Astoria: The Major West Coast City That Never Was

[@SuwengHweangCweung]

As a resident of Portland, I always was curious why Portland developed as major city, not Astoria. Great video as usual, thanks!

[@nathanlovik1753]

He forgot to mention the role played by the pirate raids of One-Eyed Willie.

[@timjensen6968]

Me, too.

[@crackrat6166]

@@nathanlovik1753 😂😂😂😂😂

[@its_jjk]

Intersection of two rivers

[@crossscar-dev]

I live in Portland and visited family in Astoria yesterday. There was a museum there that was fascinating and taught a lot about this. I've also always wondered why Portland has such a large downtown compared to other cities the same size.

[@owlbuquerqueturkey]

Due to it not having the beach access that Seaside and Lincoln City have, Astoria has been able to keep a charm that some of the more touristy coastal towns have lost.

[@owlbuquerqueturkey]

@@GrumpyWolfTravel I think not tearing down historic buildings and homes, and replacing them with hotels and tourist attractions, brings charm to a town. I think not being completely overrun by tourists brings charm to a town. It just seems it takes lack of a beach to make that happen.

[@calmc9655]

@GrumpyWolfTravel Imagine: "Reading Comprehension", alternately titled "English - do you speak it?".

[@GrumpyWolfTravel]

@@calmc9655 My "reading comprehension" is just fine, but your strawman attack just shows how much of an id10t you are. Let me guess, another person who has never been to Astoria.

[@GrumpyWolfTech]

​​@@calmc9655go ahead and tell me how I failed "reading comprehension" oh right I didn't. You're just making a stupid strawman attack because you have no actual argument. Let me know when you have ever visited Astoria. It is already a tourist town with tons of hotels and tourist spots. How about you go look up the movie, The Goonies and then see how many tourist spots are in Astoria because of it.

[@Sepdet9]

When i lived in Portland in the mid 90s I spent a weekend in Astoria. Very charming small town, fond memories. As an east coast person I found the very cold water of the Oregon beaches on a hot summer day very frustrating so I only went a couple times.

[@okboomer1340]

I live in Central Oregon, but my good friend lived in Astoria. I would visit him a couple times a year for 10 years until he passed. Astoria has a lot of character. It feels special. Yes, it's rainy, but between the great vibe, and in my case, my old friend Warren, the rain wasn't a big deal. Astoria always brings back great memories. Miss ya buddy!

[@kenwhitener985]

The Goonies !!

[@simplewormonastring6869]

Yeah. I live in the west of oregon, so it’s a whole lot rainier over here than beyond the cascades. I’ve always liked this weather, but a lot of people probably see it as glum and cold.

[@yugeswarreddy4008]

❤

[@dannolan9719]

I’m from the east coast and never heard of Astoria until I had a work trip about 20 years ago. Was a pretty run down town, but had a good vibe and great micro brew culture. Had fun bar hopping in the evenings. After a long travel day back home, I flipped on the tv and Kindergarten Cop was on. I started to watch, and thought hey that looks familiar! Have to say, the town looked better in the movie. Sadly a lot of vacant buildings on the main drag when I was there.

[@Xitor.]

Bend?

[@oppositionguerrilla6129]

I think it’s funny that you made a comparison between San Francisco and Astoria because I’ve always thought when I visited Astoria that it reminded me of if San Francisco was a small town.

[@prescottwhynot]

Yes! I made that comparison to my friend but they didn't see it. Glad to see I'm not just making stuff up lol.

[@Christina-71]

They call it little San Francisco.

[@seedy6538]

Yeah, it's a tourist trap 😅 Locals hardly ever go downtown during peak season.

[@Jadae]

Astoria? Nah, its slow and kind of creepy. Artisans flock to it to be left alone. Then, there is the Goonies house. Astoria is among the least favored coastal towns of Oregon.

[@zackarnold18]

@@Jadae Curious what you consider the most favored. Can't think of a more popular Oregon coastal town than Astoria.

[@RosebeeVids]

I lived in Astoria for almost 5 years in the early 2000s. The Columbia River Bar is still a difficult passage for ships. Specialist Bar Pilots climb on the big cargo ships bound for Portland to help them navigate. A tiny (in comparison) barge/tugboat pulls up alongside the massive cargo ship, and the bar pilot climbs a rope ladder that is dropped from the large ship. It's amazing to watch! I always knew whether the tide was going out or coming in by looking at the large ships anchored in the middle of the river (they were waiting for a bar pilot). The ships would pivot on their anchor based on which way the tide was going. I miss going to sleep at night with the window open, smelling the sea air and listening to the sea lions braying on the docks.

[@KILLERONROAD]

@@RosebeeVids I lived in Astoria for a few years in the 2000s and dear God the sea lions were annoying lol, I forgot about them. New Year's was cool, ships would blast their horns at midnight.

[@christracey5813]

@@KILLERONROAD Job Corps?

[@tinacatharinaeden2711]

@@RosebeeVids Wonderful memories! I grew up by the ocean and am landlocked now. :( I miss it so much!

[@majorisker]

This is my hometown. Lived there until I graduated highschool and still visit frequently. I never fully appreciated its beauty until I was older. I feel blessed to have lived in such a unique and beautiful area. Makes me happy it never turned into a mega city.

[@jpcaretta8847]

I visitrd the place a few years ago and agree ! Portland is now a dump

[@JohnKeithPDX]

My hometown too.

[@veganpotterthevegan]

​@@jpcaretta8847 Portland has its problems. Still a better place than practically any major city in a red state.

[@FeelItRising]

@@jpcaretta8847 Portland is still great

[@andypowell4702]

My great uncle Chase built a cabin near Cape Disappointment on the Washington side. My friends and I go at least a few times a year and always spend a day in Astoria. Have fond memories when I was a kid of throwing balsa wood planes off the column and bowling at the lanes downtown. We still go there all the time but it's now going to the breweries and maybe Annie's if we are feeling a bit frisky, also we still bowl all the time.

[@patrickgallagher9069]

Look into Anacortes. Anacortes was planning to be a major city, but the railroads turned south after crossing Stevens Pass instead of North. Anacortes was plotted with very wide streets, had deep water port potential, calm interior waters, stable shores, rhe Skagit Valley plain, and access to lumber, fishing, and mining. The founders were expecting big things there. Anacortes also has the advantage of the Banana belt, making the weather much more favorable than the rest of the PNW!

