Posts

Showing posts from February, 2018

Astoria Oregon

Image
My last stop on this sojourn around the Olympic Peninsula is in Astoria Oregon. Astoria sits on the southern shore of the mighty Columbia River, not far from where Lewis and Clark set up their winter camp in 1805. We will explore Lewis and Clark’s camp in a couple of weeks, but today let’s talk about Astoria. By OSU Special Collections & Archives : Commons [No restrictions], via Wikimedia Commons By MB298 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons Astoria was founded in 1811 and named in honor of John Jacob Astor. It started as a fur trading post, but for most of its history it was a commercial fishing and cannery hub for this part of the country. At its height it was home to over 30 canneries. Most famous was probably the Columbia River Packers Association , founded in 1899. What’s that? You say you have never heard of the CRPA? Well, that it probably because they were bought out by Dole Foods in 1961...

Horse Carriages and Cape Disappointment

Image
After spending a few days in Aberdeen, Washington, it is time to head south, towards Astoria Oregon. Following U.S.-101 I take a drive down the coast past some beautiful sights. But before I see the Pacific, I stop in the town of Raymond, Washington, to take a trip back in time. Willapa Bay Raymond was originally a lumber mill town. It was built along the banks of the Willapa River. Today, its growth industry seems to be marijuana farming to supply the newly legal sales in the state. What brings me to Raymond is the Northwest Carriage Museum . Opened in 2002, this museum is home to over four dozen horse-drawn vehicles. Its collection includes work wagons, every-day buggies and high-end carriages. The carriages have been restored to mint condition and are displayed in a building that was built to house them, so they are shown to full advantage. Dress Landau Walking through the museum the first piece that really catches my eye is the C-spring Dress Landau...