Flavel House Museum

The Flavel House is the finest Victorian mansion in Astoria, built in 1885 by Captain George Flavel, the Columbia River's first licensed bar pilot. It is an exceptionally well-preserved example of Queen Anne architecture, with corner turrets, a wide verandah, and elaborate decorative woodwork. The house is now operated as a museum by the Clatsop County Historical Society and contains period furnishings that give a vivid picture of upper-class life in 19th-century Astoria.

Captain Flavel made his fortune piloting ships across the treacherous Columbia River Bar, charging high rates for a skill that was genuinely dangerous and difficult to acquire. The house reflects that wealth. Guided and self-guided tours are available; check current hours and admission fees with the museum.

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A story
The Flavel House appeared in the 1985 film The Goonies as the house where the Fratelli gang was hiding — its Victorian turrets and commanding hilltop position made it the ideal villain's lair. The house was also used in the 1993 film Free Willy. It has since become a pilgrimage site for fans of the films, who come to photograph it from the street and peer through the iron fence.

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