Since its dedication in 1985, this sculpture was intended to become an iconic symbol of the city of Portland. Despite being 26 feet tall and the second-largest hammered copper sculpture in the US, it's quite easy to miss as one walks past the Portland Building because it has been placed on the building's facade above street level and a large awning. Sculptor Reymond Kaskey designed Portlandia to reflect its nautical heritage and included the provision that no one could use the sculpture or its image in any commercial fashion. Perhaps befitting its nautical message of welcoming commerce to the port city, the sculpture was crafted in Maryland and arrived in Portland's port in 1985. At the same time, there is great irony that a statue honoring commerce cannot be depicted by any commercial firm-a fact that has prevented the statue's likeness from adorning postcards, t-shirts, and other items that might lead to more people seeing the statue as a symbol of the city.
The Ambassador is one of the oldest and most celebrated residences in Portland. Built in 1922, it was designed by famed Northwest architect Carl L. Lind and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Ownership of the building was transferred several times throughout the 20th century. Most recently, the Ambassador was converted to condominiums in 1978.
Located in Portland's downtown core is the University Club, designed by the well known Portland-based architecture firm, Whitehouse & Fouilhoux. Erected in 1913, this building served as an all-male social space for the city's elite. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in July 1979
The Ladd Carriage house, built in 1883, served William Ladd, the city's 4th mayor who also became the wealthiest businessman in the Pacific Northwest by the 1880s. Ladd donated much of his wealth to charity. After becoming paralyzed in 1876, his horses and carriages was of the utmost importance to Ladd and his attention to their well-being are evident in the design of this carriage house. The building is all that remains from the expansive Ladd estate, which included a large (now demolished) mansion across the street from the carriage house.
The Oregon Historical Society opened its first office and museum in Portland City Hall and began to develop a research library and a historical artifacts collection. In 1917, the society moved into Portland’s Public Auditorium, which is now the Keller Auditorium. In 1966, they moved to its current location at the corner of South West Jefferson and Park in downtown Portland. The artifacts collection consists of over 85,000 artifacts, including ancient objects from the earliest settlements and objects that illustrate exploration in the Oregon Country. The museum offers many exhibits such as Plastics Unwrapped, Working on the River: A History of Dredging, Oregon My Oregon, Oregon Voices: Change and Challenge in Modern Oregon History, and Clink! A Mini-Taste of Oregon Wine.
This movie theater opened in 1928 at a time when theaters lined Broadway street. Chicago's architectural firm, Rapp & Rapp, designed this theater and nearly 400 other theaters and movie palaces across the nation during the early 20th century. Today, the historic structure is known as Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. The building opened in 1928 as a vaudeville venue, named the Portland Publix Theatre. Two years later the building name changed to the Paramount Theater when the owners reached an agreement with Paramount films to run their movies exclusively. Affectionately referred to as the Schnitz by locals; it stands as a reminder of the Roaring Twenties, a time of economic prosperity, a transition from a rural nation to one dominated by cities, increased leisure time for the white middle class and the influence of Hollywood on American culture.
This building housed an all-male private club established in 1867. Hundreds of the city's most prominent business owners and bankers were members during the first century of its operation, until it started expanding its membership criteria in the 1960s. The structure itself is a fine example of the Georgian Revival style, designed by local architects Whidden & Lewis. The Arlington Clubhouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in August 2010.
Named for Charles Jackson, the founder of the building's original tenant, the now defunt Oregon Journal, the building opened its doors in 1912. The newspaper remained in the building until 1948, when it moved to larger quarters -- the former Portland Public Market building on the Portland waterfront. The building's most striking feature is the impressive clock tower, a common feature of newspaper buildings of the early 20th century.
The Pioneer Courthouse is the oldest extant federal building in the Pacific Northwest. The planning phase for the building began in 1869 as architects E.B. St. John and John H. Holman worked together to design the structure. This Italianate courhouse was completed in 1875 and remains one of the most significant landmarks in the city of Portland.
Currently known as the 620 Building, the 12-story building emerged during Portland's rapid expansion following the success of the 1905 Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition. Originally erected as a six-story building in 1907, six more stories were added in 1913. Its presence within Portland's modern landscape stands as a reminder of Portland's 1905-1915 economic book, as well as the prominence of its namesake, Henry Failing and the Failing family
Built in 1893, the stylish, commercial Hamilton Building existed as one of Oregon's first buildings constructed in the Classical Revival form. The building was home to offices of many local companies as well as physicians and other professionals. At the time of its completion, the Hamilton building was just north of the city's early masonic hall. That building was demolished in the 1920s.
The Dekum building was completed in 1892 by Fank Dekum, an immigrant to the United States who had lived and worked in a variety of US cities before making his fortune in Portland. Dekum arrived as a child in Bavaria in the 1830s and his journey provides a window into the lives of many other immigrants as well as the San Francisco Gold Rush, the establishment of German bakeries throughout the US, and the way many business leaders found success through finance, real estate, and the railroad industry.
This Tour is a Walking Tour.
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This short tour starts at the iconic Portlandia sculpture and includes numerous historical buildings, museums, and landmarks as it winds its way west and north through some of the most interesting and historic parts of the city.
