Calling all history buffs. We rounded up 10 of our favorite history articles at PDXtoday — from iconic spots to local teams. It’s time to unwind while we rewind through Portland’s past.
- International Rose Test Garden | The roots of this beloved space are intertwined with World War I.
- Rae Room tomb | The century-old final resting place of some Portland VIPs opens to the public once a year on Memorial Day.
- The Vesterlide sinks a steamboat | The events of March 31, 1917, took an abrupt turn for the worst.
- Cast-iron buildings | Examples of a once-popular style of architecture were once plentiful in the City of Roses.
- Waterfront cherry trees | Stunning in spring, these 100 trees commemorate the incarceration of Japanese and Japanese Americans during World War II.
- The Lewis and Clark Exposition | Palatial-but-short-lived buildings were constructed for Portland’s first and only world’s fair, which drew more than 1.5 million visitors.
- Illuminated martini glass | The holiday season isn’t officially underway until this sign lights up the West Hills.
- Buried Civil War-era gold | X marks the spot — but no one has been able to figure out where “X” is.
- Shanghai Tunnels | Seedy tales from the past are connected to the silent catacombs beneath the streets of Old Town Chinatown.
- Portlandia statue | Portland’s patron “Copper Goddess” is the second-largest copper repoussé statue in the US.
Know a local history topic we should dive into next? Get in touch with us.