Astoria Underground Tours - Astoria, Oregon

Astoria Underground Tours: Exploring Astoria's Rich History

Nestled in the heart of Astoria, Oregon, Astoria Underground Tours offers a unique and captivating way to explore the city's rich history. The tours, operated by the non-profit Columbia River Maritime Museum, take visitors on a journey back in time to the days when Astoria was a bustling seaport and a hotbed of underground activity.

Main Services

• Historic Walking Tours: The most popular service offered by Astoria Underground Tours is the historic walking tours. Led by knowledgeable guides, these tours delve into the city's past, from its early days as a fur trading post to its heyday as a major port. Visitors will learn about the city's role in the Lewis and Clark expedition, its part in the Alaska gold rush, and its transformation into a hub for the fishing and logging industries.
• Underground Tour: One of the most unique aspects of Astoria's history is its extensive network of underground tunnels and vaults. These were constructed in the 19th century as a way to circumvent Prohibition laws and have since been used for a variety of purposes, both legal and illicit. The underground tour takes visitors into these tunnels, where they can see firsthand the remnants of Astoria's colorful past.
• Specialty Tours: In addition to the standard walking and underground tours, Astoria Underground Tours also offers specialty tours tailored to specific interests. These include ghost tours, which explore the city's many haunted locations, and historic pub crawls, which take visitors to some of Astoria's most iconic watering holes.

Location and Access

Astoria Underground Tours is located in the lower parking lot of the Columbia River Maritime Museum, at 1125 Marine Dr, Astoria, OR 97103. The museum is situated in the heart of downtown Astoria, within easy walking distance of many of the city's other attractions. The tours start at the museum, but the walking tours cover a significant amount of ground, so comfortable shoes are a must.

Public transportation is available in Astoria, with the city's public bus system, called the Columbia River Coordinated Public Transportation, servicing the downtown area. There is also free street parking available throughout the city, although spaces can fill up quickly during peak tourist season. The museum offers a large parking lot for visitors, and there is also a public parking garage located nearby.

Featured Characteristics

• Knowledgeable Guides: The guides leading the Astoria Underground Tours are passionate about the city's history and do an excellent job of bringing it to life. They are knowledgeable, engaging, and eager to share their expertise with visitors.
• Unique Perspective: The underground tour is a unique feature of Astoria Underground Tours that sets it apart from other historic tours. By taking visitors beneath the city streets, it offers a perspective on the past that is both literal and figurative.
• Educational Experience: While the tours are certainly entertaining, they are also deeply educational. They provide a wealth of information about Astoria's past and help visitors understand how the city has evolved over time.
• Accessible to All: Astoria Underground Tours is committed to making its tours accessible to all visitors. The walking tours are wheelchair accessible, and the museum offers accommodations for visitors with hearing or visual impairments.

Practical Information

Tours typically last between 60 and 90 minutes, depending on the specific tour. The walking tours cover a significant amount of ground, so visitors should dress appropriately for the weather and wear comfortable shoes. The underground tours involve navigating narrow tunnels and stairs, so visitors should be comfortable with physical activity.

Tours are offered throughout the year, with the most frequent tours taking place during the summer months. However, it is recommended that visitors check the Astoria Underground Tours website for the most up-to-date information on tour schedules and availability. Tours are offered in English, and private tours in other languages can be arranged with advance notice.

Prices for the tours vary depending on the specific tour and whether the visitor is an adult, senior, student, or child. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. It is recommended that visitors book their tours in advance, as spaces can fill up quickly, especially during peak tourist season.

Positive Aspects from Reviews

Astoria Underground Tours has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from visitors. On Google My Business, the company has a 4.5/5 rating based on 103 reviews. Visitors praise the knowledgeable and engaging guides, the unique perspective offered by the underground tours, and the wealth of information provided about Astoria's history.

Many visitors also comment on the accessibility of the tours, noting that they are suitable for visitors of all ages and physical abilities. Several visitors also mention the convenience of the tour starting location, with the Columbia River Maritime Museum being a central point in downtown Astoria.

Some visitors do note that the walking tours can be strenuous, with one visitor describing it as "a lot of walking for an old guy like me." However, this visitor also praised the guide's ability to keep the tour engaging and informative despite the physical demands. Overall, visitors seem to agree that Astoria Underground Tours offers a unique and valuable experience that is not to be missed.

👍 Reviews of Astoria Underground Tours

Tosh&Wendy H.

