling of being surrounded by history, then you’ll love Astoria, Oregon. This northwestern Oregon small town has more historic homes and buildings than any other small town in the state. The reasons for this are unknown; for the most part, it just seems like this town values the past and wants to keep it available for people of today and tomorrow to see, and that’s great for those of us who wish to see it. If you’re looking for historic buildings in Oregon, Astoria is the place to go. Read on to learn more.
Astoria, Oregon is the oldest city in the state of Oregon and was the first American settlement west of the Rocky Mountains. This small city was officially founded in 1811 and it's been going strong ever since. Today, it has a population of about 10,000.
Many people are familiar with Astoria because it has appeared in several movies. The Goonies, Kindergarten Cop, and Short Circuit were all shot here.
Astoria has a very high concentration of historic buildings. The people of Astoria have always been conscious of this fact and have chosen to save and restore old buildings instead of tearing them down.
There are 18 non-residential buildings in Astoria that are on the National Register of Historic Places. Pictured here is the Clatsop County Courthouse. It was built in 1908.
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The Old Clatsop County Jail is also on the list. It was built in 1913. Today, it's the Oregon Film Museum.
The John Jacob Astor hotel was once known as the Hotel Astoria. It opened in 1924 and it is the tallest building in town. It's no longer a hotel; today, it is apartments.
There are also 18 historic homes in Astoria that have made their way onto the National Register of Historic Places. The most striking and memorable is the Captain George Flavel House. It's in the center of town and everyone notices it. Tours of the interior are offered daily.
These are just a few of the many historic buildings in beautiful Astoria, Oregon. If you love older architecture, you'll love this part of the state. It doesn't get more beautiful than this!
Astoria, Oregon, is a special place and it’s worth a weekend visit at any time of year. This is one of the best small towns in Oregon, especially if you love history. Plan a trip there today!
