I love Paxton Gate and I always stop by when I'm in town. They have a wonderful selection of oddities, crystals, plants, bug pinnings, and taxidermy. Two entire levels full. And the staff is so helpful and knowledgeable. On both occasions I've visited, I've left with a new butterfly pinning. They've carefully wrapped them and thankfully both have survived the pandemic plane ride home. Their items are priced fairly and competitively. They have different events from time to time like classes and pop ups. I'd love to attend a class if I lived closer. There was a carnivorous plant pop up when I last visited. I loved seeing the different varieties and learning about them. Definitely stop in if you're in the area. read more

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This place is like going to the gift shop at a science museum if the science museum specialized in death. What an assortment of dead animals! Do you need some butterflies to hang on the wall? A giraffe mount? What about a python in a bottle? How about a whole bison? This place had all that and more! The staff were also quite friendly and willing to answer any questions. There's just nothing here I would actually buy. It's almost more like just an experience to walk around in. I didn't take any pictures, but I probably should have! read more

Such a fun little shop packed with oddities and curiosities! From beautifully cared-for taxidermy to porcupine quills, crystals, incense, books, plants, games, stickers, butterflies, and so much more--you'll never run out of things to look at. The perfect spot to find a unique gift (or something quirky for yourself). read more

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Hello my little mallows! let me tell you about this delightful little gem called Paxton Place in Portland! If you're wandering around and thinking, "What can I do that will make my friends question my sanity?" look no further! This shop is like a treasure chest for the wonderfully weird! I loved it. They've got everything from shark teeth--because who doesn't want to feel like they're one dental appointment away from being a marine biologist--to snakes in bottles, which is just perfect for those awkward dinner parties, right? And they have taxidermy--because nothing says 'Welcome to my home' like a stuffed animal staring at your guests, judging their life choices! They've even got beautifully framed butterflies. I absolutely love this quirky part of Portland. So, whether you're in the area or just passing through, do yourself a favor and pop in! Trust me, you'll leave with something that'll make your friends go, "What on earth were you thinking?" And isn't that what shopping is all about? You have got to live Portland! read more

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This place is a whole experience! If you are a fan of oddity shops, this place is your haven. The staff is super friendly and helpful, there were a million things to discover, and the price was reasonable for such high quality items. There is something for everyone here! read more

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I've always really enjoyed this store, but i had an especially wonderful experience there this weekend. Everyone knows that Paxton Gate is full of intriguing and unique curiosities. Its a fun place to go and peruse things you can't find anywhere else, from taxedermy to pitcher plants. On any given day you can find a diverse crowd filtering through the store. It is especially busy and packed full of young families on weekends. While the quality of the products they carry is unparalleled, the prices are high. I recently accomplished something substantial in my life, and had decided that to commemorate the moment I would get one of the preserved butterflies/moths from Paxton Gate to represent my professional metamorphosis. Not only did the staff assist me promptly but they even went into the back to help find other specimens that were similar to what I was looking for. I also got a carnivorous plant for my kitchen, and the attentive staff was able to answer most of my questions and gave me a drip pan when I picked out my plant. They even provided instructions on care and feeding for my plant. Best of all, when I was looking for some obscure vintage labware, they offered to take down my information and contact me if any became available. Proactive and friendly top notch customer service. I wouldn't change a thing about how they do business here! read more

Paxton Gate - My lovely new sunset moth in her new home - Jewelry Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Loved our time in this store! We stopped by for the insect zoo day and it was amazing! So many beautiful examples of butterflies, moths, beetles, scorpions.. and the entomologist was excited to talk to people and kids about them. So worth the energy to go! The shop itself is into taxidermist things and the obscure. They have a variety of carnivorous plants for sale as well as books about the obscure. Parking is a nightmare but worth the effort. read more

