Astoria City Hall (old) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Astoria City Hall
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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The Old Astoria City Hall (now the Clatsop County Historical Society Heritage Museum) in 2012
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 Location in Astoria OR
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| Location | 1618 Exchange Street Astoria, Oregon |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1904–05 |
| Architect | Emil Schacht |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Part of | Astoria Downtown Historic District (ID98000631) |
| NRHP reference No. | 84002940 |
| Added to NRHP | September 7, 1984 |
The Old Astoria City Hall is a really old and important building in Astoria, Oregon. Today, it's known as the Clatsop County Historical Society Heritage Museum. This historic building is so special that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
This building was once the main office for the city of Astoria. It served as the city hall from 1905 until 1939. Later, it became the first home of the Columbia River Maritime Museum from 1963 to 1982. Since 1985, it has been the Heritage Museum.
Contents
History of Astoria's City Hall
Building the First City Hall
Astoria's very first city hall was built in 1878. It was designed by a person named Albert W. Ferguson. This building was where the city's leaders and workers managed Astoria's daily business.
A New and Modern City Hall
Later, the city needed a bigger and more modern building. So, a second city hall was planned. This new building was located at 16th and Exchange streets. Albert W. Ferguson's son's company, Ferguson & Houston, helped build it.
The design for this new city hall came from an architect named Emil Schacht. Construction started in 1904 and finished in June 1905. The new Astoria City Hall officially opened on July 4, 1905. All of the city's offices and even the city library were inside this new building.
Moving to a New Location
By the 1930s, city leaders decided to move the city hall again. The building at 16th and Exchange streets felt a bit far away from the main part of town. The very first city hall from 1878 had been right in downtown Astoria.
The city used money from a special government program called the Public Works Administration. This money helped them change an old bank building on Duane Street into a New City Hall. At the end of March 1939, all the city offices moved to this new downtown location.
What Happened to the Old City Hall?
After it stopped being the city hall, the two-story building was used for many different things.
Used by the State and U.S.O.
In the 1940s, the city let the State of Oregon use the building. It became an extra space for an armory (a place where military equipment is stored) that was built nearby. Later, the U.S.O. used the building as its local meeting place. The U.S.O. helps support military members and their families. They moved out in 1960, and the building was empty for a while.
Home to a Maritime Museum
In 1963, the building got a new purpose. It became the first home of the Columbia River Maritime Museum. This museum opened in August 1963 and showed off the history of boats and the river. It stayed there for almost 20 years. In 1982, the museum moved to a brand new building right by the river.
Becoming a Heritage Museum
In 1984, the building was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. It was listed as "Astoria City Hall." To avoid confusion with the newer city hall, it's sometimes called "Astoria City Hall (Old)."
In 1980, members of the Clatsop County Historical Society decided to buy the Old City Hall. They wanted to fix it up and turn it into a museum. They bought the building in 1985. The first part of their Heritage Museum (which was first called "Heritage Center") opened that same year. More work was done on the inside and outside of the building in 1987 and 1988. This work was paid for by donations and special grants.
