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    Recommended Reviews - Pioneer Courthouse

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    Jeff N.

    Completed in 1875, Pioneer Courthouse has remained at the city's geographic and commercial center but imagine this beautiful Italianate building gone and a parking garage in its place! It almost happened. They also almost tore it down to build an office for the Historical Society, a museum, a theatre and even headquarters for the Boy Scouts! Fortunately, Pioneer Courthouse has survived numerous attempts to remove it from the cityscape and today it is a protected National Landmark that has welcomed US Presidents and also witnessed significant trials in the history of Portland and the Pacific Northwest. This building is an actual functioning courthouse and the oldest federal building in the Pacific Northwest as well as the second oldest west of the Mississippi River. It also has one of the oldest working elevators still in use in the United States and you know you want to go for a ride in it! You are able to enter and explore the building but you will need to have your bags screened since this is a federal courthouse. Construction began in 1869 and the building was completed in 1875. It has a truly elegant interior with ornate hallways and a beautiful historic courtroom on the second floor that looks like a perfect movie set, but it is the real thing. The stone floors of the hallways shine and reflect the interior lighting. The building's exterior is constructed of blue freestone and rusticated Chuckanut sandstone both from Washington State. There are four doorways to the building but enter through the western set of doors directly across from Pioneer Square. The ornate woodwork found throughout the interior is of Oregon Ash. On the ceilings there are plaster designs and ornamental cornices. There is an elegant symmetrical double stairway with green patterned carpet leading to a landing and then a single stairway from the first floor to the second. On the second floor you will encounter the court room, the most interesting room in the building. Inside of the court you find carved wooden columns as well as a carved seal of the United States behind the bench of the judges. On the floor you will see an intricate carpeting of mostly white, blue and yellow with the letters US circled in a wreath. For all of you vexillologists on the back wall of the courtroom is a thirty-three star flag symbolic of when Oregon became the 33rd state. The windows of the courtroom are trimmed with dark blue curtains on the top and sides. There are also several small stained glass windows in the courtroom, including one with an American flag shield and the year 1875. This room actually has some wood on the floor and some red brick in front of the marble facade of the fireplace. The octagonal cupola at the top gives a great view of downtown Portland and the exhibits inside will show you how different these views were during the life of the courthouse. The Windows in the cupola are all made of old glass and appear a bit wavy or saggy but that's natural. It may appear they're thicker at the bottom and that's because the thicker edges were placed at the bottom. The building has had numerous occupants throughout its history including the U.S. Post Office on the first floor and the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon was located on the second floor. Other offices included the U.S. Customs Service and the Bureau of Internal Revenue (now the IRS). There are also many educational displays in the building as well as a collection of documents signed by various Presidents of the United States on display. The next time you're in Portland's living room take a walk across the street and check out this living piece of history where you can wander around the building and explore the past for free! Enjoy the Italianate architecture, city vista from the cupola and the exhibits by the Pioneer Courthouse Historical Society that tell the story of the building, the courts and the people who have worked there. Best of all, it costs nothing. So cross the street, and step back in time.

    Mark B.

    I like this building, its cool, I came here often when it housed a post office. by the way it was one of the best post offices, such a cool building. Large and imposing it feels like what I think a courthouse should feel. Unfortunately with its use changed over the years it is now very limited what you can see of the interior. The stone exterior makes for a great back drop for the park next door, The building just imposes, which I am sure is just what the builders planed. It has a great history, Read the plaque outside, better yet look it up for more details. The building is the oldest Federal building in the Northwest and the second oldest this side of the Mississippi. So you know it has some great history. The building was listed n the National Register of Historic Places.in 1973. in 1977 It was named a National Historic Landmark. Hot tip, if you go into the Nines (hotel) and take the elevator up you get great views as you come off the elevators.

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    13 years ago

    A great piece of history.

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    13 years ago

    If you like to people watch. This is your spot.

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    Review Highlights - Pioneer Courthouse

    The Windows in the cupola are all made of old glass and appear a bit wavy or saggy but that's natural.