Paxton Gate - Jewelry Near Me - Portland, Oregon

A marketplace of metaphysical madness, containing everything from stones and crystals, jewelry, books, butterflies, skulls and bones, tarots and trinkets, and all manner of stuffed animals. To quote Ace Ventura: "This is a lovely room of death!", but in the nicest way possible. Everything you want, and nothing you need...unless you happen to be a witch, warlock, druid, or other practitioner of pagan prestidigitation and prognostication, in witch case (get it?), Paxton Gate is the portal to the underworld you have been looking for! read more

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Warning: If you're began don't come here! I'm getting blaséd on Portland, all I see are homeless people and sometimes they jumped in front of you all of a sudden and laughed hard without no reason. And I just don't care where to go at this point. Randomly bandit decided to check this store. And I was astonished! I know it's a store but I also considered this as a museum. Lol. The displayed items are just interesting and I've learned something interesting while roaming inside. The place was inspired by a fascination with the natural world. It was created something unlike anything I've never seen on a daily basis. This place is ethically sourced and has been offering taxidermy. It was a good store to check when you're in downtown. I'm quite impressed! Finally, something interesting in the area. Mahalo for reading and happy juandering fellow yeeps! read more

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What can I say about this place other than SO COOL!!!! We were not aware of Paxton Gate existing prior to planning our visit of the shops on 23rd. Even though it was busy, one of the employees noticed our fascination of the pinned insects (mostly butterflies and moths) and pulled out many of the show-stoppers for us to admire up-close. Not sure how to describe it other than you should experience for yourself and bring yourself home something unique - a conversation piece! I also thought the pricing was very reasonable for the type of handmade and delicate items they offered. Artwork included taxidermy, jewelry, anatomical depictions of items, quirky board games, tropical and carnivorous plants, etc. read more

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I actually didn't want to go inside because I didn't even notice the door but my mom walked inside and joined her. Then my eyes widened and I was thinking "am I at a museum?! Whoahhhhh so many animal heads and biology!" haha. Then I saw price tags and realized you can buy anything that was on display. They had a lot of cool things to look at. Aside from "stuffed animals," they also had other preserved things like insects, they had a collection of venus fly trap plant-like plants, rocks, and a bunch of other things! If you're not interested in buying anything, still go in as you can learn a lot of things too. It was so interesting and fascinating. I would tell my friends to go visit there and it's a good place for a field trip, too haha. Anyways, I had a lot of fun exploring! read more

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I am glad that my first visit to their newer location was for one of their 'Put a bird on it' events. They have local predator rescue come out with some of their feathered friends. You get to serve as a perch for a suggested $5 donation and learn. I hung out with a falcon named Benedict. While waiting in line my friend and I drooled over a lot of the lovely displays. They have a crazy collection of gorgeous things, rescued taxidermy and rocks/stones. This space is wonderful! The store helpers were so wonderful too - we had some great discussions with them on items and my friend could not resist buying a gorgeous display piece with a pair of Scorpions. read more

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This is the NW branch of one of my favorite shops in the city. It's always so fun to wander about, it's like wandering through a museum of oddities-curiosities. I always find some cool bones, fossils or rocks to purchase and add to my collection. Very helpful staff and highly recommended. read more

This place was so cool. I took my two little dudes to check the place out on a recent visit to the area. There was a dude working behind the taxidermied bugs counter/area and he volunteered to keep my little dudes entertained if I wanted to have a chance to look around. He was super friendly and answered all their crazy questions. Everyone was so friendly and there were so many cool things to check out. They had crystals, taxidermied bugs, and plenty of other cool things to look at. Prices weren't too bad and I plan to go back and purchase a couple butterflies. read more

Very cool store. Lots of rocks, bugs, taxidermy, plants and unique type of stuff. The staff is very friendly and very knowledgeable of the items in the store. Highly recommend read more

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Very cool shop with unique finds. At first glance , this shop looks and feels like a place I may have come upon at a tourist destination gift shop during a childhood road trip . Deeper in, there is so much more. Taxidermy without exactly being a taxidermy shop. Unusual, unique finds without being out of touch or esoteric. Also, the staff is really friendly. read more

