CELEBRATING THE CENTENNIAL REDEDICATION OF THE ASTORIA COLUMN

On 2026-07-13, Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1) delivered a floor speech titled "CELEBRATING THE CENTENNIAL REDEDICATION OF THE ASTORIA COLUMN" in the House.

CELEBRATING THE CENTENNIAL REDEDICATION OF THE ASTORIA COLUMN

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 113 (Monday, July 13, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E670] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] CELEBRATING THE CENTENNIAL REDEDICATION OF THE ASTORIA COLUMN ______ HON. SUZANNE BONAMICI of oregon in the house of representatives Monday, July 13, 2026 Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a landmark occasion in Oregon's 1st Congressional District, the centennial rededication of the Astoria Column. This July, Oregonians from across the coast will gather to celebrate the 100th birthday of a monument that has been a beacon in Astoria since 1926. The centennial has spurred a remarkable effort to restore this observatory so the column will stand tall on Coxcomb Hill for another century and beyond. Wrapped around the towering sides of the magnificent Column is a sweeping pictorial history of our region. These scenes, brought to life by architect Electus Litchfield and the masterful sgraffito painting technique of Attilio Pusterla, form a historical tapestry that is truly one of a kind. Yet, the significance of this site extends beyond the Column itself. Just behind it rests a small granite marker that commemorates an invention born here on the Oregon coast: cable television. It is a quiet reminder that Astoria has always been a place where innovation meets history. I recall visiting this very spot, at a time with gusty winds and torrential sideways rain, with Senator Merkley just before a town hall meeting. A little Oregon rain didn't stop us from climbing the spiral steps and gazing out at the City of Astoria and the Pacific Ocean. This monument is a symbol of the Astorian spirit and the rededication a demonstration of the determination to protect the exceptional art and heritage for generations yet to come. This day is possible because several decades ago Friends of the Astoria Column was created to preserve the column. Through decades, Friends of the Astoria Column have cared for this important structure, raising funds to complete cleaning and restoration, and even projecting a light show onto the column. In 1989 they actually scrubbed the column with toothbrushes to clean the facade. It is truly an honor to represent Oregon's 1st Congressional District, and I am proud to stand with Astorians as they celebrate this beacon of our shared past. ____________________