Astoria's Pigeon Steps a Quirky but Scenic Walk of Oregon Coast History

Published 01/09/25 at 5:55 a.m.
By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff

(Astoria, Oregon) – Little (or sometimes sprawling) stairways between streets in some cities are not too uncommon, but they're often a bit hidden out of sight and a charming find. Freiburg, Germany, for example, has some stunning walkways in a few neighborhoods. New York and Washington, D.C. have a couple of famous ones – from the The Joker and The Exorcist, respectively. (Photo of 11th St pigeon steps courtesy Angi D Wildt Gallery)

In towns like those and others they're normally called “step streets.”

However, Astoria has what are called “pigeon steps” - a curiosity that's unique not just to the Oregon coast but in the grand scheme of such paved walkways around the globe.

Here, primarily on 11th Street just outside downtown Astoria, the steep hill has a “stairway” with not so much steps but small bumps between the flatter parts. They're supposed to be like “grips,” not unlike wooden strips on some walkable inclines meant to help in inclement weather, like on docks.

Most of them have quite the scenic view at the top.

Regina Wilkie, head of the Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Commerce, said the big one is tucked away in a garden-like setting at 11th street, climbing between Irving and Jerome.

“It’s a hidden gem that’s generally discovered through word of mouth or stumbled upon by exploring the area,” Wilkie said.

Closeup of 11th St. steps / Astoria Chamber photo

There's two or three others around town, including at 8th Street, which is far more utilitarian.

Therein lies another oddity about Astoria's pigeon steps: they're not easier to traverse than normal stairways or other similarly lined walkways. In fact, they're kind'a awkward. The pigeon steps may make you wind up looking a little like the goofy bird (hopefully minus the head movements). Those grips have a short distance between them, making it a bit hard to step normally (hence the pigeon nickname). In fact at least one local has noted they're a bit difficult in wet weather.

Another set of pigeon steps in Astoria / Oregon Coast Beach Connection

At one point they had another nickname, Wilkie noted.

“Another term for the steps was 'clickety clacks,' “ she said.

History of Astoria's pigeon steps goes all the way back about 100 years now. According to The Daily Astorian, they were built in 1927, designed by city engineer Alfred Tee.

Apparently, as historians surmise, they had wooden slats going across. Indeed, like all of Astoria's walkways at one time they were entirely made of wood. The newspaper wrote residents bemoaned the “toboggan”-like effect that was taking place on these slippery inclines. So Tee designed these, keeping the same grips in place but in cement.

They are a scenic treasure for Astoria, but they aren't as practical as one would hope.

Not much could be found on Tee and nothing on his reasons for this design. Old newspaper archives show he died in the '30s while still working as an engineer for the city, and those goofy social columns in regional papers sometimes mentioned where he and his wife vacationed (such as at Tacoma in 1916.)

The most interesting clip found was from 1883 when Tee is mentioned as a young artist in Astoria, hoping to construct a model of the town and river for use in the World's Fair that year.

Wilkie hinted that if you took some time and simply explored the town you might encounter other secrets.

Scenic area at top of pigeon steps - Oregon Coast Beach Connection

“There are a few sets of steps like the 11th street ones and other trails that connect where streets dead-end because of the steep hillsides all over Astoria, but those are the most picturesque,” she said.

Sources include Astoria historian John Goodenberger and The Morning Oregonian clippings.

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