Fort Stevens State Park

We finally got to Fort Stevens State park today. As our time here is winding down we realized we had not yet visited the fort.

Fort Stevens State Park

We first went to the Fort Stevens Post Cemetery. The cemetery was established in May of 1868 with the burial of Private August Stahlberger. The the cause of death was first listed as, "falling in the river and drowning while under the influence". It was later modified to the official reason of, "death caused by blows from a person or persons unknown". The second person buried here Bernard McCormick also drowned in the Columbia.

Fort Stevens Post Cemetery

Patty decided to drive us around the fort!

Patty driving!

She got a speeding ticket so we had to find other transportation.

The "first" Fort Stevens was commissioned by President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War! But wasn't the civil war all fought in the east? Well the British worked with the confederates to try and take over the major rivers all over the USA that would give them access to major cities. The Columbia is one of those rivers. 

There was a moat all around this little hill. They had a drawbridge where this tunnel now is.

Original Fort Stevens

We walked around the old fort position and saw this deer. The old fort was just on the other side of the hill.

Fort Stevens deer

Since they wouldn't let Patty drive the jeep anymore we took the Army truck tour. This is a 1953 "duece and  a half" Army transport truck. The tour took a little over an hour and was very interesting.

1953 Army truck

Looking out the back of the truck at the Meriwether Lewis Battery named after Lewis from Lewis and Clark.

Meriwether Lewis Battery

This is the later tour but you can see people in the truck. Ours had less people in it which we appreciated !

Truck tour

We walked around on our own for about an hour and then took the walking tour. It was supposed to be about 45 minutes and goes in the locked Lyman Michler Battery. Our guides are known as the "Texans" and know everything about the history of this fort. This is the 13th year as volunteers here and I believe that last time we were here with Scott and Terri we also had them as guides. The 45 minutes turned into 1 1/2 hours and they got back with about 2 minutes to spare for their next tour! It was GREAT!

Mr. Texan!

This is Lyman Michler. The gates are unlocked and then locked again once we are in. They need to make sure nobody follows us in and gets lost.

Lyman Mishler

Although there was electricity down here, there was also lanterns in case the electricity went out.  In all the hallways the lanterns were placed at T's so it would light up two hallways. On the right wall you can see a hole cut in the wall. That is for a lantern. On the ceiling you can see a railing. That is an upside down train rail for the ammunition.

Hallways

The picture below is one of the disappearing 10 " guns that we showed you at Fort Columbia, or at least where it was. When they decided they no longer needed it after WWII they filled it in with sand and cemented over. They decided they needed the scrap metal and drilled through the concrete but couldn't get the guns out. Later they got smarter and sucked the sand out and cut the guns into pieces and pulled the pieces out. Now where the turret is is an enclosed room.

Disappearing Guns Turret

This is above ground directly above the Gun Turret picture.

Cemented Guns

Fort Stevens has very interesting history! It is the only mainland military facility that the Japanese bombed during WWII. They shelled us with 17 shells, but we did not respond as not to give away our exact location.  They gave up and turned back.

Japanese Attack!

Astoria is the oldest American Settlement west of the Rockies. There is serious history here! We are leaving early next week and will miss it here. It is beautiful!

I thank all of you for sharing in our adventure, we love you all!

God Bless you,
Brian and Patty