General Media Kit

Major Attractions

Museums & Historic Homes
Gardens & Parks
Distinctive Neighborhoods and Public
Other Points of Interest
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MUSEUMS & HISTORIC HOMES

Oregon Historical Society

A $3.75 million expansion and renovation completed in 2003 provides an elegant new entry area that opens onto the tree-lined South Park Blocks. Renovated museum space brings Oregon’s rich history brilliantly to life. From the actual penny used in the coin toss that decided Portland’s name to a fascinating collection of miniature historic vehicles, the Oregon Historical Society offers a unique perspective on regional culture. The museum also houses one of the country’s finest regional research libraries and photo archives, which are often used for genealogical research. Open year-round. Admission charged.

1200 S.W. Park Ave.
Portland, OR 97205
503.306.5221
www.ohs.org

 

Oregon Maritime Center & Museum

The sternwheeler tugboat Portland, which houses the Oregon Maritime Center & Museum, was previously used as a location for the movie Maverick, starring Jodie Foster and Mel Gibson. Located on the Willamette River, this steam-powered vessel was originally used to guide ocean-going ships into Portland Harbor. Discover the ship models, photos, navigational instruments and museum store. Open Fri.-Sun., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission charged.

The sternwheeler Portland is berthed at the Willamette River seawall in Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park (terminus of Southwest Pine Street).
Office: 115 S.W. Ash St., Suite 400C
Portland, OR 97204
503.224.7724
www.oregonmaritimemuseum.org

 

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI)

Experience an earthquake registering 5.5 on the Richter scale, touch a tornado, race a sailboat, explore the galaxy or climb into a space capsule. These and other hands-on exhibits fascinate visitors at OMSI, the nation’s fifth largest science museum. In addition to the more than 200 exhibits and numerous science labs brimming with interactive activity, OMSI also houses a five-story domed OMNIMAX Theater, the Kendall Planetarium, featuring state-of-the-art Digistar II and SkyVision projection systems; and the USS Blueback, the most modern U.S. submarine on public display and formerly seen in the hit movie The Hunt for Red October. OMNIMAX films, planetarium shows and laser shows change throughout the year, so there’s always something new to experience at OMSI. Open year-round. Admission charged.

1945 S.E. Water Ave.
Portland, OR 97214
503.797.4537
www.omsi.edu

 

Oregon Sports Hall of Fame and Museum

“Dedicated to heroes,” the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is the only facility of its kind in the Northwest. Follow the Oregon Sports Timeline, see Terry Baker’s Heisman Trophy and view the Wall of Fame. Experience what it’s like to catch a Major League fastball. Amazing interactive exhibits include Put Me In, Coach and Over the Top. Open year-round. Admission charged.

321 S.W. Salmon St.
Portland, OR 97201
503.227.7466
www.oregonsportsmuseum.org/museum

 

Pittock Mansion

Completed in 1914, this elegant estate was built by Henry Pittock, founder of Portland’s daily newspaper, The Oregonian. Located on 46 lush acres, the Pittock Mansion showcases remarkable antique furnishings and fine artwork in a noted National Historic Register Property. The site offers sweeping views of Portland and its surrounding mountains. Sharing the mansion grounds is the newly restored Gate Lodge, once home to James Skene and his family. Mr. Skene was the Pittock’s gardener and handyman from 1918 to 1953. Drawing from family photographs, artifacts and stories, the Gate Lodge offers a glimpse into a simpler way of life as an immigrant family discovers its own American dream. Tours, picnic area, restaurant, gift shop and hiking are available. Open year-round. Admission charged.

3229 N.W. Pittock Drive
Portland, OR 97210
503.823.3623
www.pittockmansion.org

 

Portland Art Museum

Masterpieces by Monet, Renoir and Picasso share space with Native American and Asian artwork at the Portland Art Museum, the oldest art museum in the Pacific Northwest and, since 2000, one of the 25 largest art museums in the country. The museum, which wrapped up a $45 million renovation and expansion of its Belluschi Building in 2000, unveiled a $40 million historical restoration of the adjacent, newly renamed Mark Building in October 2005. The 141,000-square-foot Mark Building now boasts 28,000 square feet of additional gallery space in the new Center for Modern and Contemporary Art; an underground passage/gallery linking the two buildings; new space for the NW Film Center; a 33,000-volume Art Study Center and Library; and the renovated Sunken and Grand ballrooms. Formerly a Masonic temple, the Mark Building’s elegant ballrooms are now available for meetings, receptions and other special events.