[@luthorn]

Should have passed a thicker envelope to Leland Stanford, or whoever was in charge of the rail there. Lots of towns in the west lost out that way

[@Hjfujhitdtiit]

@@patrickgallagher9069 at least they still got that refinery!

[@jamielumm9583]

@@patrickgallagher9069 I think you may be confusing Anacortes with Port Townsend.

[@Danthompsen]

@@patrickgallagher9069 Bellingham is a similar story

[@bUwUmer1260]

Skagit and Whatcom still have a lot of potential for growth!

[@bretfisher7286]

I drove through Astoria once while heading to Tacoma. I remember being struck by the bucolic beauty of the town, and I wondered why it had escaped more growth. And now you've explained that for me. Thank you.

[@JanaeSmith]

I put together puzzles with my grandma that look exactly like Astoria. It never gets old either.

[@bretfisher7286]

@JanaeSmith There's a certain calm about the town that I value highly, and believe is disappearing from our country, and quickly.

[@bretfisher7286]

@JanaeSmith Oh, and I didn't understand you. Power loss? Do you mean from wind? Or do the power companies shut off power for some reason?

[@Routetherapy10]

@@bretfisher7286kindergarten cop was made there?

[@bretfisher7286]

@Routetherapy10 I don't know.

[@tekarin26]

I'm Japanese and have been to Portland and PNW coast, I have wondered why there are no big cities along the coast. After watching this video, I understood why. 3:44 The title of the map “世界に雄飛する日本商品” means "Worldwide spreading Japanese products" At this era, Japanese language was written from right to left.

[@WyvernYT]

There are many fewer good harbors between Seattle and San Francisco than a reasonable person would guess. And when they are found, they're usually cut off from the rest of the continent by densely forested hills.

[@trashmoneyyt]

I am from Portland and have visited Japan many times. One of my favorite things is to bring other Portlanders to Tokyo and take them to PDX Taproom in Shibuya without warning them. It's always funny to see their faces when the first thing they see is the wall of Dantes Inferno saying "Keep Portland Weird" staring them in the face in the middle of Tokyo. :)

[@robynkolozsvari]

it should be noted that there's another PNW town with a very similar story to Astoria: Port Townsend, WA. Port Townsend is closer to the open ocean than Seattle or Tacoma, sitting right at the northern end of Puget Sound, and (unlike Astoria) it has a truly incredible natural harbor, arguably better than those of Seattle and Tacoma. Port Townsend was expected to become the Manhattan of the Pacific, and actually is filled with Victorian-era architecture. but in the 1880's the same market crash that stopped the rail line to Astoria, also stopped the line to Port Townsend, and since it would be very expensive to bring the railway all the way there, it stopped in Tacoma instead, leading to those ports becoming the major ones and Seattle/Tacoma becoming a major urban area, while Port Townsend has only about 10K people.

[@VanillaMacaron551]

Port Townsend is so moody. Visited there and wanted to stay, living in an old house up on the cliff. I think you can see Canada across the water.

[@Dee-x9f]

Thanks for this extra info. I watched Geoff's video thinking about the slightly other-worldly vibe I got visiting Astoria some years ago and how the town reminded me of Port Townsend in ways that I couldn't put my finger on. That they share similar histories makes sense to me.

[@robynkolozsvari]

@@VanillaMacaron551 across the water is primarily Whidbey Island, although there might be places you can see across to Vancouver Island

[@davidgreenhow7811]

You can see Canada across the water from Port Angeles on a clear day.

[@themodelcitizen2]

@@VanillaMacaron551 that's Port Angeles with the view of Canada

[@KyleWessels-c8z]

First time that I went to sea was over the Columbia River bar. A truly terrifying experience. Did I mention it was in a small private fishing boat driven by my uncle? Yeah. Terrified kids in their teens, riding 20 ft. waves over the bar, and our first experience with sea sickness. 😮 I don't recommend it to anyone. Love your choice of subjects. Thanks Geoff, and best wishes for the new year.

[@JanaeSmith]

Those Bar Pilots make a damn good living steering the major ships through... getting to be a very valuable port area ... I worry about international interests...

[@jeremynkelley]

Wow. That’s awesome that you get to have that experience under your belt. Even if you wished you weren’t there in the moment. I’ve looked out over the bar for most of my adult life in wonderment. It’s one of those 1% places on earth that most people never get to see. Much less experience 🌊

[@LisaLisaNotTheCultJam]

Your Uncle must have been fishing buddies with my Dad. I wasnt born a daughter, yet a deckhand. On a 18 foot Glasply. My Mom did not like me going out with Dad. I learned why so as an adult. 😮

[@michaelfritts6249]

​@@LisaLisaNotTheCultJam My Dad had a 19ft Glassply that my Mom named "Pickpocket". 👍 We never had a need (thankfully) to "enjoy" that experience.. 😏🙄🤣 We had enough moments around Sekiu and Neah Bay of "OK.. here we go!!.." that were understood with quick glance and a nod.. Lifevest? Check Radio in the hand of whoever was Not at the helm? Check I think I'd bring a small "reserve" size air tank (bottle), a diving mask and snorkle if we had tried.. 🤔🤣🤣 Not paranoid.. just prepared.😃😉

[@kousseilashakur672]

@@KyleWessels-c8z why is it hard to navigate with boats in this area?

[@TheCriminalViolin]

The Columbia River bar is so infamous for it's danger, that the State of Oregon literally created a entire department dedicated to the bar and all traffic traveling through it at the end of the 2010s. My dad has worked for that department, including a few years prior to it being spun off on it's own from ODOT, and still does, and told me about it on a trip me, him and my uncle took in February 2023 (I actually vlogged that trip, which I never really vlog, so it itself, like the trip, was a one of a kind thing). Also, the Columbia and Coast Range create a wicked wind tunnel too, alongside the Headland that Astoria sits on, causing it to be just as dangerous for aircraft as it is for ships and boats to traverse. On the trip I aforementioned, the winds were ripping hard enough, and a rain front was just closing in, that they had all ships and boats hold in place at the estuary, and had two helicopters monitor and check in on the ships as much as they could, even transiting a two ship's crews to land, I assume because the ship was going to be anchored there overnight, so they opted to stay in Astoria for the night and turn off the ship instead of staying on the ship using power and fuel. My dad talked about how that happens way more often than people realize or are even willing to believe (again, he works for that department and has for years). I honestly believe terrain is really the main reason why it would never have worked to begin with, thus exactly why I always believed it never happened, as it just takes one quick look at maps to discern this.

