Page 620 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

618  THE P A CIFIC NOR THWEST

Oregon is a 12-block stretch running
through the central city.
Oregon is best known for its many scenic wonders – snow­ Among its distinctive features
capped mountains, flowing rivers, verdant forests, and desert are statuary and some 40
vistas are just some of the attractions in this incredibly diverse ornamental fountains. South
state. This rugged landscape was first settled by pioneers who Park Blocks is also the venue
for a colorful local market, held
migrated along the Oregon Trail (see p446). Today, the state is every Saturday, where farmers
known not only for its scenic beauty but also for its cosmo­ sell their wares to locals and
politan pleasures. Portlanders are eager to claim their city as visitors alike.
one of the most sophisticated and cultured anywhere. The Oregon Historical
Society to the south of the
park has huge murals on its
façades that depict scenes
from the Lewis and Clark
expedition (see pp561–2) and
other significant moments in
the state’s history. On display
in the galleries, which extend
through three buildings, are
paintings, photographs, maps,
and historical documents
that make this museum the
largest repository of Oregon’s
Evening view of the Portland skyline and the Willamette River historical artifacts.
The Portland Art Museum,
i Portland spaces next to the square opposite South Park Blocks
accommodate offices and in Southwest Park Avenue, is
* 584,000. k £ @ v n 701
SW 6th Ave, (503) 275-8355, (877) 678- businesses, which include the the oldest museum in the
5263. ∑ travelportland.com Portland Visitors Association Pacific Northwest. Its sizable
Information Center, a coffee collection of European works,
Known as the City of Roses, shop, and a branch of Powell’s includes paintings by Picasso,
Portland was founded in 1843, City of Books, a well-known van Gogh, and Monet, and
on the west bank of the store specializing in travel books. sculpture by Rodin and
Willamette River. It grew into Opposite is the Pioneer Brancusi. Its Grand Ronde
a major port, but later, with Courthouse, the first federal Center for Native American
the arrival of the railroad and building to be built in the Art displays masks, jewelry,
decline in river trade, the city Pacific Northwest region. The and totem poles created by
center moved inland. This US Court of Appeals and a US the indigenous peoples of
area, with its steel-framed post office branch are housed North America. It has
buildings, is now the city’s here. Its octagonal tower has undergone a program of
downtown, while Old Town been a fixture of the Portland expansion, including the
encompasses the former skyline from 1873. The court- renovation and restoration
port and riverfront quarter. house is not open to the public. of the North Building, and
Portland’s beautiful parks and the creation of an under-
gardens and well-preserved Y South Park Blocks ground gallery linking the
historic landmarks are a tribute Bounded by SW Salmon St & I-405, two main buildings.
to foresight and successful SW Park & SW 9th Aves. Oregon
urban planning. Historical Society: 1200 SW
Park Ave. Tel (503) 222-1741.
P Pioneer Courthouse Open 10am–5pm Mon–Sat, noon–
Square 5pm Sun. Closed public hols.
& 7 = ∑ ohs.org
SW Broadway & Yamhill St.
Tel (503) 223-1613. 7 Portland Art Museum: 1219 SW
∑ thesquarepdx.com Park Ave. Tel (503) 226-2811.
This one-block, brick-paved Open 10am– pm Tue, Wed, Sat
& Sun, 10am–8pm Thu & Fri.
pedestrian square, in eastern Closed public hols. & 7 - =
downtown, is the heart of ∑ portlandartmuseum.org
Portland, where Portlanders
gather for free lunchtime A green ribbon of elm-shaded
concerts, flower shows, and lawns laid out by frontier
other events, or simply for a businessman and legislator
chance to sit and enjoy their Daniel Lownsdale in 1852, The Saturday farmers market in
beautiful city. Underground the so-called South Park Blocks South Park Blocks
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp632–3 and pp634–5

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
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Date 1st October 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm