Plaza Blocks facts for kids
The Plaza Blocks are two special parks in downtown Portland, Oregon, United States. They are known as Chapman Square and Lownsdale Square. These two squares are right next to Terry Schrunk Plaza and close to City Hall.
Southwest Main Street runs between Chapman Square and Lownsdale Square. In the middle of this street, you'll find a large statue called Elk. This statue was given to the city by a former Portland mayor, David P. Thompson. The artist who created the Elk statue was Roland Hinton Perry.
The Plaza Blocks: Portland's Historic Squares
The Plaza Blocks are important green spaces in the heart of Portland. They offer a place for people to relax and enjoy the outdoors. These squares have been part of Portland's history for a long time.
Who Were Lownsdale and Chapman?
The two squares are named after important people from Portland's early days.
- Lownsdale Square is named after Daniel H. Lownsdale (1803—1862). He was from Kentucky and moved to Portland in 1845. He was one of the first people to settle in the area.
- Chapman Square is named after William W. Chapman (1808–1892). He was from Virginia and settled in Portland in 1850. He was a legislator, which means he helped make laws for the area.
A Spark of History: First Electric Power Line
Chapman Square holds a special place in history because of electricity! The very first electric power transmission line in North America ended right here.
- It started working at 10:00 PM on June 3, 1889.
- The power traveled about 13 miles from an electric generating station at Willamette Falls in Oregon City, Oregon.
- It used 4,000 volts of direct current (DC) electricity.
A special bronze plaque in the park reminds everyone of this amazing achievement.
