St. Helens – Riverfront, History and Events

St. Helens, Oregon, lies at the confluence of four rivers. The town combines a Columbia River waterfront with historic districts, a museum and seasonal events. When planning a stay, the riverfront, culture and event calendar offer different points of interest. Which ones interest you may also play a role in choosing when to travel.

Riverfront and Nature

Along the riverfront, several parks and walking paths offer wide-ranging views of the Columbia River, Mount St. Helens and Mount Hood. You can combine the river landscape with a visit to the parks and paths; the viewpoints take in both the river and the two mountains.

The small urban Nob Hill Nature Park covers 6 acres and preserves oak woodland as well as some camas. McCormick Park is home to a Veterans Pavilion and Japanese Gardens. On February 3, 2026, the city also reported the reinstallation of a wind telephone in the park. This report describes the installation, not opening hours or current operating hours.

About 300 feet of the Riverwalk have been built at Columbia View Park. Sand Island Campground offers docks, nature trails, beaches and picnic tables on a 31.7-acre offshore island. Amenities also include campsites, restrooms, kayak connections and water adventure rides. Check the campground’s operating details before your trip.

History and Culture

The Columbia County Museum is located in the John Gumm Building and Civic Center at 251 St. Helens Street. Its artifacts explore the history of life in Columbia County, including materials on Indigenous peoples, pioneers, the timber industry, railroads, local art, the military, music and film. The topics range from everyday regional history to art and entertainment.

The Downtown Historic District is a permanent and outstanding example of early settlement patterns in the Northwest and of the development of local Indigenous industries before the economic collapse of the Great Depression. St. Helens’ riverfront district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These two statements reflect different historical features of the city.

The St. Helens Historic District Walking Tour passes through an area of St. Helens that was recognized as a historic district by the U.S. Department of the Interior in 1984. The tour is map-based. The Columbia County Museum Association’s St. Helens Filming Locations Walking Tour is also a visitor resource in St. Helens; linked tour details may change. Another historical connection: Lewis and Clark camped in St. Helens in 1805 and again during their return journey in 1806.

The historic Columbia Theatre opened in 1928. Its lobby displays memorabilia from Hollywood’s Golden Age, including photographs of MGM actors and a large 1930s carbon arc projector. Exhibit details may change.

Summer and Fall Events

13 Nights on the River is a free annual summer concert series at Columbia View Park. The event features food and market stalls, games and a beer garden. Dates and programming may change, and individual offerings are not the same every year.

Spirit of Halloweentown is an annual family-friendly Halloween celebration in St. Helens. Activities include costume contests, haunted tours through town, scarecrows and trick-or-treating in the Old Town District. The seasonal program may change.

The two event profiles have different focuses: 13 Nights on the River is known for summer concerts, while Spirit of Halloweentown features fall Halloween activities. If you plan to time your trip around one of these events, check the current event dates before making plans.

Discover more destinations: Clatskanie, Deer Island.

For the broader travel overview: Columbia County.