Top 15 of the Most Iconic Buildings in Portland

This is one of my favorite buildings and it’s an elegant and stately spot! The Pioneer Courthouse which was first built in 1869 is one of the oldest federal buildings still in function. The US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit holds hearings in the building and the structure continues to thrive in the new generation. 

The courthouse also had a post office situated inside back in 2005, due to which it got the popular nickname “Pioneer Post Office”.The area around the courthouse is called “Pioneer Courthouse Square” which serves as the central foundation for downtown Portland. 

The Pioneer Courthouse is built on an Italianate structure and was added to the National Register of Historic Places as early as the 1970s and within a few years, it was deemed a National Historic Landmark further increasing its significance.

I’d recommend taking a trip downtown and seeing this beauty. The U.S. National Bank Building is a significant historic landmark in downtown Portland. The building was designed in a Classical Roman architectural style by A.E. Doyle back in the 1900s when the style was popular. 

The building has since then been expanded to four stories and is currently considered an American Renaissance landmark. The National Bank Building due to its unique style, busy neighborhood, and cultural significance has enjoyed popularity throughout the generations. 

The building is currently in use by the U.S. Bancorp which is one of the most popular US banks. 

The Jackson Tower is named in memory of the founder of the Oregon Journal which inhabited the offices. The structure was built in 1909 to serve as premises for the staff of the Oregon Journal newspaper.

The company was later dissolved and the tower has been leased and owned by many parties since then.

The landmark is built in a New Arts style and stands around 57 meters tall. Perhaps its most distinguishing feature is its clock, which represents the significance of clock towers for newspaper companies in the 1900s. 

Due to its unique position, being adjacent to the Pioneer Courthouse Square and cornering Broadway and Yamhill streets, the clock tower enjoys huge public attention and is considered a historic landmark.

The historic Bishop’s House in Portland, Oregon was the official residence of the archbishop William Heckley back in 1879. The house is said to be based on a Gothic Revival architecture style. 

In 2001, it was occupied by offices and used as home to both a Lebanese restaurant plus a startup company “Bishop House LLC”. The Bishop’s house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

The U.S. Bancorp featuring an environmentally friendly and modern design was constructed back in 1981 and has been renovated several times since then. The stunning 163 m skyscraper has been awarded the Energy and Environmental Design Platinum certification by the Green Building Council due to its emphasis on eco-friendly design. 

The original capital investment in the construction of the building was $60 million and a further $4 million has been spent since then renovating the building.

The tower was originally built for the U.S. Bancorp banking organization by the Skidmore, Owings & Merrill company in collaboration with the architect Pietro Belluschi. 

However, over the years, the tower’s ownership has been transferred to many different corporations. Regardless of the ownership, the tower is leased to various companies which enjoy offices in the pristine 42-story skyscraper.

The KOIN Center is a 155 m high skyscraper that was named after its most influential historic inhabitant the KOIN Television Corporation.

The 35-story building is the third-largest building in the city behind Wells Fargo, and Bancorp Tower. Designed by the Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Partnership firm in 1984, it is estimated that the tower cost $48 million to construct. 

The tower has also been renovated since then so it is likely that even more capital had to be invested. The KOIN Center has undergone a major rebranding in recent years and has been renamed the KOIN Tower to better reflect the site. 

During its construction in 1984, the tower was criticized for blocking the Mount Hood view from the Vista Ridge tunnel. However, the tower soon became culturally significant as the popularity of the area increased.

Apart from being the third-largest in the city, the tower is also known for having the largest media wall.

The Portland City Hall is the center of Portland’s government and the main section of the building which is a U-shaped granite structure has the city’s offices.

The building was constructed by Carrère and Hastings and opened in 1909.

The extension of the building on Myrtle Street houses the Merrill Auditorium which has a whopping 1,908 seating space. 

The Meier and Frank building, constructed in 1909, enjoys a busy location in downtown Portland. The site was constructed in glazed terracotta and has 15 floors.

The Meier and Frank building was owned by the May company and was later acquired by its parent company Federal Department Stores. 

The May Company was closed in 2006 and the Meier and Frank stores were renamed Macy’s. Following this, a 100 million renovation of the building ensued which turned the building into a modern spectacle. 

The Portland Municipal Services Building, or the “Portland Building,” was designed by Michael Graves and is located in downtown Portland. The building has been described as a post-modern style with bright colors on its exterior. 

It might not be the most famous landmark in town, but it’s one of the city’s best examples of contemporary architecture. The building has 15 floors and houses various municipal offices.

The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.

The McMenamins Crystal Ballroom has great historic significance dating as far back as 1914. The ballroom used to be known as Cotillion Center and was a lively place at the time. During the time of the great depression, the ballroom taught dance to the masses. 

Along with the 1960s, the ballroom became a symbol of entertainment and hosted many great artists who showcased their skills in various genres.

The old church as the name suggests was historically a church that later began to be used as a concert hall. The hall is built in a Gothic, 83-circa style and features an organ pipe. 

Over the years, the place has become a symbol of entertainment and is greatly cherished by the residents. The venue regularly holds concerts from various up-coming and seasoned artists.

The Hollywood Theater is a historic cinema located in the Northeastern region of Portland. It is considered one of the greatest historic sites in Portland and was added to the National Register of Historic Landmarks in 1983.

The theater is run by a non-profit organization and continues to run both new films and old classics. 

Since 2015, the venue has hosted many special guests as well, the most popular being Quintin Tarantino, the mastermind behind movies like Pulp Fiction and the Kill Bill franchise. The theater has three auditoriums, the main one with over 380 seats and two smaller ones with 111 seats each.

The Aubrey Watzek House featuring a Northwestern Regional style became popular among the residents as soon as it was built in 1937.

The house was built for a lumber magnate and was considered at the time as a modern spectacle. The house is surrounded by a well-kept yard with a swimming pool. 

The structure of the house is based on a U-shaped configuration made in a wooden structure. The rooms inside have been constructed to maximize openness and blend the outside views with the interior.

The Pittock Mansion was inhabited by an artist named Henry Pittock and his wife. The construction of the chatéu began in 1909 and ended in 1914. 

The mansion is built in an Italianate style and is currently owned by the Bureau of Parks and Recreation which allows tours of the house.

The mansion has 46 rooms and is spread over 46 acres of land.