5/5

My son was doing research on Astoria Underground and what better way to learn and research than to take a little field trip. We took him and two of his friends on the tour and they absolutely loved it!!!
We drove up from Salem, which is almost a 3 hour drive and we were running late by 15 min because of unexpectedly longer traffic time, and the hosts of the tour were so kind to wait for us, even when they didn’t have to. We appropriate you guys sooo much!!!
The tour itself was super informative and fun. The kids were talking about it all the way back home, how much history Astoria has under the ground, and how fun the tour guides were.
Definitely a must when you come visit Astoria 🙂 plus Astoria itself is beautiful.

Thank you!!!

Maeve H.

5/5

This tour was fantastic and I cannot recommend it enough! The tour guides are entertaining and informative with deep connections to historic Astoria. They pack a lot of fascinating local history into just 1 hour. You cannot miss it!

Jason B.

5/5

The was such a fun and educational tour. The 3 “gentlemen” were entertaining and had local attachments and personal experiences with the underground.
It lasted about an hour but honestly I could’ve listened to their funny interactions more.
Give it a try the next time you’re in Astoria!

Hannah G.

5/5

We had such an amazing time! I believe the tour guides names were Chad and Jeff, they were AMAZING!!! I definitely recommend this experience to everyone! So many cool things to learn about this little town!

Seth B.

5/5

Interesting tour under the Astoria sidewalks. Guides gave an entertaining overview of the history of the city.

Elizabeth A.

5/5

Our group of ladies had such a great time on the Underground tour! As someone from Oregon who has been to Astoria numerous times, it was so fun to learn more about the town's history in a fun way. Highly recommend!

Yana O.

1/5

My review will be detailed and substantiated.

- 1. We came here for the first time on
weekend, around 7pm, because Google Maps showed that they were open, but in fact all the doors were closed. No one answered the phone, so after that we tried to book through the website. If you are not working, then write about it, or change your work schedule, because someone may come to you and have bad internet, which will not allow you to pay and book online.

-2. Of course, it is interesting to listen to a little history, but on this excursion it was really stretched out, in several hours, but it is not worth the time.

-3. Price. The ticket cost $20 per person + tax. There are cool museums in Astoria, much more interesting and exciting and they cost $5-6 each. Of course, everyone sets their own price, but in comparison, it will be expensive for a tour of such a low level.

-4. Atmosphere. Overall, this tour looks interesting as long as you stand at the front door. And on the way out, when you see clown cars. Nothing more interesting.

I gave 1 star because people at least came to work.

Lindsi F.

5/5

I have visited Astoria a few times, but going on this tour made me appreciate this amazing town even more! The tour guides were so fun and really seem to enjoy what they do. ◡̈ Astoria has a fascinating history… who would’ve guessed that CLOWNS were so heavily involved?! 😂🤡 We also picked up some tips about more local events that we’d like to attend. We will be back! And we think that everyone should visit Astoria, take the underground tour, and enjoy this special place to the fullest. 🩶

Arianna D.

5/5

My boyfriend & I took a day trip to Astoria without doing any research on what to do there. We were exploring the city when we came across a flyer promoting the underground tours & bought tickets, not really knowing what to expect. We walked in & were greeted by 3 friendly gentlemen that were very knowledgeable on the history of Astoria. This tour was very informative however, never boring. They interacted with all the members on the tour & cracked jokes along the way. I would 100% do this tour again & recommend anyone who just wants something interesting to do.

Tosh&Wendy H.

5/5

My son was doing research on Astoria Underground and what better way to learn and research than to take a little field trip. We took him and two of his friends on the tour and they absolutely loved it!!!
We drove up from Salem, which is almost a 3 hour drive and we were running late by 15 min because of unexpectedly longer traffic time, and the hosts of the tour were so kind to wait for us, even when they didn’t have to. We appropriate you guys sooo much!!!
The tour itself was super informative and fun. The kids were talking about it all the way back home, how much history Astoria has under the ground, and how fun the tour guides were.
Definitely a must when you come visit Astoria 🙂 plus Astoria itself is beautiful.

Thank you!!!

Hannah P.

5/5

These guys are hilarious and shared so much history of the town in a fun memorable way. They went above and beyond in chatting with us and sharing extra things after the tour ended. Highly recommend!

Maeve H.

5/5

This tour was fantastic and I cannot recommend it enough! The tour guides are entertaining and informative with deep connections to historic Astoria. They pack a lot of fascinating local history into just 1 hour. You cannot miss it!

Hannah G.

5/5

We had such an amazing time! I believe the tour guides names were Chad and Jeff, they were AMAZING!!! I definitely recommend this experience to everyone! So many cool things to learn about this little town!