Fort Astoria
Fort Astoria (1811-1824) (1830-1848) - Established in April 1811 as headquarters for the Pacific Fur Company when the company arrived on board the Tonquin, captained by Jonathan Thorn. By the time an overland party joined them in February, 1812, they had constructed a trading store, a blacksmith's shop, a dwelling house, and a storage shed for pelts acquired from trapping or trading with the local native Americans. Cannons were arranged around the perimeter for defense. The outpost was to serve as an administrative center for various satellite forts such as Fort Okanogan.
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War of 1812 (1812-1814)
War of 1812 resulted in Astoria becoming Fort George (1) under British rule. On 12 Dec 1813, Captain Black, commanding the British corvette Racoon arrived at the fort. After dinner, a British flag was run up the staff, across which, Captain Black broke a bottle of Madeira wine, loudly declaring that he was taking possession of the post in the name of His Royal Majesty. He then changed the name of Fort Astoria to Fort George (1).
The fort was renamed Fort Astoria after the British left in 1818. The fort was abandoned in 1825 when the Hudson's Bay Company moved it's fur trading operations to Fort Vancouver.
Current Status
A replica of the fort blockhouse is operated as a small city park inside the city of Astoria.
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Location: Northwest Corner of 15th and Exchange Streets, Astoria, Clatsop County, Oregon Maps & Images Lat: 46.188224 Long: -123.827441 |
Source:
- Roberts, Robert B., Encyclopedia of Historic Forts: The Military, Pioneer, and Trading Posts of the United States, Macmillan, New York, 1988, 10th printing, ISBN 0-02-926880-X, page 662
- Hart, Herbert M., Tour Guide to Old Western Forts, Pruett Publishing Co., Boulder CO, 1980, ISBN 0-87108-568-2, page 132
- Oregon Military History, Forts-Camps-Roads
Links:
Visited: 28 Jan 2007
Picture Gallery
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Fort Astoria Sign
