Photos by Lissa Brewer
LEFT: A hiker walks down Coxcomb Hill at sunset. MIDDLE: A wooden canoe sits atop Coxcomb Hill in Astoria. RIGHT: Daff odils sit atop a sunset view on the hill near the Astoria column.
Continued from Page 18
Budd wanted to create a large fl agpole in
place of the tower. If erected, this would be
the “crowning monument” for a series of
12 historical markers between Astoria and
Minnesota . These markers would recognize
settlers’ westward migration.
Soon, the fl agpole concept was scrapped.
After a conversation with Electus Litchfi eld, a
New York architect, Budd decided to instead
build a column featuring historic images of
the North Coast. Budd and Litchfi eld worked
with Vincent Astor to fund the project.
Italian artist Attilio Pusterla was hired to
create the column’s 525 foot mural. Known
for using a technique called sgraffi to, he
would paint a surface, cover it with another,
then scratch the top layer to create an image
revealed in the lower layer. Pusterla was
the fi rst person to create a mural using this
technique.
The artist began work in June 1926, just
weeks before the column was supposed to
be revealed during a dedication day cere-
mony . Pusterla eventually fi nished the col-
umn’s artwork more than three months later
on October . About 8,000 people came to
celebrate the column’s reveal in July, even
though Pusterla had yet to complete the
mural project .
Since 1926, the site has undergone a
El Catrin
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Catch a bird’s eye view of the sunset from
Coxcomb Hill.
handful of renovations. At present, the col-
umn is cared for by t he Friends of the Asto-
ria Column, a volunteer group which began
in the 1980s.
Each night after the sun sets, the column
is illuminated with colorful lights, thanks
to the group. It’s a beautiful place to catch
some light, from the rising sun to the twin-
kling lights after dark.
The Astoria Column is open year-round,
weather permitting, except on Thanksgiving
and Christmas. Visitors who drive up Cox-
comb Hill must purchase a $5 parking pass,
which is valid for the rest of the year.
2021
YOUR SUPPORT
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
Downtown Long Beach
306-642-4441
dylanscottagebakery.com
THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2022 // 19