Events

Take a walk through a stunning neighborhood on the west side of Mt. Tabor Park.

Explore the history and architecture of this hillside neighborhood filled with beautiful homes in a variety of architectural styles.

From 1900-1924, the Willamette River was Portland’s favorite summer playground featuring swimming activities for all. Two major attractions in the Ross Island area—Bundy’s Baths and Windemuth—hosted tens of thousands of people of all ages who wanted to wade, swim, dive and cool off in the flowing river. But by 1924, Portland’s sewer system was delivering thousands of gallons of raw sewage directly into the river. During a health scare in July 1924, Portlanders were banned from the river and swimming venues were shuttered. Join researcher/historian Doug Decker for an exploration of Portland’s changing relationship with the Willamette in this stretch of the river.

Explore a section of the historic Irvington neighborhood where the streetcar used to run every 5 minutes.

Explore the famous park and windy streets of one of the city's most architecturally interesting residential neighborhoods.
Tour guided by John Doyle

Homer Davenport (1867-1912) was Oregon’s first media super-star. Yet, few outside his hometown of Silverton, OR are even aware of the impact this self-described “country boy” had on society. His unique rural Oregon upbringing, along with a supportive and nurturing home life, equipped Davenport with the intellectual tools and the artistic skills needed to hit the ground running. He arrived on the scene during a perfect storm of technology and public sentiment, between the end of the "Gilded Age" and the beginning of the "Progressive Era."
Presented by Silverton Country Historical Society President and author Gus Frederick. Signed copies of his books may be purchased at the show

Explore some of the commercial and residential sections of this former streetcar suburb.

Explore the commercial heart of downtown Portland and learn about the architects, designs, and building materials that changed the city dramatically in the early 20th century.

Stroll through Portland's Oldest Suburb and experience a variety of architecture styles constructed over the last 150 years from a long time resident and architectural Historian.

Explore the beautiful hillside neighborhood near the entrance to Washington Park and Vista Avenue.

Take a walk through a stunning neighborhood on the west side of Mt. Tabor Park.

Stroll through this fantastic North Portland neighborhood first developed by William Killingsworth in the early 20th century.

Explore this North Portland neighborhood filled with beautiful buildings in a wide variety of architectural styles dating back to the late 1800s.
Tour guided by John Doyle

See a variety of buildings types and styles in this one-time streetcar suburb on the east side of Mt. Tabor.

Come explore the layers of history in the Vernon neighborhood, from development of Alberta Park, to the fall and rise of neighborhood schools, to patterns of redlining from the 1930s-1950s, the presence of a dairy, a much-loved old synagogue, a popular streetcar and a street full of small businesses. Neighborhood historian Doug Decker walks the group back in time to understand the how legacies of the past have shaped the neighborhood of today.

Take a walk through the oldest portion of this historic neighborhood and learn how it has been affected by more than a century of change.

Explore this mid-century suburban style development near Reed College.

Join Alameda neighborhood historian Doug Decker for a history walk that explores the connections between past and present that shape the Alameda neighborhood we know today. This stroll will cover just over a mile with multiple stops focusing on pre-development conditions, planning and construction of the neighborhood, the Broadway Streetcar, architectural house styles, and stories of local interest. Most of this walk is on flat terrain other than a gradual stretch that ascends the Alameda Ridge.

Explore 70 years of architectural controversy and acclaim in downtown Portland.

Explore historic and first City Park. Learn the history and visit some well known and not so well known parts of the park. Some up hill walking required to the the International Rose Test Gardens.

Explore the history of Portland's downtown buildings though the course of time. See the progression of architectural styles from our early days to the present era.

Streetcar companies and entrepreneurs lured people out of downtown Portland into the greater Portland area by offering entertainment in many forms. Many still operate, but many more are a distant memory. Through stories and historic photographs find out what people did for fun in Portland before the age of television and the World Wide Web.

Stroll through historic Irvington, where you'll see fine examples of the work of several important early-20th century architects who helped shape the neighborhood.

Explore a section of the historic Irvington neighborhood where the streetcar used to run every 5 minutes.

Learn about some of the oldest buildings in the city and the people who built them in this tour of Portland’s only National Historic Landmark District. The area also contains the highest concentration of cast-iron fronted buildings on the west coast and much of that iron was even produced locally. 

Explore this gem of a residential neighborhood tucked in between Sellwood, Milwaukie, and the Waverley Country Club.

Stroll through the beautiful trees in some of the city's oldest parkland, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, all while learning about the rich architectural heritage of the neighborhood. Touring being given by John Doyle

See a variety of residential architectural styles and learn about some of the early residents in this close-in southeast neighborhood near Ladd's Addition.

Explore the "Main Street" of Portland's Central Eastside and learn about the area's rich history and fascinating variety of architecture.

Take a walk through the oldest portion of this historic neighborhood and learn how it has been affected by more than a century of change.

Explore the early commercial and residential areas of this once independent city.

Stroll through this great Southeast neighborhood filled with a fun mix of historic building types and styles.

Explore the history and architecture of this hillside neighborhood filled with beautiful homes in a variety of architectural styles.