1219 S.W. Park Ave.
Portland, OR 97205
503.276.4246
www.portlandartmuseum.org

 

Portland Children’s Museum

Known for its hands-on exhibits, the Portland Children’s Museum opened in its new location in Washington Park in July 2001. Perfect for kids aged 12 and younger, the museum features a magical forest for babies and toddlers; a huge Water Works, where kids can send gallons of water splashing through a series of contraptions; drop-in studios for art explorations; and the Vroom Room, where things really move. By relocating to Washington Park, the Children’s Museum adds another family oriented element to one of Portland’s richest groupings of attractions. Washington Park is already home to the Oregon Zoo, the Forest Discovery Center, the International Rose Test Garden, the Japanese Garden and Hoyt Arboretum. Open year-round. Admission charged.

4015 S.W. Canyon Road (in Washington Park)
Portland, OR 97221
503.223.6500
www.portlandchildrensmuseum.org

 

Stark’s Vacuum Cleaner Museum

Stark’s showcases the most complete collection of vacuums in the United States. Arranged in chronological order, the collection includes hand-pumped machines from the 1800s to glitzy models from the 1960s. Photos and descriptions detail the historical significance and era of each machine. The museum is adjacent to Stark’s showroom and open year-round during store hours. Free.

107 N.E. Grand Ave.
Portland, OR 97232
503.232.4101

 

World Forestry Center Discovery Museum

Strap into a smoke jumper’s harness and parachute into a wild fire. Stroll through the forest canopy along a 20-foot-high walkway. Burrow beneath the forest floor to discover a subterranean ecosystem. Or, take a video journey around the globe: glimpse boreal forests from the windows of the Trans-Siberian Railroad; view temperate forests from your seat on a Chinese boat; explore subtropical forests during a Jeep safari; or get a bird’s-eye view of a tropical Brazilian forest from inside a canopy crane. These exhibits, along with many others, are part of the $7.5 million renovation of the World Forestry Center, a facility dedicated to highlighting the importance of the word’s forests to our history, culture, economy and daily lives. Housed inside the new Discovery Museum, which opened to the public on June 30, 2005, these innovative displays and hands-on exhibits represent the center’s first complete renovation in more than 30 years.

4033 S.W. Canyon Road (in Washington Park)
Portland, OR 97221
503.228.1367
www.worldforestry.org

 

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GARDENS & PARKS

The Berry Botanic Garden

The Berry Botanic Garden is named for its creator, Rae Selling Berry, a plant-lover who traveled the globe in search of rare and beautiful species. Her masterpiece offers visitors 6.25 acres of internationally recognized species collections, including a rhododendron forest that reaches a height of 20 feet, the Native Plant Trail, and a rock garden that features a wide variety of alpine plants. Since it changed to private nonprofit status in 1978, the garden has grown from the treasured acquisitions of a skilled plantswoman to a respected botanic garden that is internationally known for its Seed Bank of Rare and Endangered Species of the Pacific Northwest. Open year-round. Voluntary admission (suggested donation $5).

11505 S.W. Summerville Ave.
Portland, OR 97219
503.636.4112, ext. 0
www.berrybot.org

 

Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden

For a spectacular view of nearly 2,500 rhododendrons and azaleas, this seven-acre garden with its spring-fed lake and three waterfalls is an enchanting place to visit. Throughout the year, visitors can enjoy feeding resident waterfowl from a water-level bridge that connects the garden’s peninsula to its island. Bird watchers should note that 94 species of birds have been identified at the garden. Best viewing times are March through June (rhododendrons) and autumn (fall foliage). Open year-round. Admission charged.

