Portland Oregon Walking Tour

 

Pioneer Courthouse on Pioneer Square

In the late 1800s Pioneer Courthouse stood out as a symbol of justice and national unity. The oldest standing federal structure in the Pacific Northwest. The second-oldest courthouse west of the Mississippi. The Pioneer Courthouse was designed and constructed in 1875. The three-story, cupola-capped Romanesque monument serves as the focal point of Pioneer Courthouse Square, Portland's living room in the heart of the City.

The Bubblers

In 1912, Simon Benson, lumberman, commissioned 20 drinking fountains. The bubblers offer visitors something cold on the streets to quench their thirst. It was claimed that after the fountains were installed, saloon sales decreased 40%. By 1917, there were 40 fountains. There are now 52 four-bowl bubblers. With a total 128 drinking fountains throughout Portland include 76 single-bowl variations of the four-bowl Benson Bubblers.

 

"Portlandia" 1985

Second largest copper statue in the United States, after the Statue of Liberty . The design is based on the design of the Portland city seal. The statue itself, if standing, the woman would be about 50 feet high. That would be about a third the size of the Statue of Liberty.

 

The Wells Fargo Center

The tallest building in Portland,for that matter in Oregon. Opened in 1972. It stands 546 feet with 41 floors. , the Wells Fargo Center dwarfed all other high-rise developments in downtown. Public outcry over the tower's height that could block views of Mt Hood led to height restrictions on all new development.

 

Something to ponder... Why is it that most skyscrapers do not have a 13th floor? Ask your tour guide.

 

Who pays for all of the artwork throughout the city? Ask your guide.

 

The US Bancorp Tower

The second tallest skyscraper in Portland. It stands at 536 feet. 43 floors . The building has nearly 1.1 million square feet of office space inside, making it the largest office building in Oregon in terms of volume. By comparison the Empire State Building has 2.25 million square feet. Pretty impressive.

 

Why is this beautiful building call "Big Pink"? Ask your guide

 

Portland’s Chinatown

During the 1880s to 1910 Portland’s Chinatown was considered the second larges Chinese community in the country, next to San Francisco. Home of the Chinese Gardens. Covering nearly an acre in the heart of Chinatown this garden replicas an ancient garden in Suzhou, China.

 

A must see...

 

The Streetcars

The Streetcars run on an 8 mile continuous loop from NW 23rd Avenue to the Southwest Waterfront. The loop takes you through the Alphabet District in the Northwest, the Pearl District, Portland State University and on to the SW Riverfront. It is at the South Waterfront District where it connects with the Portland Aerial Tram.

Are the "Shanghai Tunnels" real? What is the true story? Ask your guide

 

The Tram

The Tram runs 3,300 feet between the South Waterfront terminal and the upper terminal. Carrying 975+ people per hour on two 79-passenger cars traveling at 22 miles per hour. The Tram cabins rise 500 feet for a spectacular view of Portland and the surrounding mountains, including Mt Hood and Mt St Helens. The tram is owned by the City of Portland.

 

Our tour guides will share with you a wealth of information that will enhance your appreciation of this most beautiful city... Portland.