Portland Expo Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Portland Expo Center |
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Expo Center in 2011
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| Address | 2060 North Marine Drive Portland, Oregon 97217 |
| Location | Portland, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 45°36′21″N 122°41′22″W / 45.60594°N 122.689369°W |
| Owner | Metro |
| Operator | Metropolitan Exposition and Recreation Commission |
| Opened | 1920s |
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Former names
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Pacific International Livestock Exposition |
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Meeting-room seating
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Hall A: 2,726 Hall B: 2,700 Hall C: 4,736 Hall D: 7,000 Hall E: 9,000 |
| Enclosed space | |
| • Total space | 330,000 square feet (30,700 m2) |
| Website | |
| expocenter.org | |
The Portland Expo Center is a large building in Portland, Oregon, United States. It is also known as the Portland Metropolitan Exposition Center. This center hosts many different events throughout the year.
It first opened in the early 1920s. Back then, it was a place for showing and selling farm animals. Today, it hosts over 100 events each year. These events include big shows about green living, trade shows, and other special gatherings. The Expo Center is located in north Portland, close to Vancouver, Washington. You can easily get there by light rail or bus.
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History of the Expo Center
The Portland Expo Center began its life in the early 1920s. It was first called the Pacific International Livestock Exposition. Its main purpose was to show, judge, and sell farm animals like cattle, horses, sheep, and pigs.
A group of people who raised animals started this show. In the beginning, the animals were kept in covered pens. Large tents were set up for judging them. Later, a special building was constructed for the shows. This building was next to the stockyards and a meat processing plant.
Over time, the show grew. It started to include big auctions where people could buy animals for breeding. Horse shows and rodeos also became part of the events.
A Difficult Time During World War II
From May to September 1942, the Expo Center was used for a very different purpose. During World War II, many Japanese Americans living on the West Coast were forced to leave their homes. They were held temporarily in places like the Expo Center.
About 3,676 people of Japanese descent stayed in the animal corrals, which were quickly changed to hold them. They were there for about five months. After this, they were moved to larger, more permanent camps in other states. Today, a special art piece called Torii Gate remembers the people who were held at the center during this time.
Centennial and New Ownership
In the summer of 1959, the Expo Center hosted the Oregon Centennial Exposition. This was a big celebration of Oregon's 100th birthday as a state. It had many fun attractions, including a small railroad. The trains used for this railroad later became part of the Washington Park and Zoo Railway.
In 1965, Multnomah County took over the facility. It was then called the Multnomah County Exposition Center. From 1970 to 1996, it was home to the yearly Multnomah County Fair.
In 1994, a regional government group called Metro became the owner and manager. The complex was then renamed the Portland Expo Center. Since then, it has been updated and improved a lot. Today, the Expo Center hosts popular events like the Portland Better Living Home and Garden Show, the Antique and Collectible Show, and the Christmas Bazaar.
Expo Center Amenities
The Portland Expo Center has several large halls and many meeting rooms. It offers a total of 330,000 square feet (30,700 m2) of space for exhibits.
Halls A, B, and C
Halls A, B, and C are the oldest buildings at the Expo Center.
- Hall A has about 48,000 square feet (4,500 m2) of space. Its ceiling is about 15-foot (5 m) high. It can hold up to 2,726 people.
- Hall B has about 36,000 square feet (3,300 m2) of space. Its ceiling is also about 15-foot (5 m) high. It can seat up to 2,700 people.
- Hall C is larger, with about 60,000 square feet (6,000 m2) of space. Its ceiling is about 25-foot (8 m) high. It can seat up to 4,736 people.
Halls D and E
Hall D and Hall E are newer parts of the complex.
- Hall D was built in 2001. It replaced an older hall. This hall has about 72,000 square feet (6,700 m2) of space. Its ceiling is about 30-foot (9 m) high. Hall D can be split into two smaller halls. It can seat up to 7,000 people.
- Hall E was built in 1997. It is the biggest hall at the Expo Center. It has about 108,000 square feet (10,000 m2) of space. Its ceiling is also about 30-foot (9 m) high. Hall E can seat up to 9,000 people.
Halls D and E are connected by a walkway that is about 4,500-square-foot (420 m2) big. There is also an East Hall with about 4,400-square-foot (410 m2) of space.