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    Portland Oregon White Stag Sign - Japanese American Historical Plaza

    Portland Oregon White Stag Sign

    4.3(58 reviews)
    0.5 miOld Town - Chinatown

    Woohoo! I just hit my 6,000th review! Whenever I hit a landmark review like this I go write about a…read morelandmark in the Pacific Northwest. Some say they haven't seen an account with this many reviews but there is indeed some accounts that have way surpassed my amount of reviews. I believe there is a Yelper out there (Bruce K.) that is from Charlotte, North Carolina that comes in with 23,000 reviews and 61,000 pictures for his reviews as of 2024 so I have waaaay more review writing to do to even get remotely close to this guy. The reviews I write is for something that is unique only to the place I have adopted as home ( or the region that I call home as opposed to a city). Previously I have written about the mountains of our region like Mount Rainier but this time around I wanted to write about something more urban and a place I always love visiting...Portland! The White Stag Sign is so signature Portland! We have seen it lit up at night and have seen it during the day. All of which we have managed to get different angles to look at. As other reviewers say the admission is free... which kind of makes sense since it's a sign. This sign at times seems to be so obvious that it's hard to miss but other times on the Interstate we miss it completely giving it that "camouflaged" notion in amongst the building and bridges... of course we may just be looking in the wrong place too...keeping one's eyes on the road is an upmost priority... which should go without saying. But you can still stroll by here as a pedestrian and get some great pictures of this Portland landmark and a landmark that totally smacks of Cascadia and the Pacific Northwest!

    Finally got the chance to see and be where the stag sign is after many years! Street parking is…read moreavailable in the area and a quick walk towards the park where you have a better view of it. You can also go up the stairs and see it from a closer view. Tree branches do obscure the view a bit. Very satisfying experience!

    Photos
    Portland Oregon White Stag Sign - Absolutely amazing views on a clear night

    Absolutely amazing views on a clear night

    Portland Oregon White Stag Sign - Eastbank Esplanade

    Eastbank Esplanade

    Portland Oregon White Stag Sign - Exceptional views at night

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    Exceptional views at night

    Keep Portland Weird - Weekend morning, no cars!

    Keep Portland Weird

    4.0(85 reviews)
    0.4 miDowntown

    Another Portland landmark when it comes to signage. This is an iconic sign and you see it in films…read moreand tv shows and such when the setting is in this particular city. Portland is indeed a weird place and that is one of the reasons that I love it so much. It's quirkiness and art oriented drive is the "weirdness" I am referring to which makes this sign highly relatable to me. Anything that can make you lovably eccentric. Of course there is the weird element where it can delve into creepy but most people can flesh out as to what is purposeful and with intent as opposed to the opposite. I consider myself to be a weirdo and people have accused me of just that throughout my life and it's something I learned pretty early on that it's a thing to be embraced rather than treating our uniqueness and eccentricities ( the harmless kind) as a crutch, burden or handicap. I remember when I was a fairly new transplant to the Pacific Northwest there was a friendly rivalry that I would hear off and on as to what was the weirdest city in America. Austin, Texas and Portland were neck to neck and from what I heard Portland won out but of course I haven't been to Austin in a very long time and before I ever heard of the rivalry so maybe down there they say they are the victors. I may find out when I go there later this Spring. But for me seeing this sign whenever I come across it is an enduring thing and I feel like I am with my tribe... both in Portland and the Pacific Northwest.

    This is located right across the street from Voo Doo Donuts. The sign is pretty cool. There's…read morealways cars parked there so not sure how some folks get photos without any cars. Still, worth checking out when you're in downtown.

    Photos
    Keep Portland Weird
    Keep Portland Weird
    Keep Portland Weird

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    Portlandia - Portlandia reaches out to us!

    Portlandia

    4.0(33 reviews)
    0.2 miDowntown, Southwest Portland

    Portlandia...I actually think I have heard of the TV show of the same name before hearing the…read moreexistence of this statue. But the statue definitely came prior to the show. The trident wielding woman is enormous and is awe inspiring and beautiful and perhaps to a certain kind of man perhaps intimidating but that isn't necessarily a problem there. This statue is on the Portland Building and if you simply wall by or near it's nearly impossible to miss. This is also an attraction where there is no fee to take a look at it as it can literally be seen quite easily from the public sidewalk. Yet another iconic downtown Portland landmark that is not to missed!

    Using imagination Portlandia emerged from the sea - all copper - and crouches vigilant on the…read morePortland building. Watching us! Her captivating eyes draw you to a closer look. With one hand reaches out to us. In a way we are like her as we all emerged from the sea (water) from our mothers womb. She reaches for us to live as one in peace the way John Lemon wrote is his song "Imagine" - "Imagine all the people livin' life in peace." In the one hand Portlandia holds a trident, perhaps symbolizing protection for the city dwellers - for Portlandian's. Portlandia reminds me we are one city! One people! One earth! That's just my spin of this beautiful copper lady.

