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Being a kid again! Balsa Gliders!

Astoria Column has a long, and fun, tradition of kids launching balsa gliders from the top of the tower.

The gliders can be purchased in the gift shop, which can sell as many as 600 gliders on a busy summer day. The shop will even assemble them to order for waiting customers. While most of the gliders slowly spiral down around the tower to be retrieved by their owners or reflown, some have been found as far as 6 miles away. The tower chose balsa gliders because of their biodegradable construction, and the money helps support the maintenance of the tower.

I wish I had brought more than 1 up with me, but for a moment I was a kid again!

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The Astoria Column

The Astoria Column on the hillside overlooking Astoria, Oregon and the Columbia River was erected in 1926. It was the 12th and final historical marker Ralph Budd of the Great Northern Railroad commissioned across the country. Mr. Budd had a great interest in learning and history and wanted travelers to realize that every corner of America had something interesting and historical to share.

The Astoria Column, original called The Astor Column because of John Astor’s original establishment of a trading post there, is 125 ft tall and can be climbed by visitors via a 164 step spiral staircase, the 360 degree view from the top makes the steps worth while. The outside of the column is decorated with hand painted murals that depict 14 significant events in Oregon’s history, such as John Astor’s original trading post and the Lewis & Clark expedition.

Tidbit: The book Astoria by Peter Stark is a great read that tells the story of John Astor’s attempt to create a trading monopoly on the west coast.

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Fort Stevens

Fort Stevens, just outside Astoria, Oregon, was first built to protect towns on the Columbia River during the Civil War from Confederate gunboats, it was actually finished after the Confederate Army surrendered. The fort continued to expand and grow in the following years. During WWI, a number of the gun emplacements were shifted to France. During WWII, it was the site of the first attack on the US continent when a Japanese submarine tried to shell the fort.

We spent the afternoon walking the grounds, learning the history of the fort, and exploring the bunkers & gun installations. An interesting day immersed in cool history, but a little creepy.

The Civil war part of the fort included earthworks and a moat. Nothing else remains of the original fort.
The later fort included strategically placed batteries. Each round shaped area housed a large gun facing the mouth of the Columbia River.
The large guns would remain hidden behind the concrete until firing, then they would automatically pivot up, fire and sink back down.
A replica of the sign made bythe soldiers after the attempted Japanese bombing during WWII.
Darrin scanning the horizon for intruders.
Tidbit: Note the Picatinny armament on the gun’s powder canister. M’s grandparents worked at the Picatinny Arsenal during WWII.