Astoria, Oregon, is the site of the first American-owned settlement on the Pacific coast of North America.

In this episode, we share what we learned on our very first visit to Astoria: about Astoria’s origin story and our experience at its Flavel House Museum, which is somewhat haunted, because yes, I (Toast) felt something, and so have other folks, apparently.

Come join us for a quick day trip to one of Oregon’s most famous towns.

• Our first stop was Phog Bounders Antique Mall

• Then we went to The Flavel House Museum

Flavel House Museum

This was the biggest attraction for us.

It occupies an entire city block. The Queen Anne style house was built in the mid-1800s by one of early Astoria’s most prominent citizens, Columbia River Captain George Flavel.

We haven’t found any photos online that convey the grand scale of the interior. The hallways were so wide, ceilings so high, and rooms so spacious. It reminded us of the TV show The Gilded Age. (We didn’t take any photos that capture it either, you’ll just have to go see for yourself.)

The Flavel House was also kinda ghosty.

I, Toast, encountered a ghost, probably. You be the judge. And I must say ‘encountered’ here, because there was nothing seen. But I definitely felt an swift plume of warm air blast out the top of a glass bottle that was sitting on the floor in the kitchen. How does a small glass bottle send a jet of air out its top?

Musta been a ghost.

Then, Siena went and looked for Flavel House ghost stories online, and found a bunch. She shares a few in this episode.

Why Is It Called Astoria?

John Jacob Astor (1763–1848) was America’s first multi-millionaire. He made his first fortune in furs, then later in NY real estate. Astor’s Pacific Fur Company founded Fort Astoria as its primary fur-trading post in the Northwest.