Astoria

At the very top of the Oregon coast sits the oldest American settlement west of the Rockies, Astoria. It was first visited by the English Captain Robert Gray in 1792, then by the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1805, and thereafter by adventurous pioneers by the thousands. Today a great many restored buildings keep that history alive. Founded in 1962, the Columbia River Maritime Museum is home to one of the nation’s finest displays of model ships and nautical relics. In a 37,000-square-foot space, the museum presents more than 7,000 artifacts, plus the lightship Columbia, a National Historic Landmark. (1792 Marine Drive on the waterfront; open daily from 9:30 am to 5 pm; 503-325-2323; www.crmm.org.) Climb the 125-foot-high Astoria Column, patterned after Trajan’s Column in Rome. The mural art that makes up the exterior of the column is truly impressive, depicting the westward expansion of settlers into the area and Oregon’s early history. From the top of the column, you’ll have an excellent view of the Pacific Ocean, the Columbia River, Saddle Mountain, and the Clatsop Plain. (From downtown, drive uphill on 16th Street and follow the signage. It’s open from 7 am to dusk every day.) Astoria celebrates its Scandinavian heritage with the Scandinavian Midsummer Festival, held every year in mid-June. This is when local Icelanders, Finns, Danes, Norwegians, and Swedes gather to celebrate their cultures with pole dancing, bonfires that destroy evil spirits, authentic Scandinavian music, a smorgasbord of old-world delicacies, crafts, and a parade.