Southeast 28th Avenue, one block north of Woodstock Street
Portland, OR 97202
503.771.8386
www.portlandparks.org

 

Eastbank Esplanade

The Eastbank Esplanade, a 1.3-mile pedestrian/bicycling trail that extends along the east bank of downtown Portland’s Willamette River between the Steel and Hawthorne bridges, opened in the spring of 2001. Highlights of the $30 million project include a 1,200-foot walkway that sits atop the river, an adjoining 120-foot public boat dock, public art and the new Steel Bridge pedestrian/ bicycle crossing at riverbank level. With access from four bridges, cyclists, joggers and walkers can enjoy a complete three-mile loop that offers unparalleled views of downtown Portland as well as a unique perspective on the river. Open year-round. Free.

East bank of the Willamette River between the Steel and Hawthorne bridges
Portland, OR
503.823.7529
www.portlandparks.org/Eastbank/esplanade.htm

 

Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park

Once the site of a Portland freeway, this riverfront park is a popular place for jogging, in-line skating and cooling off in Salmon Street Springs, a fountain whose water patterns change with the city’s mood. The park bears the name of former Oregon Governor Tom McCall, a staunch advocate of recycling, environmental preservation and urban planning. This mile-long stretch of green along the Willamette River is home to many annual events, including the Portland Rose Festival, the Oregon Brewers Festival and the Waterfront Blues Festival. The Japanese American Historical Plaza is located at the north end of the park. Open year-round. Free.

Bordering Naito Parkway between the Steel Bridge and the RiverPlace Marina
Portland, OR
503.823.7529
www.portlandparks.org

 

The Grotto – National Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother

This 62-acre Catholic sanctuary is one of Portland’s most visited attractions, greeting more than 175,000 guests of all faiths each year. Visitors can stroll through this natural gallery in the woods, view the marble replica of Michelangelo’s famous Pietà, carved into the base of a 110-foot cliff; or ride the elevator to the top of the bluff for an impressive, panoramic view of the area’s highlights, including the Columbia River Valley, the Cascade Mountain Range and Mount St. Helens. Open year-round. Free; small charge for elevator ride.

Sandy Boulevard at Northeast 85th Avenue
P.O. Box 20008
Portland, OR 97294
503.261.2404
www.thegrotto.org

 

Hoyt Arboretum

Home to plants from all seven continents, this 185-acre hiker’s paradise offers more than 1,100 species of trees and 12 miles of trails. At the south end of the arboretum is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Free guided tours, April through October, at 2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Visitor center offers maps, trail guides and information. Open year-round. Free.

4000 S.W. Fairview Blvd. (in Washington Park)
Portland, OR 97221
503.228.8733
www.portlandparks.org

 

International Rose Test Garden

The largest of three Portland public rose gardens, the International Rose Test Garden was established in 1917, making it the oldest test garden in the United States. The 5.12-acre site features 9,000 rose plantings representing some 590 varieties, including Savoy Hotel, Livin’ Easy, New Zealand, Climbing Ophelia, and Sweet Juliet. From its vantage point in Washington Park, this terraced garden offers a spectacular view of downtown Portland, majestic Mount Hood and volatile Mount St. Helens. Best viewing months are May through September. Open year-round. Free.

400 S.W. Kingston Ave. (in Washington Park)
Portland, OR 97201
503.823.3636
www.portlandparks.org

 

Japanese Garden

Known as the most authentic Japanese Garden outside Japan, this beautiful 5.5-acre oasis encompasses a tea house, a pavilion and five garden styles. Designed to take advantage of “borrowed scenery,” the garden showcases the tall Douglas firs of the surrounding Washington Park and provides breathtaking views of downtown Portland, the Willamette River, and the nearby mountains. Within the garden’s core, visitors will discover winding pathways, a koi pond, bridges, lanterns, a dramatic waterfall and raked stone areas. Celebrating 40 years of beauty and harmony, the garden’s elements are designed to inspire meditation, reflection and calm. Open year-round. Admission charged.

611 S.W. Kingston Ave. (in Washington Park)
Portland, OR 97201
503.223.1321
www.japanesegarden.com

 

Japanese American Historical Plaza

Situated at the north end of Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park, this sculpture garden, replete with 100 cherry trees, is dedicated to Japanese Americans held in detention camps in Oregon during World War II. Dedicated in 1990. Open year-round. Free.

