Astoria Underground Tours - Astoria, Oregon

Astoria Underground Tours: Exploring Astoria's Hidden History

Nestled in the heart of Astoria, Oregon, the Astoria Underground Tours offer a unique and immersive experience into the city's rich history, hidden secrets, and local lore. The tours, led by passionate and knowledgeable guides, delve into the city's past, revealing stories that date back to the late 1800s. This detailed article provides an in-depth look at Astoria Underground Tours, covering their main services, location and access, featured characteristics, practical information, and positive aspects highlighted in reviews.

Main Services

• Historic Walking Tours: The core service of Astoria Underground Tours is their historic walking tours. These guided experiences take visitors through the old downtown area, focusing on the city's Trolley Era and the Great Fire of 1922. The tours explore the architecture, history, and anecdotes that have shaped Astoria into the picturesque city it is today.
• Underground Tour: One of the most unique experiences offered is the Underground Tour. This tour goes beneath the city streets, exploring the tunnels and passageways that were once used to move goods and people around Astoria. These tunnels, a remnant of the city's past, offer a fascinating look into the city's history and its relationship with the Columbia River.
• Private Tours: For those looking for a more personalized experience, Astoria Underground Tours also offers private tours. These tours can be customized to focus on specific interests or areas of the city, providing a unique and tailored experience.
• Special Events: Throughout the year, Astoria Underground Tours hosts special events, such as ghost tours and historical reenactments. These events provide a fun and engaging way to learn about the city's history and its spooky past.

Location and Access

Astoria Underground Tours is located at the lower parking lot of the Columbia River Maritime Museum, situated at 1125 Marine Dr, Astoria, OR 97103, United States. The location is conveniently close to several historic sites and attractions, making it an ideal starting point for exploring the city.

Access to the tours is relatively easy, with the meeting point located in a well-signed and accessible area. The city of Astoria is generally pedestrian-friendly, with many of the tour routes passing through downtown and other nearby neighborhoods. For those arriving by car, there is free street parking available in the area, and the city also offers several public transportation options.

Featured Characteristics

• Experienced and Knowledgeable Guides: One of the standout features of Astoria Underground Tours is the quality of their guides. Trained in local history and lore, these guides bring the city's past to life through engaging storytelling and a wealth of historical knowledge.
• Small Group Sizes: To ensure a personalized experience, Astoria Underground Tours keeps their group sizes small. This intimate setting allows for more interaction with the guide and a deeper exploration of the city's history.
• Year-Round Tours: Unlike some tour operators, Astoria Underground Tours offers year-round tours. This means that visitors can experience the city's history at any time of the year, rain or shine.
• Accessibility: The tours offered by Astoria Underground Tours are generally accessible to all ages and fitness levels. However, some tours, like the Underground Tour, may not be suitable for those with mobility issues or young children due to the nature of the tunnels.

Practical Information

• Tours Duration: The duration of the tours can vary, with the Historic Walking Tours lasting approximately 90 minutes and the Underground Tour lasting around 2 hours.
• Tours Schedule: The tour schedule can vary depending on the time of year. It's recommended to check the Astoria Underground Tours website for the most up-to-date information on tour times and availability.
• Pricing: The pricing for the tours is reasonable, with the Historic Walking Tours starting at $15 for adults and the Underground Tour starting at $25 for adults. Children's tickets and group rates are also available.
• Appointment and Tickets: While appointments are not always required, it is highly recommended to book in advance, especially for the Underground Tour, as spaces can fill up quickly. Tickets can be purchased online or by phone.

Positive Aspects from Reviews

With an average rating of 4.5/5 from 103 reviews on Google My Business, Astoria Underground Tours has overwhelmingly positive feedback. Several aspects of the tours are consistently praised:

• Engaging and Knowledgeable Guides: Many reviewers highlight the exceptional knowledge and storytelling abilities of the guides, crediting them with making the tours both informative and entertaining.
• Unique Perspective on Astoria's History: Several reviewers mention that the tours provided them with a fresh and unique perspective on Astoria's history, helping them to appreciate the city in a new light.
• Well-Organized and Enjoyable Experience: Many reviewers comment on the well-organized nature of the tours, praising the guides for their punctuality, professionalism, and ability to keep the group engaged and moving at a comfortable pace.
• Accessible and Enjoyable for All Ages: Several reviewers with young children or mobility issues praise the tours for their accessibility and the guides' ability to accommodate different needs and interests.

Astoria Underground Tours offers a unique and engaging way to explore the rich history of Astoria, Oregon. With their knowledgeable guides, small group sizes, and commitment to accessibility, these tours provide a memorable and educational experience for visitors of all ages. Whether you're a history buff, a local looking to learn more about your city, or a tourist seeking a unique experience, Astoria Underground Tours is a must-do activity in Astoria.

👍 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!