THE ASTORIA BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

OFFICIAL ASTORIA BICENTENNIAL PRESS RELEASE/ABC2011PR2.pdf

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THANK YOU to our newest sponsors: SAMUEL S. JOHNSON FOUNDATION, TONGUE POINT JOB CORPS CENTER, JANE & JERRY KIRKPATRICK. For a complete list of all our sponsors click on SPONSOR tab above.

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Astoria, Oregon was established in 1811 by the John Jacob Astor fur trading party, and became the first permanent U.S. settlement west of the Rocky Mountains.

John Jacob Astor National Gallery Portrait

The City was recognized as the nation's first real claim to the West by no less than Thomas Jefferson and written about by Washington Irving. (Read more about Astoria History) Want to learn more about Astoria's history? See selected reading materials
Select Bibliography Astorian Bicentennial
John Jacob Astor was planning and dreaming big for his outpost at the mouth of the Columbia River. We, too, are making big plans to celebrate Astoria's 200th birthday. We hope you will join us in making 2011 a year to remember.
The City of Astoria designated the Clatsop County Historical Society to plan, orchestrate, and implement an appropriate bicentennial celebration. A diverse committee of regional leaders was selected in 2008 to provide vision and goals for the celebration. The committee is planning many educational and community-wide events and exhibits at the Heritage Museum, the Liberty Theater and the Columbia River Maritime Museum. A permanent exhibit at the Heritage Museum will tell the story of the founding of Astoria, John Jacob Astor, and the international race for the Pacific Northwest. An Adventure in History Lecture series with nationally acclaimed authors and presenters is also in the works.
We are planning a host of family events at the Opening Ceremony, Saturday, May 21, 2011 and at the Astoria Super Homecoming with the fur trade encampment at Fort Stevens State Park. See the full calendar of activities on the events page as new items are being added weekly.

Please visit us at the Astoria Bicentennial TRADING POST located at 12th Street Docks in Astoria where you can purchase souvenirs, hats, apparel, books on Astoria's rich history, and the collectible silver coin. Open M-Sat.: 503-325-5889
For information about our on-line official souvenirs click here:merchandise



             

UPCOMING EVENTS

This Day in History

September 2, 1896 Last Sunday, a man entered the Fisherman’s saloon on Astor Street and after spinning a long tale of woe succeeded in borrowing three dollars, leaving as security four carpenter’s planes.  The wily stranger was identified today in the person of John Murray, who is now in jail for robbing Dr. Baker’s office.  The planes were the property of Misters Fry and Meyer.

September 3, 1931 Three hundred Astoria school students paraded the streets last night in an appeal to the taxpaying voters of the city to turn out and cast their ballots for the $60,000 levy to be balloted upon at a special district election.  Chanting “We want school, we want school” the youngsters carried banners reading “Don’t keep us out of school” “we want a full school term” and “vote yes give us nine months of school.” 

September 4, 1931 Anton Aho, of Chadwell, probably owes his life to his son who rushed to his rescue saving him from attack by an angry bull.  Aho was knocked unconscious by the first onrush of the animal, and his son, who witnessed the attack from a short distance, rushed to his father’s rescue in time to prevent further molestation by the bull.  His father escaped with a severe gash on his face and minor bruises about his body.