North end of Gov. Tom McCall Waterfront Park, near the Steel Bridge 503.823.7529
www.portlandparks.org

 

Mill Ends Park

At 24 inches, this is the world’s smallest dedicated park. Located in the median at the corner of Southwest Naito Parkway and Taylor Street, its story began when a journalist for The Oregon Journal, Dick Fagan, got tired of looking at the ugly pothole below his office window. He decided to plant flowers in the hole and name it Mill Ends Park. To generate interest in this tiny greenspace, Fagan centered many newspaper stories around the capers of a fictitious park resident, a leprechaun named Patrick O’Toole. Open year-round. Free.

Corner of Southwest Naito Parkway and Taylor Street
503.823.7529
www.portlandparks.org

 

Oregon Zoo

From the mist-filled Africa Rain Forest to the majestic new Great Northwest exhibits, the Oregon Zoo encourages visitors to understand and experience the natural world. The zoo’s 64 acres are home to animals from all corners of the world, including Asian elephants, Peruvian penguins and Arctic polar bears. The Oregon Zoo is a center for conservation, research and education, as well as a place of discovery and fun. A summer concert series, seasonal events such as the winter ZooLights festival, and the Zoo Railway help this popular Oregon attraction draw more than one million visitors each year. Open year-round. Admission charged.

4001 S.W. Canyon Road (in Washington Park)
Portland, OR 97221
503.220.2448 (media inquiries)
503.226.1561 (public inquiries)
www.oregonzoo.org

 

Pioneer Courthouse Square

Known as “Portland’s living room,” this public plaza in the heart of Portland is paved with bricks inscribed with the names of donors who contributed to its construction. Portland’s visitor information center is also housed here, joining an existing amphitheater, fountain, coffee shop, travel bookstore and a TriMet ticket office. The square’s focal point is a 25-foot weather machine that, following a blast of trumpets and a spray of cooling mist, predicts each noon whether the day will bring rain, sun or storms. Every 30 minutes, the new Theatre-on-the-Square, located inside the information center, offers visitors a free showing of the movie Perfectly Portland. Open year-round. Free.

Southwest Broadway and Yamhill Street
503.223.1613
www.pioneercourthousesquare.com

 

Portland Classical Chinese Garden

Named Lan Su Yuan, or “Garden of Awakening Orchids,” the Portland Classical Chinese Garden was developed as a friendship project between Portland and its sister city of Suzhou, China. This walled oasis occupies one entire city block in Portland’s Old Town/Chinatown District. Sixty Chinese artisans spent months lending their talent and expertise to the elegant design of this garden. The final result: serpentine walkways, ponds, bridges, a tea house and a meticulous landscape of fantastic rock groupings, delicate trees, sculpted shrubs, lattice screens and pavilions. Open year-round. Admission charged.

Located at Northwest Everett Street and Third Avenue
P.O. Box 3706
Portland, OR 97208
503.228.8131
www.portlandchinesegarden.org

 

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Veterans donated time, money, materials and supplies to create this black granite monument that spirals up a landscaped hill at the southern end of the Hoyt Arboretum. The names of those reported as dead or missing in action are inscribed on solemn markers. Open year-round. Free.

4000 S.W. Fairview Blvd. (in Washington Park, next to the Forestry Discovery Center)
Portland, OR 97221
503.823.3654 (Hoyt Arboretum Office)
www.portlandparks.org

 

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DISTINCTIVE NEIGHBORHOODS & PUBLIC MARKETS

Northwest/Nob Hill Neighborhood

In the late 1800s a California transplant opened the Nob Hill grocery store in an affluent Portland neighborhood and unwittingly named one of the city’s most vibrant communities. Although the slope of the land is not as challenging, the elegant structures that still line Nob Hill’s streets certainly evoke thoughts of the district’s San Francisco namesake. Many of the turn-of-the-century Victorian and Georgian mansions along the tree-lined blocks of Northwest 21st and 23rd have been reincarnated, housing more than 250 unique shops, brewpubs, art outlets and eateries. While the architecture alone makes this an interesting and beautiful place to stroll, this is also a great neighborhood for people-watching. The new Portland Streetcar links this neighborhood to downtown Portland’s Cultural District and the Pearl District.