[@aether388]

That wind tunnel you mentioned is crazy. I visited a lookout point in the gorge not long after moving to the area and winds up there were 40-something miles per hour, you couldn't stand up without being blown back. Last time I experienced winds like that was in a literal hurricane (harvey)

[@maladr0it24]

@@aether388 The astoria-megler bridge that connects oregon and washington right over the bar of the river experienced 80mph winds last week

[@aether388]

@@maladr0it24 that's mind blowing. Is the infrastructure in the area built to be able to shrug off these kinds of gusts?

[@TheCriminalViolin]

@@aether388 Yes. Especially the bridge. The bridge is specially designed specifically for both the winds and earthquakes.

[@Wheelman2004]

Did your dad have to pass the bar exam in order to be hired?

[@kollibriterresonnenblume2314]

I used to live in Portland and have visited Astoria so this was fascinating. I had no idea Astoria was there so long before Portland.

[@andrewcordle2424]

Being from Astoria NY I was unaware of Astoria OR and its history until some years ago while on a tour of the West Coast I crossed that impressively HIGH bridge over the Columbia River going from WA into OR at Astoria. Thank you for pointing out these historical facts‼️🙏

[@isocarboxazid]

That bridge is scary to drive over!

[@andrewcordle2424]

@ No choice getting from where we were in WA going to OR (Rte 101). It was fascinating 🤷‍♂️

[@thomasdeturk5142]

Astoria NY Is a lot Like Portland Maine Vancouver BC Clark County NV and Albany OR. Because it’s just like I’m named Thomas Not Thomas The British Tank Engine.

[@andrewcordle2424]

@@thomasdeturk5142 I don’t think so - what do you mean???

[@delstanley1349]

The first time I knew anything about Astoria was when Ken Burns did a PBS special on the Lewis & Clark Expedition. Astoria was their last stop of their western adventures. The expedition voted to spend winter there before returning back east. It wasn't an order or a command to stay there by Lewis & Clark to spend the winter there, they allowed every member of the expedition to vote including Sacagawea and Clark's personal slave, a man named York. It was in Astoria that they did a lot of their writings, and made many journal entries, and made many of their illustrations and maps. Clark hated the weather wrote something to the effect of "violent winds, trees falling in every direction, thunder and lightning that lasted all day...one of the worst days that ever was."

[@tnleeo]

@@delstanley1349 I was told that that vote (maybe not that one exactly, i just remember there being a vote)was the first time a woman voted in the United States. Just a piece of trivia I heard, bot sure how correct it is.

[@delstanley1349]

@@tnleeo >This vote was strictly a kind of "spirit of comradery" sort of thing for THAT particular group only. It was going to be a harsh winter in the NW so L&C decided we (everyone in the expedition) all will have a hand or say in our fates. But it had no national political, or social implications beyond that group. If people keeping stats like "the first woman to vote in the United States" this informal non govt. group vote would not fit that category. At least I don't see how it would. One of the group was a black slave of Clark who certainly had no voting rights of the time. I don't think his vote is considered the first black vote. It's been years since I saw the doc, but I think the most significant factor was how deep and inclusive the democratic factor was in life and death decisions in the group as they sat in that dark and cold Astoria winter. That L&C were ahead of their time in THIS situation anyway. Voting by black men didn't happen until after the civil war. Clark's slave, York REMAINED a slave of Clark's until the day York died. Women couldn't vote until more than a century after the L&C expedition. Sacagawea (15 OR 16?) may have been too young to vote, even today.

[@tnleeo]

@@delstanley1349 love your insight and information! Thank you!

[@paulhusby8344]

. . . allowed the enslaved man to 'vote'. Oh be still my weepy eyes! This must have been the same enslaved man who was later sold as personal property when Clark was done with him!!! That was the single worst historiographical moment from that Ken Burns episode.

[@alexdaugherty7472]

Fort Clatsop where Lewis & Clark wintered is actually about ten miles south of Astoria on the south side of Young's Bay. I am sure they chose it because it is more sheltered. Lewis & Clark had a very poor opinion of the local tribes on the lower Columbia. They saw them as being lazy and unkempt but what they didn't realize was that the individuals they met were the remaining members of tribes with ten times as many people with a very sophisticated culture. Decades of trading with passing ships caused wave after wave of epidemics.

[@rickgreen9936]

It's not considered to be raining in Astoria until the rain bounces 3" up off the ground, until then it's just another cloudy day. When the sun does show itself...beautiful area.

[@paulhusby8344]

Nonsense! , even as a joke. Look up the actual precipitation amounts for northwest Oregon, then compare it to Boston, for example.

[@orfordewerson]

@@paulhusby8344 Boston gets 43 inches of rain per year. Astoria gets 86.

[@KILLERONROAD]

Oh god, during winter it rains so damn much lol. Didn't snow much but when it did, it caused problems. Lots of hills, a lack of experience winter drivers, and a lack of salt trucks makes for an interesting combination. Being from Michigan, it was a bit funny seeing how badly people handled snow when I lived there.

[@angelascharmedlife]

@@paulhusby8344 for real. I live here. Sounds like they're dramatic or got caught in a storm. And yes, our storms bring tourists for those river and ocean view rooms.

[@mind-of-neo]

Lol at the first reply. everyone thinks their little shithole is insanely special, and are offended when they encounter someone else thinking their place is special. "You think your place is special? Poppycock! Only my place is special!"

[@skidogleb]

I LOVE ASTORIA! It is one of the most beautiful places in North America. I got to do lab testing for the Astoria bridge two years ago, it was my proudest moment as a geotechnical intern.

