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Fortunate to be located in the northwest corner of Oregon, where the mighty Columbia River flows to the Pacific Ocean, Astoria has always inspired residents and visitors. The town's spectacular natural beauty and accessible everyday life invites documentation. Those lucky enough to experience Astoria sense they are witnessing something special. More than a century ago, it was a place of big fish, big trees, big dreams, and big personalities. Luckily, many professional photographers and everyday shutterbugs made it their business to capture life on the Lower Columbia from the earliest days of photography. Today, there are fewer giant Chinooks and the remaining old growth is protected, but the town, dreams, personalities, and photographs remain.

The year was 1901, and Portland, Oregon, was celebrating its 50th birthday, having grown from a community of 821 people to become the largest city in the Pacific Northwest. A small change in postal regulations that year opened the door to the production of the picture postcard, and collecting these cards quickly became a popular hobby. Many of these cards survive today and provide a glimpse of life in days gone by. Collected here are many rare images of Portland: grand hotels and magnificent buildings, the natural beauty of the surrounding area, the great bridges, and splendid sailing ships. The world's fair honoring the centennial of the Lewis and Clark expedition and the annual Rose Festival inspired enough cards to fill their own books.