Northwest 21st and 23rd avenues, between Burnside and Thurman streets
503.464.9089 (media inquiries only)

 

Old Town/Chinatown District

Old Town has a mysterious past. Tunnels below the streets are reminders of the days when unsavory characters shanghaied thousands of unsuspecting sailors, loggers and ranchers. Today, Old Town is a bustling arts and entertainment district and the site of some of Portland’s best music spots and comedy clubs. In addition, Old Town is said to have one of the largest collections of cast-iron buildings in the United States, second only to New York’s SoHo District. Portland’s Chinatown makes up a significant part of Old Town and is defined by traditional facades, Chinese restaurants, red lamp poles and cherry trees. An elaborate ceremonial gate (at Northwest Fourth Avenue and Burnside Street), given to Portland by its sister city of Kaohsiung, Taiwan, marks the entrance to Chinatown. The gem of this district is the Portland Classical Chinese Garden. This elegant walled garden, the result of a collaboration between Portland and Suzhou, another sister city, features ornate carvings, a lake, rockeries and several traditional garden pavilions.

Boundaries: north, Northwest Irving Street; south, Southwest Washington Street; east, Naito Parkway; west, Broadway
www.oldtownchinatown.org

 

The Pearl District

The name of Portland’s best known art district, “The Pearl,” was aptly chosen – an elegant gem nestled in a rough shell. For the past 20 years, local artists have resided in this unlikely neighborhood. Creative energy resonates from this eclectic district, where many of the old warehouses are rapidly transitioning to loft-style condominiums and row houses. And while the district has retained its industrial flavor, many loading dock doors roll up each morning to reveal elegant cafes, exotic boutiques, and fine art galleries. The Portland Streetcar links The Pearl to downtown Portland’s Cultural District and Northwest Portland/Nob Hill.

Boundaries: north, Northwest Northrup Street; south, West Burnside Street; east, Northwest Broadway; west, Northwest 14th Avenue
www.pearldistrict.org

 

Portland Farmers Market

The Portland Farmers’ Market, which highlights area growers and harvesters, features fresh flowers, seafood, breads, nuts, produce and locally prepared foods. On Saturdays, May through November, the market springs to life in the South Park Blocks on the campus of Portland State University (8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.). Each Wednesday, mid-May through October, the market moves closer to the downtown core, setting up shop in the South Park Blocks near the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall and the Portland Art Museum (10 a.m.-2 p.m.). And on Thursday evenings, June through August, the market moves to the heart of Portland’s trendy Pearl District at the Ecotrust Building (4-8 p.m.). Throughout the season, special events are offered, including a Garden Party, Berry Festival, Summer Loaf Festival, TomatoFest, the Great Pumpkin event, and weekly chef demonstrations. Seasonal. Free.

Portland Farmers Market
Office: 1001 S.E. Water Ave., Suite 455
Portland, OR 97214
503.241.0032
www.portlandfarmersmarket.org

 

Portland Saturday Market

Established in 1974, this is the nation’s largest open-air market for handcrafted goods. Located in the Old Town District, the market offers more than 350 craft booths, as well as an international food court and live entertainment. Open Saturdays and Sundays, March through Dec. 24. (The market is also open the entire week before Christmas for its “Festival of the Last Minute.”) Free.

108 W. Burnside St.
Portland, OR 97209
503.222.6072
www.portlandsaturdaymarket.com

 

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OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST

McMenamins Crystal Ballroom

Decorated with whimsical artwork created especially for the site by local artists, Portland’s 1914 Crystal Ballroom boasts one of the nation’s only remaining “floating” dance floors. The floor employs a series of ball bearings attached to 800 rockers to produce a magical floating sensation. Closed and neglected for nearly three decades, the ballroom was reopened in 1997, one of the many urban revitalization projects undertaken by brothers Brian and Mike McMenamin of McMenamins Hotels, Pubs & Breweries. The venue features musical events several nights a week, from hip-hop and bluegrass to alternative and classic rock. Admission charged to most events.