[@davidbarr8394]

Excellent overview. On the plus side Astoria has developed into one of the most beautifully situated small towns in the US. And the Columbia River meeting the Pacific is a thing to behold. The Mississippi has more volume but its delta fans out into many shallow exits: the Columbia has one channel, is clean, deep and cold. Astoria dodged a bullet: let Portland and Seattle accommodate the millions, Astoria maintain its Victorian charm.

[@Mr.Sneeze]

@@davidbarr8394 Agreed!

[@chevand8]

I love Astoria! I live north of Seattle, and back in May, I went on a very restful and relaxing vacation to Long Beach in the southwestern part of Washington, just because I wanted to see more of a region of my state which I'd never really seen before. I had briefly been through Astoria once before, many years ago, and since the proximity of Long Beach to Astoria was basically just crossing over the bridge into Oregon, I decided it was a perfect opportunity to see more of the town. It is absolutely one of the loveliest towns I have ever visited, and it has an atmosphere to it that I've never quite experienced anywhere else. Honestly, I'm actually sort of glad Astoria didn't become the major urban center that Seattle and Portland became, because what it is now is actually way cooler than that. ❤

[@PauloHernandezXD]

1:10 You say "infamous" I say beautiful. And honestly the best thing about the rain is it keeps almost all the riffraffs away, LOL LOVE LIVING IN THE PNW 🌲 🏔️ 🌧️

[@robynkolozsvari]

@@PauloHernandezXD most of the PNW isn't nearly as rainy as the coast, thought. Portland and Seattle get similar levels of precipitation as cities out east. signed, a resident of the coast

[@PauloHernandezXD]

@@robynkolozsvari true; being near the coast is a closer body of water than inland. I've only been to the coast (around Pacific City) like 4 times first time I was like 7 in 2002; it was overcast that day, lol Last time was March 2020 and it was fine clear skied weather & fairly mid temperature like 75 Fahrenheit

[@HairHelmet]

So much I didn’t know and I’ve had a business in Astoria for 20 years, born and raised along the Columbia… fascinating history.

[@kalvinkraft8907]

Great video, and it's always great to hear people pronounce Willamette correctly.

[@HimynameisJermHicks]

I went to Tongue Point Job Corps in Astoria and yes it was originally supposed to be a big city but in reality its now just a mellow little Coastal town that movies and tv shows love to film in.

[@GeistView]

Lived in Astoria during the late 80s and the Town was practically dead back then. Got really bad after the mill closed. The Mayor and the city council were not keen on making it better. That's why most is not all the new stuff was built in Warrenton, like Fred Meyer (worked as a bagger when it 1st opened). All Astoria had was Safeway and that is now a big hole in the ground.

[@darthku1408]

@@GeistView We still have a safeway its now where sentry market was.

[@GeistView]

@@darthku1408 Yep.

[@katieandkevinsears7724]

If those Goonies had just shared One Eyed Willy's treasure, Astoria would have experienced a new golden era starting in the late 1980's. Shame on you Mikey for not sharing the rich stuff.

[@MinecraftInfrastructure]

@@katieandkevinsears7724 disappointing

[@sunnywhether]

Rocky Road

[@AllStyleNoSubstance1]

lol... i was looking for a goonies reference, its the only thing i know about Astoria

[@Crazyfool12]

Hahaha

[@Red-Viper-Red]

Goonersville with my one eyed willy

[@ReasonablySane]

I was born in Washington state and lived there most of my life. About 35 years ago I tried to go salmon fishing at the mouth of the Columbia River there and was having a great time until we hit the rough water where the river and the ocean met. I spent the rest of the trip puking my guts out. It was unbelievable. In fact, after that I would look at maps and wonder why Astoria had never become a city and I realized that was why. I may have read a couple of articles about it too for all I know. But yeah, you got to get away from that rough water. And Portland does that.

[@perspectivaimporta494]

I absolutely love Astoria! It has such a rich history and it mostly still looks like a town stuck in the late 1800’s when you look up the hill. It has a great vibe and I hope to retire there some day.

[@mbooks5777]

Nice to see this. I am planning on visiting Austoria in 2025, driving back to Ohio from Alaska. Thanks for the video!

[@pamelaroyce5285]

I visited Astoria in the mid-to-late late 1970’s. It seemed to have a New England quality about it. The most vivid memory is the view from the lighthouse as the late afternoon sunlight sparkled on the water. The outlet there is spectacular. I always wondered why it didn’t grow, and now I know. In a way, Astoria is lucky to be free of the depredations of over development. Not a place I would want to move to, but I’d love to spend a quiet week.

[@BlackRiceBIGN8]

thanks for making this video, i was actually planning to stop by Astoria on the way back from Cannon Beach, Oregon!

[@The_TinesJathian]

Its a great place!

[@JanaeSmith]

Head to Inferno Lounge for some amazing infused liquor and the best views. Tell em I sent you.

[@jeremynkelley]

It’s genuinely my favorite place. It’s low key but somehow feels alive. A lot of small historic towns around the world are only still barely functioning by selling trinkets to tourists. But Astoria is still a very real maritime port with ship captains coming and going. A classic seaport town like in a movie or postcard. The downtown although only like 4 blocks by 10 blocks big feels genuinely urban. It’s just a neat combination that you don’t see other places. I’m actually living in Juneau Alaska right now which kinda fits the description I just gave of Astoria actually. But all & all I still like the vibes in Astoria better. I hope you decide to roll through and walk around a bit. Side note, drive through the neighborhoods uphill from downtown. They’re neat. The streets are as steep as San Francisco’s streets.

[@sasquatchhunter86]

Goonies fan, I assume.

[@ShellShock794]

Check out the maritime museum. It's amazing

[@drewlytle2281]

I grew up an hour away from Astoria. Trust me when I say it's worth a visit and not just to see the locations of Goonies, Kindergarten Cop or Short Circuit. There's an amazing Maritime Museum, a number of local restaurants and shops, two retired military outposts that are national parks near by (one on the Oregon side and one across the water in Washington) and on top of the hill is a watch post you can ascend and get a great view of everything.

[@daveleslie4396]

Do not miss the Astoria Column. Murals of Oregon history.

[@GrumpyWolfTravel]

I live in Portland and visit the coast often, including Astoria, things like the Astoria column are really cool to see. I was just there a month ago and filmed walking through one of the light ships they have on the harbor.

[@lightreign8021]

Went to a seamanship school at tongue point. There’s an amazing series of old military concrete bunkers and gun emplacements in the cliff side. No admittance. We would do life boat training, paddling large wooden life boats. The wind would change, the currents swirl and suddenly you are fighting against the Columbia with only 2 out of the 6 sets of oars digging into the tops of white caps. Like a Viking long boats. “ row you dogs! Or we’re never getting back.” 😅 good times, good times. Also there were several drinking establishments ( possibly burned down now in one of their creepily regular wharf fires) near the water with hatches behind the bar that lead to tunnels where supplies could come in but unlucky drunks would get Shang Hied to wake up hungover on a ship headed out to sea. You could work or swim back home. Also ridiculously powerful mushrooms growing right on the side of the road. Very interesting and storied place. When the sun is shining it’s a picture perfect Disney movie and then a fog would roll in and it’s instant Steven King.

[@gjwiley6250]

Went to the Maritime museum in Astoria. Amazing the role that city has played in Maritime importance throughout our history.

[@UrydiceO]

I work at that museum. I hope you enjoyed your visit with us!

[@angelascharmedlife]

Thank you! We are very proud of that❤

[@KingWADDLE-hw1yj]

Hi! Astoria local here! I never knew that the railroad had such a large impact on the development of my town and I've often wondered what else caused Astoria to not take off... everything else makes total sense! I work in emergency services however I'd say 70% of my former classmates from a few years ago now work in one of the three major industries you mentioned so you definitely hit the nail on the head. Another thing that I would like to mention is that the rugged terrain and geography you mentioned has definitely turned this area into an awkward place to navigate. I've had some friends and family who aren't locals tell me it's a very hard place to learn. Overall even though it's not exactly a "positive" video I still loved to see the town I lived in be portrayed so accurately, being a small town it's nice to see Astoria show up in something other than the goonies, and Kindergarten Cop, mainly. The only thing I didn't hear you talk about that a lot of people might not know is how high our crime rate is. Per capita we actually have the highest crime rate in the entire state of Oregon!

[@JM-cf9xy]

Something you didn’t mention is the ridiculous amount of rainfall Astoria receives, it makes Portland look like California in comparison.

[@ChrisJohannsen]

@@JM-cf9xy Vancouver BC gets insane amounts of rain and is still the biggest Canadian city west of the great lakes.

[@franzgil2961]

Astoria gets you suicidal too much rain 🌧 😮

[@t4ngen7]

Ever been to Seattle? It’s the bigger of the two major PWN cities and gets way more rain. There goes that theory.

[@kojiyama-p3f]

@@t4ngen7 That actually isn't true. Portland gets more rainfall than Seattle by a bit. Astoria gets almost twice as much as Seattle. In the mid 1800s it is recorded as having over 100 inches of rain in multiple years. The coastal regions get way more rain than either Portland or Seattle due to the way the mountain ranges are configured.

[@JM-cf9xy]

@@t4ngen7 Hey genius Portland averages 35” of rain a year, Seattle 38” a barely noticeable difference. Astoria? 70” of rain a year.

[@thescotchirishman3373]

I LOVE ASTORIA. Such a beautiful town

[@rmcguirephoto]

I appreciated this video, not just for its geography, but also its history. You made brief reference to the British capturing Astoria/Fort George in the War of 1812-14, but there was an interesting period that followed and might make another interesting episode -- Britain and the U.S. jointly occupied The Columbia/Oregon Territory until the Oregon Treaty of 1846. People of either nationality could live in the territory and trade freely, even though there was a level of hostility between the two governments. I don't know how many other territories have been jointly administered by two countries without being partitioned. Ultimately, of course, the 1846 treaty extended the boundary to the Pacific along the 49th parallel, leading to the separation of today's Washington State from British Columbia. And Britain's Vancouver was reestablished in Canada at the mouth of the Fraser River, instead of being across the Columbia from Portland, where Vancouver, Washington remains today.

[@VanillaMacaron551]

I did not know that. Interesting.

[@tnleeo]

That's an interesting piece of history. Thank you!

[@jeffmorse645]

Spent a day and night in Astoria years ago. It was in October and was a brilliant, sunny warm day in the low 80s. Not a cloud in the sky. The Columbia was so beautiful and the setting of the town was as well. Went up to the top of the Astoria Column and got some great pics. Really enjoyed stopping there before heading down the Oregon Coast.

[@ChaseRiverBand]

Fascinating, Thanks! I usually get to Seattle about once a year... and have passed through Astoria on my way between Portland and Seattle a few times -- and making a stop at the Astoria Column along the way. Great part of the country. .

[@SamSeth]

"Astoria" by Peter Stark is a highly recommended book for those who like historical adventure stories. Eight men died trying to cross the bar in a longboat at the orders of captain Thorn of the oversea portion of the expedition. Most of the interesting facts of the Astor expedition are glossed over in this video, which is understandable given its scope and brevity

[@stickynorth]

Also, who knew Goonie's, Short Circuit and Kindergarten Cop would bring the city to the height of America's cultural zeitgeist in the mid to late 1980's ever-so briefly only to drop back into global obscurity just as fast!

[@INDIE-IRL]

@@stickynorth Kindergarten Cop was released in 1990

[@MrDrunken1]

Don't forget Free Willy

[@angelascharmedlife]

Twilight and Into The Wild still bring people in. We have a whole film museum that's quite popular. And the video store is now considered a media museum. I worked hotels here and I'm active in the community. People LOVE coming here. Most events are free to cheap. Most attractions are free to cheap. Leaving ppl to spend on food, beverage, and cool cultural and vintage items. Welcome!

[@ThatBaritoneGuitarGuy]

I have been to Astoria many a time. BEAUTIFUL place. It was quite literally built onto the hills, and the slope is VERY steep. The iconic bridge actually goes OVER the town. Atop the aforementioned hills is a tower with a 360-degree viewing platform at the top. If you ever get the chance, GO THERE.

[@Livlifetaistdeth]

"Goonies never say die"

[@stickynorth]

Who knew Goonie's, Short Circuit and Kindergarten Cop would bring the city to the the height of cultural zeitgeist in the mid to late 1980's only to drop back into obscurity just as fast!

