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The Lewis and Clark Expedition spent the winter of 1805-1806 at Fort Clatsop, a small log structure south and west of modern day Astoria. The expedition had hoped a ship would come by to take them back east, but instead endured a tortuous winter of rain and cold, then returned east the way they came. Today the fort has been recreated and is now a national monument.
Several years later, in 1811, Astor's Pacific Fur Company founded Fort Astoria as its primary fur-trading post in the Northwest, and in fact the first permanent U.S. settlement on the Pacific coast. It was an extremely important post for American exploration of the continent and was influential in helping establish American claims to the land. The fort and fur trade was sold to the British in 1813, and while the fort was restored to the U.S. in 1818, control of the fur trade would remain under the British until American pioneers following the Oregon Trail began filtering into the port town in the mid-1840's. The first U.S. Post Office west of the Rocky Mountains was also established in Astoria in 1847Events January 4 Samuel Colt sells his first revolver pistol to the United States government. January 13 The Treaty of Cahuenga ends the Mexican-American War in California. January 16 John C. Fremont is appointed Governor of the new California Territory..
As the Oregon Territory grew and became increasingly more settled, Astoria likewise grew as an ocean/river port cityFor articles about other uses of port, please see Port (disambiguation). A Port is a facility at the edge of an ocean, river, or lake for receiving ships and transferring cargo and persons to them. A seaport is a major facility for the loading, unloading,. In 1876 the community was legally incorporated. It attracted a host of Scandinavian settlers, and the area still boasts a high concentration of descendants of these original settlers.
In 1883Events January January 16 The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, establishing the United States Civil service, is passed January 19 The first electric lighting system employing overhead wires begins service ( Roselle, New Jersey) It was built by Thomas E, and again in 1922Events January 7 Dali Eireann ratifies the Anglo-Irish Treaty by 64-57 votes. January 10 Arthur Griffith is elected President of Dail Eireann January 11 First successful insulin treatment of diabetes. January 12 British government releases Irish prisoners, downtown Astoria was devastated by fire, but the city economy was strong enough in both cases to rebuild and thrive. Astoria has served as a port of entry for over a century and remains the trading center for the lower Columbia basin.
In addition to Fort Clatsop, another popular point of interest includes the Astoria ColumnThe Astoria Column is a tower overlooking the mouth of the Columbia River on Coxcomb Hill above Astoria, Oregon. The column was built in 1926 with finacing by the Great Northern Railroad and the great grandson of John Jacob Astor in commemoration of the t, a tower 38 m high built atop the hill above the town, with an inner circular staircase allowing visitors to climb to see a breathtaking view of the town, the surrounding lands, and the mighty Columbia flowing into the Pacific. The column was built in 1926 to commemorate the region's early history by the Astor family.
Eclipsed by PortlandPortland is the largest city in Oregon, and county seat of Multnomah County. It is a major Pacific seaport located about sixty miles from the west coast of the United States, situated on both sides of the Willamette River, just south of its confluence wit and other ports further inland along the Columbia, Astoria's economy centered around fishing, fish processing, and lumber. In 1945, about 30 canneries could be found along the Columbia; however, in 1974 Bumblebee Seafood moved its headquarters out of Astoria, and gradually reduced its presence until 1980 when the company closed its last cannery. The timber industry likewise declined, with Astoria Plywood Mill, the city's largest employer, closing in 1989, and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe RailwayThe Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company ( AAR reporting mark BNSF , headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, and established as a result of a 1995 merger between the parent companies of the Burlington Northern Railroad and the Atchison, Topeka and announcing in 1996 that they were discontinuing service.
Today, tourism and light manufacturing are the main economic activities of the city. It is a port of call for cruise ships, with eight docking in 2004 and 14 scheduled in 2005.
Astoria was the location for the filming of the hit 1985 movie The Goonies. Other movies filmed here include Short Circuit, Kindergarten Cop, and Free Willy. As of May 2004, filming is taking place for the movie The Ring 2.