Portland sign facts for kids

The sign in 2014

The "Portland" sign is a famous landmark in Portland, Oregon, USA. You can see it on the outside of the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. This bright sign lights up the city and has an interesting history!

The Story of the Portland Sign

Postcard c. 1930–1945 postcard showing the "Paramount" sign

The "Portland" sign we see today is a special tribute. It looks just like an older sign that used to hang on the same building. This building was once called the Paramount Theatre.

Early Days of the Sign

The building first opened in March 1928. Back then, it was known as the Portland Publix Theatre. A "Portland" sign was already displayed on the building.

In 1930, the theater's owners made a deal. They could show movies from Paramount Pictures. So, they changed the theater's name to the Paramount Theatre. Because of this, the sign's letters were changed to say "Paramount". But the overall design of the sign stayed the same.

Bringing Back the Original Look

In September 1983, the city of Portland bought the building. They started a big renovation project. This project cost $10 million and lasted for one year.

As part of this work, the old "Paramount" sign was taken down. This happened on March 18, 1984. The sign was 65 feet tall! A company called Ballard Sign Company used it as a model. They created a brand new sign that looked just like the original "Portland" sign. The new sign had neon letters that were five feet tall.

On September 4, 1984, the new "Portland" sign was put up. The theater reopened just four days later. It was now called the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.

A Fresh Look for the Sign

In May 2017, the sign got another update. It went through a two-month renovation that cost $500,000. This project was paid for by Metro. Metro is the group that manages the Schnitzer Concert Hall.

The sign was taken down in early May. Workers gave it a fresh coat of paint. They also installed brighter neon letters. The sign was put back together in mid-August. A special re-lighting ceremony happened on August 16, 2017. The sign continues to shine brightly over Portland!