[@GH-oi2jf]

⁠@@stickynorth- On the contrary, those movies are an obstacle to the true culture of the region becoming known. Why people are obsessed with the location of films is a mystery to me. There is one house in San Francisco that draws the interest of some people, but it is only rarely mentioned. There was a film shot in Portland, but people don't flock to the St. Johns Bridge because of that. A few people interested in bridges no doubt go to see it. Will Goonies fans ever grow up?

[@clayton97330]

​@@stickynorthI believe the finale of Dexter was also in Astoria

[@crackrat6166]

@@GH-oi2jfYou must be a lot of fun at parties. 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

[@middleschoolgravy]

@@GH-oi2jf don’t like a ton of Portland residents blame a tv show for ruining their city? As for San Francisco, are you talking about the “Full House” row of homes? Because people definitely make it a point to visit those and talk about it.

[@hilandmalt]

I read a book about Astoria by Peter Stark. I’m happy to learn more from your video! I live in Beaverton, OR. Whenever people come to visit, I take them to Astoria

[@ojukwucharles]

I've gone on a couple of road trips from Vancouver, BC, to the Oregon Coast, and even though the route through Astoria takes about an hour longer to my destination, I prefer to still drive through Astoria. It's a beautiful small town.

[@jeffrapier947]

I like Astoria the way it is, so I am glad it didn't work out as planned. It's a nice little getaway, just make sure you get there early as most of the town shuts down around 4 pm. It was interesting to learn about how Fort George Brewing (based in Astoria) got its name.

[@MrDrunken1]

I went to high school in Warrenton, the very NW tip of Oregon. It is beautiful up there but the weather is pretty miserable most of the time, haha. To get an idea of how bad the Columbia river bar is, the Coast Guard trains crews on the boats that can flip upside down and right themselves on the Washington side in Cape Disappointment.....

[@PRCOM]

Recently found this channel, and I'm loving the information in them, so from Paisley Scotland, I'd like to wish this channel and it's subscribers all the best for 2025

[@bretfisher7286]

Thank you, and you as well!

[@robertsolomielke5134]

Hello from Van Isle BC. Scotsmen were far better traders than say, Capt. Thorne of Astor fame. Scots were all over here back then. Happy new years day !

[@Marine-72]

While living in Bend, OR I had a job offer with the state of Oregon working in Astoria. During a lunch break I spoke to a person working nearby. I asked if it rained here much? She chuckled and said, "It had just rained 92 days straight!" I did not want to live with that much rain. Headed back to Bend. Very nice town, lot's to see.

[@Powder148]

Port Townsend was supposed to be Seattle but the rail didn’t go there. If you haven’t been to Astoria before let me fill you in: forecast rain with wind from Oct-July. Even if you enjoy rain I guarantee you you will hate water from the sky one season in the PNW

[@Ibelikemj]

Astoria is very close to where Lewis and Clark ended up and there’s a fort around it. This was supposedly where Meriwether Lewis developed his depression due to the cloudy and rainy climate that eventually killed him

[@Frostbiyt]

I grew up very near the Washington coast and even though I'm living only 50 miles inland now, I miss all that rain.

[@jeremynkelley]

Not true! lol. I’ve been all over the PNW coast my whole adult life and never once have hated it. Different personalities do exist you know! Smh. I actually current live in Juneau Alaska. It’s WAY more violent here in regard to downpours and rain in the face and I love it. AND, I know I’m not alone. I’ve bartended most of my life (and thus have spoke to a million people about weather since it’s always a go to topic with strangers) and there’s way more people who like it than what the media etc makes it out to be.

[@Madmun357]

On a road trip through the area in 2017, I stopped in Astoria because the weather was rainy. Had the BEST clam chowder soup ever!

[@teacherjoe7019]

In the 1970's my Uncle was stationed to Astoria, Oregon with the Coast Guard while my Dad was stationed to Oak Harbor, Washington with the the Navy. We traded visits during the holidays. Astoria was always so rainy and depressing. The drive from Longview, Washington to Astoria made me think I had entered middle earth!

[@oshacutie]

i live in astoria, queens, which is a neighborhood of new york city. our legal addresses are “astoria, ny” so we astorians get mixed up pretty often. it’s nice to learn and know what’s up on the other side of the country.

[@panosmosproductions3230]

I think Astoria is one of the ports that cruises that go up and down the Pacific coast stop at. These cruises typically start in Seattle, then go down to San Diego, and then back to Seattle. The ports they’ll stop at along the way are Astoria, and San Francisco. Some of them will go down to Ensenada in Mexico if they didn’t plan a stopover in Victoria Canada. The reason th cruises that focus mainly on U.S. ports always include at least one foreign port is more to avoid paying their workers minimum wage than to visit a foreign country.

[@CentrisAce]

@panosmosproductions3230 Very true, I worked on American Cruise lines, and Astoria was a popular stop for us, I'm lucky to have visited.

[@Mr.Sneeze]

Can confirm, I’ve seen the huge cruiseships stop for a few days at a time. I once helped with the brochures that were passed out to all the cruiseship tourists. It’s definitely eventful for the locals lol

[@MistyNewhouse-n6h]

What a wonderful video on history to find! We’ll be heading there later today. This is why we enjoy trucking. Help others, see our beautiful country, and learn about the history of it all. Astoria is a beautiful town and a well hidden gem💎. Thank you for sharing more of its beauty

[@audofit]

Wow this is so cool - I just moved to Portland a couple years ago and also was wondering about this. When I visited Astoria this past summer, I told my friends that it looks like a ghost town. A lot of its shops are just empty buildings, and it looks like it's stuck in the past.

[@seedy6538]

High rents, 2020 and not enough jobs. 😌 Please come here and provide jobs.

[@angelascharmedlife]

That's funny because I live here and that what I think of portland now 😂 20 years ago it was cool

[@Richie_Godsil]

How funny, I spent Christmas in Astoria last week, visiting from Spokane. It's a beautiful city I had no idea it had so much history

[@jasonreid585]

Will check out the new channel, but don’t stop making these please. Geography nerds like me need this channel, wiki and maps!

[@LadyDewBuild]

I live full time on my boat and her home port is Astoria (though currently I'm in Port Townsend WA) and Astoria is my favorite town for many reasons. None would be true if she had developed into a BIG City.

