A special treat for visitors is launching a wood glider from the top of the Column. In fact, it has become a beloved tradition many Oregonians repeat year after year — watching the gliders dance in the currents until it circles to the ground. Consider your glider’s flight of fancy a reward for the 164 steps to the top.
Majestic, informative, fun, and affordable — the Astoria Column stands alone as the best place to begin your North Coast adventure. Here you can climb to the top, relish a panoramic view of the mighty Columbia River and the city, learn about the region’s rugged history, and launch your own wooden glider to float in the wind. The citizens of Astoria are honored to share this Oregon treasure with over 400,000 visitors every year.
The Astoria Column tells the story of human settlement at the mouth of the mighty Columbia River. Winding around the Column’s exterior, the etched artwork is restored in superb detail and depicts the land, tribes, explorers, settlers, workers, and finally, the railroad.
Standing at the base of the column, 575 feet above sea level, you and your family will appreciate the grandeur that was experienced by native peoples and explorers who arrived to settle and trade at the mouth of the mighty Columbia River. It’s only 164 steps to what we call the most beautiful view in the world.
Here you can learn about our predecessors who settled this land. In addition to the Column, the park features a tribute to the Chinook Tribe: an elevated replica of Chief Concomly’s burial canoe. Chief Concomly (1765-1830) was a prominent historical figure revered as an expert navigator, a skilled negotiator and trader.
The game plan for exploring the Astoria Column is at your fingertips. Click here to get directions, cost, and parking information, and to download a map of the site.
Building the Astoria Column took work by many hands and the vision of a few singular individuals. Learn more about the history of this monument and the beautiful city of Astoria during your visit.
Spread out your picnic blanket, stretch on your yoga mat, or take a stroll around the Column’s grounds. Your kids might want to run up and down the hill while you pay a visit to Chief Comcomly’s canoe. Locals and visitors love to take their lunch breaks or morning jogs around the park to savor the magnificent view.
Thirty-plus years of effort by the Friends of Astoria Column have culminated in the installation of energy-efficient LED lights that illuminate the tower with a changing palette of colors. Nightly, from almost anywhere in Astoria, you can look atop Coxcomb Hill and see a magnificent light show on the Astoria Column every hour on the hour.