    Photos
    Portlandia
    Portlandia
    Portlandia - I used an older camera model for this photo and did some editing to get this picture that has a vintage look to it of Portlandia.

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    I used an older camera model for this photo and did some editing to get this picture that has a vintage look to it of Portlandia.

    Lan Su Chinese Garden - Congee of the Day!

    Lan Su Chinese Garden

    4.4(733 reviews)
    0.6 miOld Town - Chinatown

    We attended the Dragon Light Festival at the LAN Su Chinese Garden recently at the later evening…read moreprogram. It was fabulously colorful and professionally performed. The garden was beautiful and lit tastefully in red and gold tones . The two of us thoroughly enjoyed our evening in Portland's historic old town. Parking was on the street and we got lucky for a space right out front of the garden . Highly recommend this experience.

    Garden is very small, not much to do or see. This is in downtown area so there's a big homeless…read morepopulation along with many people screaming and fighting outside the garden which was quite scary. I honestly don't think it's a very good garden compared to other ones I've visited. Parking was also hard to find too since it's in downtown and we finished walking through the garden within 30 minutes. They seem to have really cool events during the weekends and they also have guided tours but again, very small garden so not really going anywhere and they're just telling you about the history which is already available for you to read or watch in another building. They have a small, very expensive gift shop up front near the box office that has many Chinese books and other small business items. Wouldn't recommend unless you live somewhere that doesn't have an Asian garden, you may enjoy this.

    Photos
    Lan Su Chinese Garden - 2/24/2024 - 新年快乐 Had a wonderful time celebrating new years with Dragon dancing and the lantern festival.

    2/24/2024 - 新年快乐 Had a wonderful time celebrating new years with Dragon dancing and the lantern festival.

    Lan Su Chinese Garden - 9/1/2024 - Mid-Autumn Festival/Mooncake Festival - For the illuminated lion dance everything was lit throughout the garden.

    9/1/2024 - Mid-Autumn Festival/Mooncake Festival - For the illuminated lion dance everything was lit throughout the garden.

    Lan Su Chinese Garden - 9/1/2024 - Mid-Autumn Festival/Mooncake Festival - I was seated right where the musician was setting up to play the Guzheng

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    9/1/2024 - Mid-Autumn Festival/Mooncake Festival - I was seated right where the musician was setting up to play the Guzheng

    Lovejoy Columns - Before the Pearl District

    Lovejoy Columns

    4.6(10 reviews)
    0.5 miPearl District

    The Lovejoy Columns are an interesting little piece of Portland's history. There are many articles…read moreavailable if you want to read the full story of the columns. Once upon a time the Lovejoy Columns supported the Lovejoy Ramp which was a viaduct connecting NW 14th Ave and Lovejoy Street to the Broadway Bridge. This viaduct ran above railroad freight tracks in the area that is now known as the Pearl District. From 1948-1952 a Greek immigrant, who worked as a night watchman for the railroad, drew wonderful pictures on the columns in chalk and later painted them. When the viaduct was demolished in 1999 to make way for all the condos and businesses that make up the Pearl District, several of the original columns were saved and stored beneath the Fremont Bridge. Two of those original columns have been restored and relocated here. The columns are beautiful to behold and definitely worth visiting.

    Everyone deserves to pursue their dreams. Carpe diem. Athanasios Efthimiou Stefopoulos is not a…read morename that rolls off the tongue unless you're a cast member of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" nor unfortunately is it a name you'll see in an art museum as much as he must have dreamed of that. Early in the last century, he was a railroad watchman who happened to be a talented, proto-graffiti artist. He went by the name Tom to his friends and painted the Broadway Bridge Lovejoy overpass columns with fanciful images of mythical gods and wild animals. Several endured over the years though most are in some abandoned lot awaiting funding for restoration. Two of them have been refurbished and placed in a courtyard on NW 10th Avenue near Everett. If you're walking into the Pearl District from the western part of the city, it's likely the first landmark you'll see. Check 'em out. RELATED - Going to Portland? Here are the places I visited and reviewed: bit.ly/2B0haJD

    Photos
    Lovejoy Columns - Elliot Smith Film

    Elliot Smith Film

    Lovejoy Columns - Lovejoy Columns

    Lovejoy Columns

    Lovejoy Columns - Today

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    Today

    Pioneer Courthouse - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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