[@jeremynkelley]

I LOVVVVVVE Astoria. My favorite place anywhere. It has the life of a city but in miniature. The good food and drinks of Portland but with a maritime feel. It’s my happy place.

[@tnleeo]

Me too! It's not like a Portland tourist thing like Seaside. It's quaint and humble in the best ways.

[@emeraldsoda.]

Coffee Girl ftw ❤

[@jeremynkelley]

@@sherril.562 Ya there really is good food there. As good as Portland. And yes I’m a Portland food snob haha😊 Astoria Coffee House & Bistro does breakfast and lunch. Broder Strand in the bottom of the Commodore Hotel also good for breakfast and lunch. P.S. The Commodore Hotel is the best place to stay in my opinion. Himani is some of the best Indian food I’ve ever had. Blaylocks Whiskey Bar is as posh as anything in Portland (a sophisticated dark green and black interior). Fort George Brewery has top notch food. It’s bar food. Burgers etc. But done up to the highest standards. All of these are within walking distance downtown. There’s no beach of course. And I’m with you on needing the beach in my life. But Astoria is just its own thing. It always puts me in this feeling of quiet but alive. If that makes any sense lol☺️ Hope you give it a chance.

[@tootsla1252]

Great geography lesson!

[@demetripapachristopoulos3295]

Great video. But I would add that the location of the Columbia River bar is actually just outside the mouth of the river, not in the bay right in front of downtown Astoria.

[@angelascharmedlife]

For sure

[@evanreign9344]

Generally "major port city on a major river" isn't at the actual mouth of the river, but roughly where the tide stops pushing up the river. From what i'm looking at, on the columbia that's supposedly as far as the Bonneville dam, though who knows if that was also the case BEFORE the dam was built. Now, THAT seems way too far from the coast, but a more reasonable competitor to portland would've been the eventual site of Longview

[@daveleslie4396]

The tidal surge goes past Vancouver up to Bonneville.

[@Helofelokids]

As long as Bowpicker Fish and Chips stays true to it's roots I'm happy. I've driven across 2 states for it.

[@Mr.Sneeze]

Humongous lines in the summer

[@Andrea-lj4jg]

Well at Least Astoria is the city of the Goonies, and that alone makes it better than New York.

[@edvaira6891]

Also, kindergarten cop

[@TR-zx1lc]

Oregon City was also supposed to be the big city in Oregon. Another spot to check out is Coos Bay, which should be a much larger city than it is.

[@Emankind]

I love visiting Astoria. They may have lost out on the “main city” race. But they won in the charm and serenity competitions.

[@ChrisJohannsen]

I'm from Vancouver BC and was taught that Vancouver WA would have been the major city of the region if a British negotiator didn't sell us out and agree to give all the land south of the 49th parallel to the US. We in British COLUMBIA had more of a claim to the Columbia river back then.

[@tnleeo]

I live close to the Columbia River. What do you think of combining forces, across countries and fortifying a new one? A country made of the majestic Pacific North West, from the ocean to the Cascade mountain range? We could call it Cascadia. I mean this in good humor, and am referring to the Republic of Cascadia idea/ movement (I don't know exactly what it is).

[@wishourselvesaway]

@ChrisJohannsen I'm not sure that Canada was exactly "sold out". The ultimate border was a compromise between the conflicting claims USA and the British Empire and many hardliners in America were pushing for annexation and potentially war for the whole west coast between Alaska and California. They were disappointed that President Polk agreed to the treaty.

[@afanofdieselengines675]

Let's get the merger completed very soon. We could start the merger by putting the oversight of the combined country in the hands of the Canadians. Do it soon!

[@eleventy-seven]

Great idea. Im all for it.

[@ChrisJohannsen]

@@tnleeo I would prefer Cascadia over Canada. Canada has never served the west coast well.

[@toddtomaszewski4626]

I was stationed at Camp Rilea which is just south of Astoria and it is soooooo beautiful there. It's so green that it hurts the eyes 🤣😎👍

[@blessings4381]

Living here in Astoria, I am so happy with our community with its focus on fishing and timber. These are areas which we continue. We also have a wonderful community of artists, musicians, writers and folks who work hard to support social justice concerns and each other. I grew up in a "big city" and this is the better life for me.

[@poofygoof]

Astoria eventually got national rail network connectivity in 1898, and PNWR kept the "Astoria line" going after acquiring it from BN in 1997. Unfortunately the line got wiped out due to storms and landslides in 2008 and hasn't been rebuilt. PNWR still shows the route on their maps as out of service, so maybe we'll get it back someday? SP&S ran trains between Portland and Astoria... the 1930s timetable I found shows 6:10AM from Portland, arriving at 9:35AM in Astoria... Going the other way was a train starting at 8:10AM in Astoria arriving in Portland at 11:30AM.

[@NirvanaFace]

3:26 Vancouverites FINALLY mentioned!

[@daquitos]

@@NirvanaFace congratulations

[@daquitos]

😊

[@JDHutchison]

I currently live in Astoria, OR. Love the video.

[@denisdooley1540]

"Fort George" is the name of a great brewery in Astoria. Nowmao know better where it came from. I worked with a geotechnical engineer that was once tasked to do a geotechnical study of the hilly parts of Astoria (most of it) and he determined that it was mostly built on an inactive slide. The map, which was commissioned by the City of Astoria, was never published.

[@denisdooley1540]

Regarding Seattle, the Aerospace industry also developed there in no small part due to all the hydropower, which allowed the electricity-intensive aluminum industry to develop and supply the lightweight metal for aircraft.

[@arberdemiri]

@@denisdooley1540 Inactive slide? Does that mean it can slide?

[@RecologySpencer]

As someone who was born in and has always lived on the West Coast, this was insightful. I grew up south of Portland in Salem and was born in + recently lived in San Francisco, only to move two years ago to Seattle. So this hits all the major points for me haha. Will be tuning in for more!

[@Nicholas3001]

Super cool video. This is where I grew up 😄

[@Nicholas3001]

@@Carl_Barker Nope, got the wrong guy

[@Magucci13]

My home town. Oldest town west of the Mississippi and probably the greatest place to live "Aside it raining 9 months of the year"

[@Astoriawildlandfirefighter]

My home town I left feet from the Columbia River. Love every minute of it

[@azearah3320]

My girlfriend is from Astoria, and I just want to say this is a really wonderful description of the town. So thank you for this!