Very cool very fun. You can literally spend more time in here than you think. All the workers were really nice and helpful. They have a lot of small things such as necklaces and rings and stones that can be for gifting. Will return if I am back here. Thanks for the good and fun times read more

Every time I'm in the area I always have to pop in and see what's new. The staff is attentive and helpful, and the store is large and spotless. Very well maintained. I'm a collector as well as an amateur taxidermist, so being here is like being in a candy store. There are specimens of many different price ranges, and they are beautifully done. Great for a unique gift for yourself or a friend! read more

Best unique store of all time. Everything from gem stones to taxidermy. Find awesome oddities without the tacky feel. Purchased a beautiful butterfly wing necklace. Art work to functional and even live plants. Highly recommend you at least stroll through. No entrance fee read more

This place was really cool. I like what they offer, a bit expensive but overall a nice store. I got a plant and he was very attentive and informative about the plants. The other sweet gal with a cool haircut was also super nice. She was so understanding. Because if them two I would definitely come back! read more

Paxton Gate - My plant - Jewelry Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Amazing experience. Beautiful displayed and customer service is 10/10. Just moved here from FL and one of the best stores we have been too, will definitely be back :) read more

Seriously a pleasant shop to visit. Beautiful store with amazing things like gems, fossils, taxidermy and jewelry. It's like walking around in a museum of natural history gift shop. The staff are also super friendly and masked. read more

Paxton Gate - Jewelry Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Honestly the coolest store I've been in! It's like a mix of museum and store and I would recommend everyone I know to come here! read more

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This is a very interesting place if the sacred remains of dead animals are your thing. We've been here several times. But we've decided not to go back, because we don't like being treated like shoplifters on the prowl. Even the child with us commented on how intensely he was watched by the man. We don't know what it was about us that suggested we needed to be monitored or that we might not be able to afford to shop there. We looked like everyone else to us. Here's the thing, if you're going to openly display small, interesting things, you gotta expect people to touch them, put them back, turn to show them to the people they're with, pick up something else; enjoy themselves, as you seem to want your customers to do. If you display small interesting things and then treat some of your customers like they're just waiting for a chance to steal from you, you need to rethink your business plan. We don't know if this happens only to people of color, only to young people, or to anyone who reaches out to touch the rows and racks of easy to touch items. Our kid felt so intensely scrutinized he walked to the cash register holding his two selections in the open palm of his outstretched arm, hoping the man would notice he did not steal anything. Nothing erases the painful realization that out of all of the people milling around, touching, examining, trading, this man decided that YOU were the one he couldn't trust. That feeling stays with you a long time. read more

Anytime I'm walking on NW 23rd Ave I have to stop in. At the moment I have over 10 Items from there and have never been disappointed.

My wife and I spend quite a bit of time in Portland and we always make a point to stop by Paxton gate. It's a must visit hub for all sorts of oddities. We've purchased numerous pinned insects as well as books and various treasures. The staff is extremely helpful and knowledgeable (especially about the insects!) everyone should make a point to swing by and experience it for themselves! read more

I came for the one of a kind jewelry and stayed for the amazing selection of house plants and crystals! Coolest carnivorous plants & very knowledgeable, friendly staff! Will definitely be telling all my friends about NW 23rd Ave's newest addition to the neighborhood! read more

Always rude staff, I had the "pleasure" to be told off by Andy. She was incredibly rude and wasn't knowledgeable about anything I had asked and mocked me saying I was wrong about certain plants I was getting at the time. I study botany and I am well aware about the type of plants I am getting, but of course Andy was ready to tell me how wrong I was about the names and care of plants I had. And argued with me saying that I was wrong, and to back up her claims she just "googled" it. You need better staff that actually knows what they're talking about and know how to give ACCURATE knowledge without being extremely condescending. read more

Really cool shop that I always visit when I'm in the neighborhood. I wish I could buy all of the framed butterflies and cool plants.

Such a cool selection of taxidermy, minerals, fossils, plants, and local art! The staff is very friendly - always willing to help out and answer any questions. I love taking visitors to this shop! Thanks for always making my experience great! read more