ASTORIA is a magical, storied old town on the Oregon coast. The Clatsop Indians lived there for thousand of years before John Jacob Astor and his crew, aboard the ship, the Tonquin, laid claim in 1811 to the first US settlement west of the Rockies.
In the late 1800’s, Astoria’s salmon canneries, forest and shipping industries turned the area into the liveliest boom town between Seattle and San Francisco.
Beautiful Victorian and Craftsmen homes along the many steep hills are testament to this golden era, now displaying historic plaques that speak of prominent sea-faring residents.
Astoria has a sordid history as well, of men being “shanghaied” in the early part of the century. A man walking down the wrong street at night could wake up the next morning and find himself out at sea.
And there are many rumors of old homes being haunted by ghosts from the past.
All of this, in a town at the mouth of the Columbia River that feeds into the Pacific Ocean, known as the graveyard of the Pacific, due to the hundreds of shipwrecks from treacherous waters.
Graveyard of the Pacific
Mariners agree that the combination of high seas, a mighty river, land shallow, and shifting sand bars make the Columbia River bar one of the most dangerous bar crossings in the world.
THE FLAVEL HOUSE MUSEUM
The FLAVEL HOUSE, built in 1884-1886, is the most grand house in Astoria, that cannot be missed as you enter the town. Captain Flavel, Astoria’s first millionaire, lived a colorful life as an entrepreneur and bar pilot, guiding ships through the treacherous mouth of the Columbia River.
The Captain George Flavel House reflects the Queen Anne architecture, popular during the Victorian era.
A walk around the mansion provides views of the wraparound porch, decorative work above the window molding, octagonal tower, patterned shingles, the steeply pitched roof, and the asymmetrical façade.
Over the years, this mysterious mansion has played host to a number of eerie residents, both human and spectral.
(Can’t fail to mention the colorful tile on the porch of the house).
At one point in time, the Flavel family was one of the most prominent families in Astoria.
Operated by the Clatsop County Historical Society since 1950, it is listed on the National Registry of Historical Places.
Right next to the FLAVEL HOUSE, is the former county jail, now known as the:
OREGON FILM MUSEUM
(where a scene from cult classic, The Goonies, was filmed.)
If you are mindful of the current residents I recommend a visit there. You have to see cult classic, THE GOONIES, first though. I’m sure just about every hotel in Astoria must have a copy!
The house where The Goonies was filmed.
The other Flavel House in Astoria, the home of “Hatchet” Harry Flavel, was once regarded as the most haunted house in Oregon.
The abandoned house was left to rot out of spite, haunted by the decline of the city’s most prominent and mysterious family.
This once stately home sat abandoned and decrepit on the corner of 15th and Franklin for decades, a testament to the decline of the legendary Flavel family into a strange and reclusive bunch after George’s death.
It was in this house that the captain’s great-grandson, “Hatchet” Harry Flavel, lived with his mother Florence and sister Mary at the time of the stabbing.
Many people in the community claim that the decaying house, which sat abandoned for so long, was actually haunted. In 2015, after decades of being abandoned, Greg Newenhof bought the Flavel house and began the restoration process...For more info on this fascinating house, go HERE
LIBERTY THEATRE
The Liberty Theater is a historic vaudeville theatre and cinema. It opened in 1925 after the destruction of the Astoria Fire of 1922. The Liberty Theater was built in the Italian Renaissance style, seen as symbolizing the city’s rebirth. The auditorium features mural style paintings depicting Venetian scenes by local artist Joseph Knowles.
A ghost by the name of Paul is said to live here. Over the years, many members of cast and crew have spotted him around the theater and even witnessed objects gliding through the air.
FT STEPHENS STATE PARK /THE WRECK OF PETER IREDALE
FORT STEVENS STATE PARK UNESCO estimated there are three million shipwrecks in the world. Most are under the sea. Only a few can be visited by land. The Peter Ireland is one of them.
Peter Iredale was a four-masted steel barque sailing vessel that ran ashore October 25, 1906, on the Oregon coast en route to the Columbia River. She was abandoned on Clatsop Spit near Fort Stevens in Warrenton about four miles south of the Columbia River channel.
Over the last 101 years it has slowly deteriorated.
One can still see a very large piece of the ship and during low tide one can walk right up to it.
The Pioneer Cemetery was deeded to the city by a man named James Welch on April 22, 1865. It became the most popular burial site in town, boasting 498 burials by 1891. Prominent early leaders were buried here, as were paupers who were interred in unmarked graves.
UNDERGROUND TUNNELS
Even if you don’t believe in ghosts, the terrifying history of this place will send chills down your spine. Located beneath the streets of Astoria, these tunnels are said to have been a hotspot for illegal activity (most notably between 1850-1941), including “shanghaiing”: the act of kidnapping people and selling them into slavery as crewmen on departing ships. The tunnels are said to be haunted by the ghosts of the tunnel’s many victims. Visitors have claimed to hear disembodied screams and groans, and felt the eery sensation that someone was standing right behind them.
Well,I hope this inspired you to check out Astoria and visit some of it spookiest spots.
Here is a downloadable list if you are interested (just click on the link below):