[@EvaaLeah]

*I'm favoured only God knows how much I praise Him,* $230k every 4weeks! | now have a big mansion and can now afford anything and also support God's work and the church.

[@EvaaLeah]

Only God knows how much grateful i am. After so much struggles I now own a new house and my family is happy once again everything is finally falling into place!!

[@BethanyLawrence-ws5ci]

Wow that's huge, how do you make that much monthly?.. I have been looking for ways to be successful, please how??

[@EvaaLeah]

It's Ms. Evelyn Vera doing, she's changed my life.

[@EvaaLeah]

I started pretty low, though, $5000 thereabouts. The return came massive. Joey is in school doing well, telling me of new friends he's meeting in school. Thank you Evelyn Vera, you're a miracle.

[@MariaCarmelo-tn4ww]

Wow...I know her too she is a licensed broker and a FINRA agent she is popular in US and Canada she is really amazing woman with good skills and experience.

[@Flopsaurus]

I've been to Astoria a few times, and it's really charming. It's kinda nice it stayed that way. There aren't a lot of towns like it.

[@kosjeyr]

Good Day, Geoff. From Arkansas

[@idavid8391]

Great timing for KZbin recommendations--was going to visit Astoria tomorrow before plans changed. Now I get to learn about it nonetheless!

[@rj-zz8im]

Astoria is one of my favorite places I have visited on the West Coast. I would live there in a heartbeat. So much beauty on the OR Coast I couldn't put it into words. It's probably a good thing it has remained small.

[@ZachTheExcitedViper]

Astoria/Seaside are one of my favorite places to visit/RV in the US. Great cycling, really nice people, awesome places to camp.

[@wiseguise5960]

I lived in Salem about 5 yeas ago and decided to take a little trip north just to cross the state line. As I was driving through Astoria I couldn't remember why it sounded so familiar? It was some time later that I realized it was where the movie The Goonies was shot. I could've went to take a look at the house at least! But I will say the bride going over the river into Washington is SO COOL!(0:30)

[@mrmaxcarter2306]

A few movies were filmed there. I think kindergarten cop was too.

[@tetchuma]

Portland resident here. Fascinating video. Reminded me of this: The original “Motor City” was almost New Britain, CT. They created the first “American sports car”, the Mercer 35R Raceabout in 1912. Corbin, ERA, Houpt-Rockwell and Charter. Between 1900-1918, New Britain was so close to becoming what Detroit became in 50 years.

[@peterf.4268]

Now do Coos Bay...which, by the way, is the port that supplied the San Francisco rebuild in the early 1900s. Because of SF's demise, and Coos Bay's natural port, some expected that small city to develop rapidly. It didn't.

[@peterf.4268]

Legit take.

[@mikeharvey9677]

Coos Bay had no direct rail link to the east. Rail had to go north through Portland, or south to Sacramento, so it wasn't the shortest route. In 1909 a direct link was planned by EH Harriman but he died before it could be built.

[@FiliSuperDuty]

My wife’s father was a Bar Pilot for decades. He retired in about 2007. The Peacock ship that is by the maritime museum was his ship (along with the other Bar Pilots). Boy does that guy have the stories.

[@Legoswego]

William Price Hunt’s expedition did not follow the Lewis and Clark path they went south branching off the Missouri River by foot to avoid the Blackfoot. They crossed over the Grand Tetons but were trapped in Hells Canyon unable to find a connection to the Columbia. They had to travel by foot to the Columbia, at least two or three men died along the way

[@LisaLisaNotTheCultJam]

The sand bars navigating from Chinook marina to the mouth of the river are not for the faith of heart. Like an ever changing puzzle.

[@FordShelby-i6z]

Canadian here! My family and I enjoyed many August vacations on the Oregon coast. That bridge! Intimidating, is putting it mildly. Thanks for the memories!!!!!

[@kirkjones9639]

Oh come on! Infamous for harsh rainy weather? It hardly rains much in August. Just because it is a Marine Subtropical Rainforest and the harbor entrances to all of the ports except Depot Bay have a Bar, making the GPNW the most dangerous coast in the US, doesn't mean it is all that bad. All the Bar is, is Mother Nature's way of telling a skipper to stop being cheap and pay attention, a speed bump if you will. It is actually mild weather out here 45 - 55F in the Winter and 55 -65F in the Summer, and there is only 6 storms over hurricane force on average every Winter. You don't even need a heavy jacket out here.

[@north7289]

Great video! Another piece of information for modern times: one of the reasons tech companies thrive in Washington(and why a lot of the Internet is stored there) is due to power costs. Because of our immense dam infrastructure WA has some of the cheapest power in the country. Great for running servers and crypto farms.

[@missally3333]

I love Astoria, Seaside, Tillamook, Rainier, and that's about it..

[@JacobHollis96]

As a resident of a small town incorporated within Portland, im always fascinated with the history of the northwest.

[@KILLERONROAD]

Astoria has a neat history but it's very hard to live there unless you lucked out in life and have money. I've lived there, it gets boring honestly, and it's hard. The compact nature of the area is nice, it makes things more walkable. With all of the hills you're gonna build some pretty great leg muscle. Especially since your landlord is gonna milk every penny from you making car ownership near impossible. My friends still living there are struggling pretty badly, cost of living and wages are way worse there than you'd think. Honestly glad I left. My connected mid tier city costs less to live in and has better paying jobs.

[@Pomoriee]

Even though it didn’t get big, I really enjoy swinging by Astoria in the summer. It’s a very nice little town.

[@charliepalmer3244]

Great video, caught this one early on it seems. I've got a part 2 here: Port Townsend WA, IS, essentially WA's version of Astoria. What was supposed to be .....

[@thatguyrome6045]

Nice to see some Astoria Representation, not exactly from there, but a town like 10 min drive away. Nice video always happy to see our corner of the world get the spotlight! I do wished you would have talked about the forts at the mouth of the Columbia that we're built due to it's strategic importance, and the massive amount of work the army corps of engineers had to do in the area to help with the bar. Also could have mentioned when a Japanese sub got right by Astoria during the 2nd world war.