History, Outdoor Recreation and Camping All in One Park
If you're a history buff and love the beach, Fort Stevens State Park on the Oregon coast is a must-see attraction. Fort Stevens is located near Astoria, Oregon, off of Highway 101 (see the park brochure PDF file for a map). It's open for both day use and camping (state park day use and camping fees apply). Fort Stevens is also only a two-hour drive from Portland, making it an easy day trip from the city.Fort Stevens' history spans from the Civil War to the present day. In 1863, the fort was established with earthworks (fortifications made from dirt), buildings, and gun emplacements surrounded by a moat with a drawbridge. Seriously. And why was there a Civil War fort on the Oregon coast, anyway? Well, the U.S. was worried that if England allied itself with the Confederacy (which was a possibility because of the cotton trade), the British might try to attack the U.S. on the Pacific Coast via Canada. Nothing ever happened, of course, but the U.S. military held onto the site. You can view Civil War-era displays in the visitor center at Fort Stevens as well as the remains of the earthworks.
Fort Stevens was re-fortified in 1897 because of the Spanish-American War. These fortifications included eight concrete batteries with mortars and short and long-range rifles. Two forts were also built on the Washington side of the Columbia River at this time: Forts Canby and Columbia.
Shortly after this, in 1906, the Peter Iredale, a four-masted sailing vessel, ran aground on Clatsop Spit on its way to the Columbia River. The vessel was abandoned, and the remains are still visible on one of the beaches in Fort Stevens State Park.
World War II was the period of highest military activity in Fort Stevens history. About 2500 men were stationed there, and extensive barracks were built for them. New gun batteries were also installed. Fort Stevens was even fired upon once by a Japanese submarine, in 1942! This was the only attack on the continental U.S. during World War II, although the fort was undamaged and did not fire back.
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