National Register of Historic Places listings in North Portland, Oregon facts for kids
North Portland is home to many amazing places that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes buildings, bridges, and even a giant statue! These places are important because they tell us about the history of Portland and how the city grew over time. They show us different styles of architecture and remind us of important events and people from the past.
Contents
- Cool Bridges and Boats
- Amazing Buildings
- U.S. Post Office – St. Johns Station
- Memorial Coliseum
- Kenton Commercial Historic District
- Kenton Hotel
- Davis Block
- Hryszko Brothers Building
- Smithson and McKay Brothers Blocks
- Frederick Torgler Building
- Portland Van and Storage Building
- Rinehart Building
- Mount Hood Masonic Temple
- Villa St. Rose
- Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church
- West Hall (University of Portland)
- Wilson–Chambers Mortuary
- John Yeon Speculative House
- Fun Statues and Landmarks
- Historic Homes
- Former Listing
Cool Bridges and Boats
Broadway Bridge
The Broadway Bridge crosses the Willamette River. It was finished in 1913. This bridge was a big step for Portland's transportation system. It was the first new bridge built over the Willamette River in the 20th century.
What makes it special? It's the largest example of a "Rall-type bascule bridge" ever built. A bascule bridge is a type of drawbridge that opens by lifting a part of the bridge upwards, like a seesaw. There are only three bridges like this left in the United States!
PT-658 (Motor Torpedo Boat)
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The PT-658 is a special boat. It's a motor torpedo boat. These boats were used in wars. This one is located in the North Portland Harbor. It's a cool piece of history that you can still see today.
USS LCI-713 (Landing Craft)
The USS LCI-713 is another historic boat. LCI stands for "Landing Craft, Infantry." These boats were used to carry soldiers to shore during battles. This one is on Hayden Island Drive. It helps us remember important parts of history.
Vancouver–Portland Bridge
The Vancouver–Portland Bridge connects Oregon and Washington. It crosses the Columbia River. This bridge is part of Interstate 5. It's an important link between the two states. It was built a long time ago and is considered a historic bridge.
Amazing Buildings
U.S. Post Office – St. Johns Station
The St. Johns Post Office was built during the Great Depression. This was a time when many people didn't have jobs. The building has a Georgian style. This style is known for its simple, balanced look. It also has parts of Colonial Revival design. What's cool is that a local architect named Francis Marion Stokes designed it. Most small post offices at that time were not designed by local people.
Memorial Coliseum
The Memorial Coliseum is a large building. It's used for sports and other events. It's a well-known landmark in North Portland. It has been around for many years and has hosted many important events.
Kenton Commercial Historic District
The Kenton Commercial Historic District is a special area. It's roughly along N Denver Avenue. This district has many old buildings. They show what the area looked like a long time ago. It's a place where you can see history in the buildings themselves.
Kenton Hotel
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The Kenton Hotel is located within the Kenton Commercial Historic District. It's an old hotel building. It shows the style of buildings from when the Kenton neighborhood was first growing.
Davis Block
The Davis Block is another historic building. It's located on N Russell Street. It's an example of the kind of buildings that were built in Portland a long time ago.
Hryszko Brothers Building
The Hryszko Brothers Building is also on N Russell Street. It's another historic building that adds to the character of the neighborhood.
Smithson and McKay Brothers Blocks
The Smithson and McKay Brothers Blocks are a group of historic buildings. They are also on N Russell Street. These buildings show the history of businesses in the area.
Frederick Torgler Building
The Frederick Torgler Building is another historic building on N Russell Street. It's part of the collection of old buildings that make this area special.
Portland Van and Storage Building
The Portland Van and Storage Building is a historic building on N Broadway. It used to be a place for storing things. It's a good example of old industrial buildings in the city.
Rinehart Building
The Rinehart Building is on N Williams Avenue. It's another historic building that adds to the rich history of North Portland.
Mount Hood Masonic Temple
The Mount Hood Masonic Temple is a unique building on N Commercial Avenue. It's a place where a group called the Masons meet. The building itself is historic.
Villa St. Rose
Villa St. Rose is a historic building on N Dekum Street. It has a unique design and is an important part of the neighborhood's history.
Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church
The Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church is a historic church on N Vancouver Avenue. Churches often play a big role in a community's history.
West Hall (University of Portland)
West Hall is located at the University of Portland. It's a very old building on the campus. It shows the early architecture of the university.
Wilson–Chambers Mortuary
The Wilson–Chambers Mortuary is a historic building on N Killingsworth Street. It's an example of the older buildings that make up the area.
John Yeon Speculative House
The John Yeon Speculative House is a special house. It was designed by a famous Oregon architect named John Yeon. He was known for his unique style, called the "Northwest Regional style." This house was one of many he designed. He used new ideas like plywood on the outside of the house and special windows.
Fun Statues and Landmarks
Paul Bunyan Statue
Have you heard of Paul Bunyan? He's a giant logger from American folklore. In Portland's Kenton neighborhood, there's a huge statue of him! It's about 31 feet (9.4 meters) tall. It was built in 1959 to celebrate 100 years of Oregon being a state.
The statue was made by local workers. It has a steel frame and is covered in painted plaster. It was placed on Interstate Avenue, which was a main road into Portland. This statue shows Oregon's history with the timber industry. It's also a great example of "roadside architecture," which means it's a big, fun building or statue designed to catch your eye from the road.
St. Johns Signal Tower Gas Station
The St. Johns Signal Tower Gas Station is a very unique building. It looks like an old signal tower, but it's actually a gas station! It's on N Lombard Street. It's a fun and interesting piece of architecture.
Historic Homes
Many historic homes in North Portland are also on the National Register. These homes show us how people lived in the past and the different styles of houses that were popular.
The Henry C. and Wilhemina Bruening House is a historic home on N Williams Avenue.
The David Cole House is on N McClellan Street.
The Charles Crook House is another historic home on N Williams Avenue.
The Elliott House is on N Willamette Boulevard.
The Peter Jeppesen House is on N Albina Avenue.
The John Mock House is on N Willamette Boulevard.
The John Palmer House is on N Mississippi Avenue.
The Thomas M. and Alla M. Paterson House is on N Denver Avenue.
The West Coast Woods Model Home is on N Fowler Avenue.
Former Listing
Sometimes, a place that was on the National Register of Historic Places might be removed. This can happen for different reasons, like if the owner asks for it to be removed.
C. W. Parker Four-Row Park Carousel
The C. W. Parker Four-Row Park Carousel was once a famous carousel at Jantzen Beach Center. A carousel is a fun ride with horses and other animals that go round and round. This carousel was on the National Register until 2008. It was removed because the owner asked for it. In 2012, it was put into storage because of changes happening in the area.