Theaters have always captured our imaginations. Their
architecture and lighting have drawn us inside. Their
decorative lobbies have let us know something special was
about to happen. Darrell Jabin toured and took photos of
dozens of theaters. He researched Opera houses, Chautauqua
vaudeville and movie palaces.

Explore a section of the historic Irvington neighborhood where the streetcar used to run every 5 minutes.

Take a walk through a stunning neighborhood on the west side of Mt. Tabor Park.

Explore the landmarks and lesser-known architectural gems in the center of downtown.

Learn about the history and culture of this district while viewing masterworks from some of the city's most notable 19th and 20th century architects.

Explore this former industrial area that has been transformed into one of Portland's most popular commercial and residential neighborhoods.

The bridges of "Bridge City" constitute a vital part of Portland's identity. This tour explores their history, construction techniques and the role the Willamette River bridges played in the growth and development of the city as a whole. All of Portland’s Willamette River bridges will be discussed on the tour tough not all of them will be visible along the tour route of approximately 1.5 miles.
Tour guided by John Doyle

Explore this mid-century suburban style development near Reed College.

Stroll through historic Irvington, where you'll see fine examples of the work of several important early-20th century architects who helped shape the neighborhood.

NW Portland has lived many lives transitioning from open farmland to dense neighborhood, from millionaires row to skid row. This tour explores these transitions through the construction and development of a wide variety of properties all of which have house multiple families over the decades whether the were intended to do so or not. The tour includes one of the richest arrays of architectural styles to be found in the city.

Tour guided by John Doyle

Take a walk with the honorable mayor of Oregon City and explore the historic downtown.  On this walk you’ll see views of the Willamette River from the City Elevator and the beautiful arch bridge. Sturdy shoes and sun protection strongly suggested.

Learn about Portland's New Chinatown, Japantown, and a wealth of historic architecture including the landmark Union Station.

Take a walk through the oldest portion of this historic neighborhood and learn how it has been affected by more than a century of change.

Explore one of the city's oldest neighborhoods, situated on the edge of downtown.

Take a stroll through this grand residential neighborhood and learn how it was heavily impacted by nearby development.

The story of the role played by streetcars in the development of Northeast Portland begins in 1888, when rails were laid northward through virgin timber and bottomland towards the Columbia River. Tracks soon also extended eastward along a prehistoric dirt road leading toward the Columbia Slough. Many twists and turns were encountered before the last steel wheel turned in 1948.
Local historian Richard Thompson is the author of nine books on the subject of Oregon streetcars and Interurbans. He has also written a dozen entries for the Oregon Encyclopedia and has appeared in several documentaries.

Explore this gem of a residential neighborhood tucked in between Sellwood, Milwaukie, and the Waverley Country Club.

Stroll through Portland's oldest cemetery and find a few surprises. Learn the history of some of the persons laid to rest.
Tour being given by John Doyle

Explore the landmarks and lesser-known architectural gems in the center of downtown.

Learn about the history and culture of this district while viewing masterworks from some of the city's most notable 19th and 20th century architects.

Stroll through one of the oldest eastside residential neighborhoods while learning about house types common to late 19th - early 20th century Portland.

Stroll through Portland's Oldest Suburb and experience a variety of architecture styles constructed over the last 150 years from a long time resident and architectural Historian.

Explore this beautiful-but-hilly Northwest Portland neighborhood on the edge of Forest Park.

Stroll through the beautiful trees in some of the city's oldest parkland, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, all while learning about the rich architectural heritage of the neighborhood.

Explore the history and architecture of this hillside neighborhood filled with beautiful homes in a variety of architectural styles.

Explore the famous park and windy streets of one of the city's most architecturally interesting residential neighborhoods.
Tour guided by John Doyle

Founded in 1882, River View is one of the West Coast's premier examples of the 19th century cultural phenomenon know as the rural or garden cemetery. River View is also home to a veritable who's who of illustruious 19th and 20th Portlanders. Gorgeous views, the tombs of the great and the humble, and buildings by A.E. Doyle and Pietro Belluschi await River View's visitors. This tour covers hilly, turf terrain. Sensible shoes are recommended.
Tour guided by John Doyle

Explore this gem of a residential neighborhood tucked in between Sellwood, Milwaukie, and the Waverley Country Club.

In the early years of the 20th century a community of Indian immigrant laborers in Portland and Oregon started a movement for Indian independence from British rule in their home country. Joanna Ogden will give a brief talk and sign copies of her new book "Punjabi Rebels of the Columbia River :The Global Fight for Indian Independence and Citizenship"

Explore this mid-century suburban style development near Reed College.

Founded in 1882, River View is one of the West Coast's premier examples of the 19th century cultural phenomenon know as the rural or garden cemetery. River View is also home to a veritable who's who of illustruious 19th and 20th Portlanders. Gorgeous views, the tombs of the great and the humble, and buildings by A.E. Doyle and Pietro Belluschi await River View's visitors. This tour covers hilly, turf terrain. Sensible shoes are recommended.
Tour guided by John Doyle