1332 W. Burnside St.
Portland, OR 97205
503.492.5448
www.mcmenamins.com

 

Portlandia

This 36-foot hammered-copper statue, second in size only to the Statue of Liberty, reaches down to passersby from above the entrance to the Portland Building. Too large to pass through the city’s streets, Portlandia arrived in 1984 via the Willamette River. The statue is modeled after Lady Commerce, who appears on Portland’s city seal. Year-round viewing. Free.

Portland Building
Southwest Fifth Avenue (between Main and Madison streets)

 

Portland Streetcar

In 2001, Portland unveiled a streetcar system to link Portland’s downtown Cultural District, the Pearl District, the Northwest/ Nob Hill neighborhood, and Portland State University (PSU). The sleek Euro-designed streetcars follow a loop that travels through the PSU campus, downtown Portland, the art gallery-filled Pearl District, and Nob Hill, known for its outstanding restaurants and upscale shopping. In 2005 a streetcar extension will reach the RiverPlace district on Portland’s Willamette River waterfront. Like all Portland buses and MAX light rail trains, the streetcar is free to ride in Portland’s “Fareless Square” district.

Portland Streetcar
Office: 520 S.W. Sixth Avenue, Suite 400
Portland, OR 97204
503.478.6404
www.portlandstreetcar.org

 

Powell’s City of Books

Boasting more than 1,000,000 used, new and rare books on shelves everyday and occupying an entire city block, Powell’s is the nation’s largest independent bookstore. Visitors, however, needn’t worry about getting lost inside this biblio-labyrinth: Friendly staffers offer guided tours and distribute maps detailing the store’s floor plan and sections. Results of a recent expansion include the addition of an art gallery and space for author readings, an expanded Rare Book Room, the only three-door elevator west of the Mississippi, and, anchoring the new northwest entrance, the Pillar of Books sculpture. Powell’s in-house cafe is the perfect spot for people-watching. Open year-round.

Main Entrance: Northwest 11th Avenue and Couch Street
Portland, OR 97209
503.228.0540, ext. 499
www.powells.com

 

Tour Boats

Portland Spirit

The Portland Spirit offers lunch, brunch and dinner cruises while featuring a talented wait staff to entertain its guests. Saturday moonlight dance cruises are also available. Operates year-round. Admission charged.

110 S.E. Caruthers St.
Portland, OR 97214
503.224.3900, 800.224.3901
www.portlandspirit.com

 

Outrageous

Introduced in 2004, the Outrageous jetboat promises a thrilling, high-speed excursion of the Portland shoreline. Choose from Willamette River, Astoria or Bonneville Dam cruises. Operates May-October. Admission charged.

110 S.E. Caruthers St.
Portland, OR 97214
503.224.3900, 800.224.3901
www.portlandspirit.com

The Sternwheeler Rose

For relaxation and stunning views of the Portland area, many Portlanders and visitors enjoy scenic cruises aboard the Sternwheeler Rose, a working paddle-wheeler that runs exclusively on the Willamette River. Cruises depart from the submarine dock at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI). Sternwheeler Rose offers dinner cruises, brunch cruises and – during summer months – popular one-hour harbor tours. Cruises are seasonal; charters available year-round. Admission charged.

The Sternwheeler Rose
6211 N. Ensign Street, Suite 210
Portland, OR 97217
503.286.7673
www.sternwheelerrose.com

 

Willamette Jetboat Excursions

Promising the “ultimate river adventure,” Willamette Jetboats depart from the submarine dock at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) and travel upriver past beautiful waterfront homes, a wildlife sanctuary and magnificent Willamette Falls. The return trip includes a close-up look at Portland’s skyline and a shipbuilding/repair facility. Scenic tours (morning, afternoon and early evening departures) run either one or two hours; private charters, including meals, are also available. All tours are narrated by Coast Guard-certified pilots. Operates May through mid-October. Admission charged.

Board at the OMSI Submarine Dock
1945 S.E. Water Ave.
Portland, OR 97214
503.231.1532, 888.538.2628
www.willamettejet.com

 

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