Fort Columbia

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Fort Columbia (1896-1947) - Fort Columbia was built as an Endicott Period coastal defense fort to complete the triangle of protection of the Columbia River mouth. Gun battery construction began in 1896 and was completed four years later in 1900. The fort is named after the Columbia River. Fort Columbia was declared surplus in 1947.

Fort Columbia Entrance
1937 Aerial Shot
Fort Columbia Officer's Quarters, Administration Building and Barracks

Endicott Period (1890-1910)

Part of the Harbor Defense of the Columbia.

Fort Columbia is a small fort but at a very strategic location, being built on top of a hill. Because of the location, the batteries commanded an excellent vantage point over the Columbia River at various elevations. However, it was also very limited in space, resulting in the batteries being built relatively close together. There was enough land however to build garrison housing, another artillery battery during World War II, and a mine casemate building when it took over mining operations of the Columbia River mouth from Fort Stevens in 1937.

The fort operated like a small town due to its remote location. It had a hospital, firehouse, theater, jail, and a generator plant. The men stationed there were more than just soldiers. They were also bakers, barbers, gardeners, and musicians. During the world wars, the population of Fort Columbia exceeded that of the neighboring communities of Chinook, McGowen, Megler, and Knappton.

The fort relied on regular shipments of Army issue food. These large deliveries required a dock and storehouses. The soldier's meals were supplemented with food produced locally such as milk (the fort had its own dairy cow), butter, eggs, and fresh vegetables.

Although the soldiers' lives were highly regimented, they still had some time for fun. Soldiers enjoyed many of the same activities in small towns today. The baseball team played neighboring towns and the other two forts on the Columbia River mouth. When dances were held, local women were invited and trucked to the fort. Occasionally, the troops were entertained by famous actresses and comedians.

After serving in three wars and 51 years of continuous active military service, Fort Columbia was declared surplus in 1947 and was transferred to the custody of the state of Washington on 12 May 1950.

Fort Columbia Endicott Period Battery (edit list)
Battery
Click on Battery links below
No. Caliber Type Mount Service Years Battery Cost Notes
Battery Ord 3 8" Disappearing 1896-1898-1898-1917 $ 137,299
Battery Murphy (1) 2 6" Disappearing 1899-1900-1900-1945 $58,624
Battery Crenshaw 3 3" Masking Parapet 1899-1900-1900-1920 $ 15,462
Source: CDSG

World War II (1941-1945)

Fort Columbia World War II Battery (edit list)
Battery
Click on Battery links below
No. Caliber Type Mount Service Years Battery Cost Notes
Battery 246 2 6" Shielded Barbette (SBC) 1942-NC-1945-1947 $ 220,169 Transferred but
not completed
guns not mounted
Source: CDSG

Current Status

Now Fort Columbia Historic State Park with 12 historic wood-frame buildings still standing and numerous gun emplacements. Fort Columbia is one of the few intact coastal defense sites left in the United States. Battery 246 has period guns and carriages mounted although they are not the originals. All other fort batteries have no period guns or carriages in place


Location: Located two miles west of the Astoria Bridge
on Hwy. 101 in Chinook, Pacific County, Washington.

Maps & Images

Lat: 46.252546 Long: -123.92047

  • Multi Maps from ACME
  • Maps from Bing
  • Maps from Google
  • Elevation: 1,020'



GPS Locations:


Sources:

Links:

Fortification ID:

  • WA0113 - Fort Columbia

Visited: 22 Mar 2008, 15 June 2008, 27 Aug 2005

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