Portland's Iron Age

After the first brick commercial buildings began to appear in Portland in the mid-1850s, architects began to adorn their designs with an increasing amount of ornament, and by the end of the 19th century, the city boasted one of the largest collections of cast-iron decorated buildings in the United States. Columns, pilasters, human and animal figures, and a variety of trim and moldings all finished to look like carved stone, gave these buildings the appearance of a European city transplanted to the Pacific Northwest.

In this image packed talk, AHC education committee member and walking tour docent Tim Hutchinson, will provide an overview of the fascinating story behind Portland’s cast-iron architecture, with a look at buildings still standing as well as those lost long ago.

This lecture program is held at the Architectural Heritage Center - 701 SE Grand Avenue

Seating is Limited. Pre-Registration is Highly Recommended.

Parking is on-street (free on Saturdays) or in the parking lot on the west side of Grand Avenue between SE Yamhill and Belmont Streets - just to the north of the Urbanite. Thank you to Bolliger and Sons Insurance for sharing their lot with us for our evening and Saturday education programs.

Detail of Waldo Block cast-iron work (1886). Photo by Brian Johnson.