History

40 Years Ago, Here's How Writer Edmund White Described Gay Life in Portland

An excerpt from States of Desire: Travels in Gay America, originally published in 1980.

05/22/2018 By Edmund White

History

Born in 1891, This Transgender Oregonian Was a Man ahead of His Time

Alan Hart was a doctor, author, husband, and a trans pioneer.

05/22/2018 By Molly Woodstock

Pride: The Prequel

In 1964, Portland Tried to Crack Down on the City’s Gay Scene. Here's What Happened.

Before the rainbow flag few high, queer life unfolded in bars both wild and discreet. Then the city decided to shut it all down.

05/22/2018 By Zach Dundas

Design

The Hidden History of North Portland's Flower-Powered Peninsula Park

With its sunken garden and lusty pink blooms, the park was part of our young city's frenzy for roses.

05/22/2018 By Kate Bryant

History

70 Years after Vanport, a Survivor Recalls the Flood

The deluge that destroyed Oregon’s second-largest city still resonates in Portland.

04/24/2018 By Fiona McCann

History

How the Father of Oregon Agriculture Launched a Doomed Quaker Sex Cult

He came west with 700 saplings and founded our state's mighty fruit industry. But Henderson Luelling—idealist, farmer, visionary, swinger—dreamed of planting stranger seeds.

02/27/2018 By Heather Arndt Anderson

Trash Talk

When Zombie News Goes Viral

For one old Willamette Week story, the internet was ready to party like it's 2002.

02/27/2018 By Chris Lydgate

Cannabis: West Is Best

How the American West Became the Wild Cannabis Frontier

The story of modern marijuana isn't just how it’s been smoked, but who smokes it.

01/30/2018 By Marty Patail

In Memoriam

How Portland Mayor Vera Katz Took on the Epic Flood of '96

The late politician was mighty in many ways.

01/30/2018 By Carl Abbott

Gridiron Glory

Meet Mel Renfro, Portland's Vintage Super Bowl Champion

Hey now, you're an all-star.

01/30/2018 By Christopher Warner

Dispatch

Can a New Portland Museum Save Chinatown’s History?

Before it's too late.

11/20/2017 By Emma Mannheimer

Video Games

Polybius: The Most Dangerous Arcade Game in the World

A new podcast takes a deep dive into one of Portland’s craziest urban legends.

11/08/2017 By Eleanor Van Buren

Renovation

How to Move a 137-Year-Old House across Town

The historic Morris Marks House has a new location just south of downtown Portland.

10/24/2017 By Kayla Brock

History

100 Years Ago, the Bolsheviks Seized Russia. Portland’s Most Notorious Journalist Was There.

"Awful beyond words," John Reed once wrote of Portland.

10/16/2017 By Zach Dundas

The Lost World

How a Legendary Photographer Captured (Really, Really) Old Portland

Imagine a time before parking lots.

09/21/2017 By Rebecca Jacobson

Northwest Lore

50 Years Ago, One Scratchy Home Movie Made Bigfoot a Northwest Icon

Nobody has definitively proven that the creature on the film is fake. And, really, does it matter?

09/13/2017 By Leah Sottile

History

Happy 80th Birthday, Timberline Lodge

In 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited Mount Hood to dedicate the ski resort.

08/14/2017 By Emma Mannheimer

News

The Schnitz Gets a Better, Brighter 'Portland' Sign

A Southwest Broadway icon gets the makeover it deserves.

08/08/2017 By Rachel Wilson

History

This Sand Is Our Sand: Why Oregon's Beaches Belong to Everyone

Oregonians believe our 300 miles of coastline are free and open to everyone. Only hardball politics made that true.

07/10/2017 By Brent Walth

History

40 Years Ago, Pelé Played His Last Game—Ever—in Portland

In 1977, the Brazilian soccer star bowed out in the Rose City.

07/10/2017 By Marty Patail

History

40 Years Ago, Here's How Writer Edmund White Described Gay Life in Portland

Born in 1891, This Transgender Oregonian Was a Man ahead of His Time

In 1964, Portland Tried to Crack Down on the City’s Gay Scene. Here's What Happened.

The Hidden History of North Portland's Flower-Powered Peninsula Park

70 Years after Vanport, a Survivor Recalls the Flood

How the Father of Oregon Agriculture Launched a Doomed Quaker Sex Cult

When Zombie News Goes Viral

How the American West Became the Wild Cannabis Frontier

How Portland Mayor Vera Katz Took on the Epic Flood of '96

Meet Mel Renfro, Portland's Vintage Super Bowl Champion

Popular Content

70 Years after Vanport, a Survivor Recalls the Flood

The Hidden History of North Portland's Flower-Powered Peninsula Park

40 Years Ago, Here's How Writer Edmund White Described Gay Life in Portland

In 1964, Portland Tried to Crack Down on the City’s Gay Scene. Here's What Happened.

Born in 1891, This Transgender Oregonian Was a Man ahead of His Time

Can a New Portland Museum Save Chinatown’s History?

Polybius: The Most Dangerous Arcade Game in the World

How to Move a 137-Year-Old House across Town

100 Years Ago, the Bolsheviks Seized Russia. Portland’s Most Notorious Journalist Was There.

How a Legendary Photographer Captured (Really, Really) Old Portland

50 Years Ago, One Scratchy Home Movie Made Bigfoot a Northwest Icon

Happy 80th Birthday, Timberline Lodge

The Schnitz Gets a Better, Brighter 'Portland' Sign

This Sand Is Our Sand: Why Oregon's Beaches Belong to Everyone

40 Years Ago, Pelé Played His Last Game—Ever—in Portland

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