2021 READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
Sunrise and sunset at
the Astoria Column
Astoria’s crowning monument features mesmerizing views
BY ALYSSA EVANS
Standing atop the Astoria Column, time
stands still. The column creates a sense of
peace even while the rest of the world keeps
moving.
Eye catching views of the Columbia
River, Youngs Bay and downtown Astoria
are all visible from the column. The view is
mesmerizing, both day and night.
This year, readers chose the Astoria Col-
umn as the winner of three Readers’ Choice
Awards: Best Place to Watch the Sunrise,
Best Place to Watch the Sunset and Best
Tourist Attraction. As a beloved spot for
locals and visitors for nearly a century, it’s
no surprise to see the column is a favorite
of Coast Weekend readers.
The Astoria Column’s life dates back to
1898, when city leaders dreamed of build-
ing an electric tower, similar to the Eiff el
Tower in Paris. Though these leaders had
big dreams, the column didn’t come to fru-
ition until 1911 when Astoria celebrated its
centennial. That year, the Astoria Centen-
nial Committee installed an electric sign
commemorating the centennial on Cox-
comb Hill, where the column would later
be built.
Fundraising for a tower began to kick-
start with help from donors, including
John Jacob Astor, for whom Astoria was
named. Fourteen years passed with few
changes and ultimately no tower. In 1925,
Ralph Budd, president of the Great North-
ern Railway, brought forward a new idea.
See Page 19
Lissa Brewer
Sunset view of the Astoria column.
18 // COASTWEEKEND.COM