<Tr> <Th> NRHP reference #</Th> <Td> 74001681 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Added to NRHP </Th> <Td> May 2, 1974 </Td> </Tr> <P> The Astoria Column is a tower in the northwest United States, overlooking the mouth of the Columbia River on Coxcomb Hill in Astoria, Oregon . Built 92 years ago in 1926, the concrete and steel structure is part of a 30 - acre (12 ha) city park . The 125 - foot (38 m) - tall column has a 164 - step spiral staircase ascending to an observation deck at the top and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 2, 1974 . </P> <P> The tower was built in 1926 with financing by the Great Northern Railway and Vincent Astor, the great - grandson of John Jacob Astor, in commemoration of the city's role in the family's business history . Patterned after the Trajan Column in Rome (and Place Vendôme Column in Paris), the Astoria Column was dedicated on July 22, 1926 . In 1974, the column was listed in the National Register of Historic Places . The murals that make up the column were refurbished in 1995 and a granite plaza was added in 2004 . </P>

How many stairs to the top of astoria column