History

The illuminated outline of a martini glass affixed to a multi-story home lights up the night.
History
Portland’s illuminated martini glass in the West Hills
The 30-ft-by-30-ft sign is turned on for the holiday season each year.
November 18, 2025 04:17 PM
 · 
Cambrie Juarez
A large, cylindrical nuclear cooling tower rises over evergreen trees and waterways.
Business
The rise and fall of Oregon’s only nuclear power plant
The Trojan Nuclear Power Plant reactor was the largest such device to be decommissioned at the time.
May 20, 2024
 · 
Cambrie Juarez
A room inside of a mausoleum with two ornate, white marble coffins
Events
Visit the Rae Room in Wilhelm’s Portland Memorial Mausoleum
Once a year, the century-old tomb opens to the public showcasing where some VIPs RIP.
May 20, 2024
 · 
Cambrie Juarez
portland aerial bridges.png
City
Bridge City’s bridge history: the 12 structures that span the Willamette River
Explore the history of Portland’s 12 bridges over the Willamette River in this ongoing series.
May 16, 2024
 · 
Cambrie Juarez
A woman wearing a grey alien mask pets a dog
Events
The 24th annual McMenamins UFO Festival
Extraterrestrials of all kinds will land their spacecraft in McMinnville in honor of the historic 1950 Trent UFO sighting with a parade, speakers, and more.
May 15, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
A historic photo shows the parade procession during the Portland Rose Festival circa 1908.
City
History of the Portland Rose Festival
Founders of the event hoped to make our city the “summer capital of the world.”
May 13, 2024
 · 
Cambrie Juarez
A portrait of Bill Naito in 1990 shows a kind looking, elderly man wearing large glasses and a watch. He poses leaning his chin, covered in a low beard, on top of his stacked fists.
City
Seeking out the legacy of Bill Naito
Understanding the civic leader and entrepreneur’s contributions to Portland is key to truly knowing the city of today.
May 9, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
A historic photo shows flipped cars and devastation caused by a flood
History
Vanport Mosaic Festival keeps important history alive in Portland
The 9th Vanport Mosaic Festival will take place Saturday, May 18-Saturday, June 1, 2024.
May 9, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
An old time photo of a hockey team
Sports
Why Portland is on the Stanley Cup
The Rosebuds were engraved on hockey’s biggest prize.
May 7, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
Claude Monet's "Water Lilies," one of approximately 250 paintings created by the artist, now owned by Portland Art Museum. White blossoms occupy the upper half of the work, sprouting from round lily pads. On the bottom half, three pink flowers are framed by water grass.
City
Portland Art Museum receives grant to restore Claude Monet’s ‘Water Lilies’
The oil-on-canvas masterpiece is one of the French painter’s most universally recognized works.
May 1, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
A neon sign in the outline of Oregon with the words "Portland Oregon" and "Old Town" and a leaping stag with a red nose.
City
Portland’s iconic neon signs shine light on local history
Travel through Portland’s past by learning about these historical waypoints and the purpose they serve.
April 26, 2024
 · 
Cambrie Juarez
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Local media matters — so does your support
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February 19, 2025
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A few inches of snow cover a path lined with trees in Portland, Oregon on a sunny winter day
City
Where to get snow-related road and emergency information
Be prepared for snowfall by checking road closure information, stocking up for potential power outages, and winterizing your home.
January 29, 2025
 · 
Alina Hunter-Grah
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Live
Take a slice out of Portland’s pizza scene
Whether you’re craving a classic pie or something more adventurous, Rose City has some of the best pizza options around — including pizzerias recognized nationally and internationally.
January 27, 2025
 · 
Cambrie Juarez
Visitors at Portland Art Museum get an up close look at an oil painting portrait of a man in a suit holding spectacles.
Play
Get cultured at museums around Portland
Whether you’re a history buff, art aficionado, or just really love kayaks, these 25 museums in Portland and nearby suburbs have it all.
January 17, 2025
 · 
Ben McBee
Colorful lion dancers parade through a city street.
Culture
Lunar New Year celebrations in Portland, OR
The Lunar New Year celebrates the start of spring and a new year on the lunisolar calendar.
January 17, 2025
 · 
Erin McPherson
A coffee cafe with a natural wood counter.
Live
Order up: your guide to Portland’s coffee shops
If you don’t have coffee already in hand, consider this your sign to grab some.
January 17, 2025
 · 
Cambrie Juarez
Benson Bubblers have an iconic green patina due to the copper. | Photo via @ericriggsbee
Culture
Unwrap these four gifts given to the city of Portland
These city gifts are way better than a Jelly of the Month Club membership.
December 17, 2024
 · 
Staff
A spoon in a bowl of clam chowder.
Food
Slurp-worthy soups for you in Portland, OR
Baby, it’s cold outside — warm up with some of our favorite soups around Portland.
December 11, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
A Portland street car makes its way through snowy conditions with the arch of the Fremont Bridge in the near background
City
Bundle up for our winter 2024 weather forecast for Portland
Prepare for winter weather with these seasonal temperature and precipitation outlooks.
December 3, 2024
 · 
Ben McBee
Small Business Saturday.png
Business
Celebrating Small Business Saturday in Portland
Portland is made up of so many wonderful small businesses, here are a few our readers love in honor of Small Business Saturday.
November 27, 2024
 · 
Staff