John Jacob Astor Hotel, Gothic Revival hotel in Astoria, United States
The John Jacob Astor Hotel is an eight-story building originally designed with 150 guest rooms and ten residential apartments, standing as the tallest structure on the Oregon Coast. Its Gothic Revival exterior and the combination of residential and commercial spaces define the character of downtown Astoria.
The structure was first built in 1924 as the Hotel Astoria and underwent major reconstruction following a destructive fire that transformed it from five stories to eight stories. This rebuilding established it as a defining landmark for the regional area.
The former grand lobby transformed into The Ruins venue hosts retail spaces and community events throughout the year. This conversion allows visitors to experience the building's interior while supporting local commerce and gatherings.
The building now functions as residential apartments with retail and event spaces occupying the lower floors, allowing visitors to enter through the venue when events occur. Walking around the exterior provides good views of the Gothic Revival architecture from street level.
An antenna on the roof played a role in the birth of cable television in 1948 by capturing television signals that could not reach the area before. This technical experiment made the building an unexpected pioneer in the history of broadcast innovation.
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