Astoria

2011 Program Announcement

Situated on the Columbia river a few miles from the Pacific Ocean and the magnificent beaches of the Oregon coast, Astoria is the oldest American settlement west of the Rocky Mountains. Surrounded by water and tall evergreens Douglas Fir, Hemlock and Spruce trees, Astoria is rich in scenic beauty, This city of 10,000 is also home to many unique coffee houses, restaurants, breweries, and unique shops, making it a wonderful place for a romantic getaway.

Astoria also has a rich cultural tradition. There are several outstanding museums, including one of the world's great nautical collections, at the Columbia River Maritime Museum. And, of course, the city is the site of the Astoria Music Festival, voted Oregon's outstanding fine art festival. Here are some of our venues.

The Liberty Theater, located at Twelfth and Commercial Streets in downtown Astoria, is one of the best examples of the 1920s vaudeville-motion picture palace in the Pacific Northwest. Liberty Restoration, Inc., a private, non-profit organization is restoring this magnificent structure to its original elegance and equipping it to be a state-of-the-art performing arts center.

The Clatsop Community College Performing Arts Center, Sixteenth and Franklin, is a gem of the community, boasting incredible acoustics and a warm, inviting ambience.

Known for its music, the First Presbyterian Church of Astoria, Eleventh and Grand, is home to the Astoria Conservatory of Music. Concerts are held in its century-old carpenter Gothic sanctuary.

The sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church of Astoria, 1076 Franklin Street, provides large hall with excellent acoustics. The church has long been associated with classical music through its pastor, Rev. Judy Johnson, a classical music programmer at Astoria's listener-sponsored KMUN.