Shively Park, Astoria OR

A small but delightful park. Can be used for special events. I got married there, freaking awesome place.

A small and quiet park at the “top” of Astoria. It’s a nice place to take a short hike in the woods and enjoy a picnic and listen to the wind and the birds.

We came up to explore Shively Park after learning that 112 years ago it was the site of Astoria’s equivalent to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. This site was selected as the primary location for Astoria’s 1911 Centennial Celebration. The 12 acre Shively land parcel was large enough for exhibit halls, a replica of Fort Astoria, formal gardens, a Greek style stadium and amphitheater, an “Indian village” and, similar to the Astoria Column, it boasted an impressive view.

Fragments of the past can still be seen today. Trees that were planted in 1910 are mixed into the younger forest. Two picnic shelters and remnants of the formal garden are still at the top of the hill. Several sets of stone stairs that led to the exhibit halls and the theatre now lead to the road around the park. The stairs that lead to a set of swings now, once led to the fort. On the road at the right side of the park you can visit an arch with two carved columns bearing the inscription: “Weinhard Astoria”. This piece is all that is left of a hotel of that name, destroyed in the 1922 fire.