From a strip of land that cost just 25 cents to one of the nations most important cities, see vintage Portland in all its glory.
These days, Oregon’s most populous city is best known for its oddball residents, abundance of craft breweries, fiercely liberal agenda and, of course, Portlandia.
Yet in 1843, Portland was little more than a chunk of land claimed by William Overton and Asa Lovejoy for just a 25-cent filing fee. Two years later, a coin toss decided that the city would be called “Portland” instead of “Boston,” and the rest is history.
Following the toss, a number of events would help form one of America’s coolest cities. In 1879, Portland’s first telephone lines were installed. Almost fifty years later in 1912, the city’s first rose garden was established, giving the Portland its official nickname: the Rose City.
The Portland Harbor circa 1905.
In the 1940s, both the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and World War II brought about much change. Congress created the BPA to market and transmit power from Portland’s Bonneville Dam, which lies on the border between Oregon and Washington.
The city was given 2 billion dollars to fund the project, creating a massive amount of jobs. Coupled with the increased demand for war goods, Portland quickly swelled to an economically robust U.S. city with limitless opportunity.
Portland also welcomed rapid growth in the late 20th century following the dot-com boom.
While the city boasted a number of tech jobs — along with positions at big-name companies like Nike and Adidas — it offered a cheaper cost of living, lush landscapes and urban growth boundaries. People were hooked. Now, Portland is a major international port, with more than 600,000 people calling the city home. But before it became a beer-and-barista heaven, vintage Portland looked like this:
Portland just two years after it was officially incorporated as a city. Mt. Hood peeks from behind this panoramic shot of Portland in 1890. Source: Source: Wikipedia In 1910, the Beebe Co. operated in the same block as the Oregon Steam Navigation Company. Portland’s Interstate Bridge was built in 1917, finally allowing residents to travel easily to Vancouver, Washington. Source: Wikipedia Willamette Iron and Steel Works was founded in Portland back in 1865. Source: Wikipedia In the 1930s, construction on Portland’s St. John’s bridge was in full swing. Portland has been a bustling city for more than a century. Looking down, into the heart of the city. Portland’s second airport, the Portland-Columbia Airport, was built on the same location as today’s Portland International Airport. Source: Vintage Portland Burnside Bridge in 1940. Portland has been a bustling city for more than a century. A streetcar on Burnside Street in the 1940s. A 1950 air-raid drill at Portland’s Lincoln High School. A new American LaFrance fire engine sits parked in front of the fire station in 1950. Pigeon Hole Parking back in the 1950s. Though the First Baptist Church has since been demolished, in the 1960s it underwent major renovations. Downtown in 1966. An image from the 1972 pro-McGovern rally. Source: Lost Oregon Shot by David Falconer, this image shows dimly lit city lights---the result of energy shortages in 1973. Source: Hemmings Daily
Vintage Portland: The City Of Roses Over Time View GalleryncG1vNJzZmiZnKHBqa3TrKCnrJWnsrTAyKeeZ5ufony3tc2tmKCdXaW8s8DLmqWd