12 // COASTWEEKEND.COM
BEST LOCAL SPORTS TEAM
BEST TOURIST ATTRACTION
Astoria High School
Fishermen, Football
Astoria Column
Astoria, Oregon
Runner-up: The Beach
Honorable Mention: Breweries in Astoria
Astoria, Oregon
Runner-up: Ilwaco High School Fishermen, Football
Honorable Mention: AHS Fishermen, Baseball
PHOTO BY DANNY MILLER
Astoria High School’s Tyler Ranta is tackled making a run
during the 4A state quarterfinal game Nov. 12 against Cottage
Grove at CMH Field in Astoria. After an eight-game winning
streak last fall, Astoria made it to the 2016 4A state playoffs
in its best effort since the 2008 football season, but Cottage
Grove defeated Astoria 25-21 in the quarterfinals. The Fisher-
men finished the season 8-2. Cottage Grove lost to North Bend
35-21 in the 4A state championship game.
By PATRICK WEBB
The view is worth it.
Ascend 125 feet into the
blustery sky above Coxcomb
Hill and, as you emerge
onto the viewing deck, you
can enjoy a panorama of
Clatsop County, the Colum-
bia River and the Pacific
Ocean. (Weather permitting,
of course.)
It’s a toss-up whether the
magnificent view or the spi-
raling historical murals that
adorn the Astoria Column
are more interesting.
The impressive monu-
ment, once again the Read-
ers’ Choice for Best Tourist
Attraction on the North
Coast, was built in 1926. It
has undergone renovations
in 1995, 2005 and 2015,
with workers either sprucing
up the exterior or adding
enhancements each time.
Originally envisioned
as merely a flagpole, the
Astoria edifice has been
described as the “crown-
ing monument” in a series
of 12 historical markers
constructed between St.
Paul, Minnesota, and the
West Coast. These markers
were dreamed up by Ralph
Budd, president of the Great
Northern Railroad, to cele-
brate the early settlers’ roles
in expanding the United
States west to the Pacific
Coast.
Italian artist Attilio Pus-
terla employed a technique
called sgraffito, which used
wet plaster and colored
powder to portray scenes
from the history of the
Western states. New York
philanthropist Vincent Astor,
great-grandson of busi-
nessman John Jacob Astor,
whose Pacific Fur Company
settled Astoria in the early
1800s, helped bankroll the
original. The Astor family
has continued to support it
to this day.
For Astoria Mayor Arline
LaMear, the Column is “the
symbol of Astoria.”
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PHOTO BY PATRICK WEBB
If you have ever wondered at the true scale of the Astoria Col-
umn here is a closer look at the top, with its narrow gallery
allowing people who have climbed all the steps to admire the
most stunning view in Oregon.
“To me, it’s the must-see
sight that visitors should
visit,” she said. “They can
see all the way across our
wonderful river to the Wash-
ington side, Saddle Moun-
tain and where Lewis and
Clark stayed. I think it’s just
a wonderful historical record
— and it’s unique.”
In operating the Column,
the city of Astoria is assisted
considerably by the generos-
ity of the nonprofit Friends
of Astoria Column, whose
members and supporters
have contributed significant
dollars over the years to
keep the treasured monu-
ment in excellent condition.
Admission to the Astoria
Column is free, but visitors
who drive up the hill must
purchase a $5 car parking
pass, valid for a full year.
Thank you
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B e st
fo r vo tin g u s
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