Portland sign facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Portland sign |
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The sign in 2014
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Portland, Oregon |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 45°31′00″N 122°40′52″W / 45.51679°N 122.68116°W |
The "Portland" sign is a famous landmark. It shines brightly on the outside of the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland, Oregon, United States.
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History of the Portland Sign
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This special sign is a tribute to an older sign. The original sign hung on the building when it was called the Paramount Theatre.
Early Days as Portland Publix Theatre
The building first opened in March 1928. Back then, it was known as the Portland Publix Theatre. It proudly displayed a "Portland" sign.
Becoming the Paramount Theatre
In 1930, the theatre's owners made a deal. They could show movies from Paramount Pictures. Because of this, the theatre's name changed to the Paramount Theatre. The sign's letters were updated to say "Paramount." However, the overall design of the sign stayed the same.
The Sign's Big Change in 1984
The city of Portland bought the building in 1983. A major renovation project began in September of that year. It cost $10 million and lasted one year.
As part of this work, the large "Paramount" sign was taken down. This happened on March 18, 1984. The sign was 65 feet tall!
A company called Ballard Sign Company used the old sign as a guide. They created a brand new replica. This new sign brought back the original "Portland" wording. The new sign had neon letters that were five feet tall. It was put onto the building on September 4, 1984. The theatre reopened just four days later.
Modern Updates to the Sign
In May 2017, the sign got another big update. This renovation cost $500,000 and took two months. The sign was removed from the building for the work. It received a fresh coat of paint. The neon letters were made even brighter.
Metro, which runs the concert hall, paid for these improvements. The sign was put back together in mid-August. A special re-lighting ceremony took place on August 16.
In 2021, the bottom part of the sign, called the marquee, was also updated. It changed from a manual display to a modern digital LED screen.
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