Pioneer Courthouse and Post Office – (eighteen sixty nine) `
It is the First major public building in the Pacific Northwest, now it is the oldest remaining public building in this part of the country.
It is in the Classical Greek revival (restrained) style.
The same architect, Alfred Mullet, built the San Francisco mint, and the state, war and navy building in Washington D.C.
It has a refined and noble appearance.
When this building was built in 1869, it was considered too far out of town to be of great use.
But the builder did this on purpose.
As many of the 19th century cities were being consumed by fires, they wanted to protect it from fire.
And it just so happened that 3 years later, the catastrophic Great Fire of eighteen seventy two, consumed the old town area along 1st to 3rd streets.
There have been many attempts over the years by the Federal government to destroy this building, and many more powerful attempts by Portlander's to preserve it.
Extensively renovated in 1971 to become the U.S. 9th Circuit Court, it is no longer a post office or courthouse. It now includes a visitor's center, with a film and historic information center, and welcomes visitor's.
It has been recently retrofitted to be earthquake proof (a rare base seismic isolation system). This costs several millions of dollars, but the City wants to keep its old courthouse.
Only about 50 buildings in the entire world use this system, as it is reserved for only special buildings.
Portland has earthquakes? You may ask!
The Cascadia Fault is the most likely source of an earthquake in our area. The Cascadia Fault can produce megathrust earthquakes with a magnitude of 9.0 or greater. The last known megathrust earthquake in the Pacific Northwest was the Cascadia earthquake in the year 1700. The Cascadia fault causes a megathrust earthquake every 300 to 600 years, so we are due.
Many scientists believe that a megathrust earthquake, and tsunami, could hit the Pacific Northwest in the next 50 years.
Be prepared!
The Pacific Northwest is beautiful and dramatic, with mountains, cliffs, caves, craters, and other fascinating landforms. Much of this landscape was formed by seismic activity such as earthquakes and volcanoes. Living in and visiting this beautiful region is not risk free, so it is important to be prepared.
Go up to the Court house cupola.
Best of all, you can go inside the courthouse (ID required) and view the beautiful, mostly original interior & climb to the cupola above the third floor and enjoy a splendid panoramic view of the city, and Pioneer Courthouse Square. But the cupola isn't just a viewpoint, originally it was from there, that the customs inspector spotted which ships were heading in and out of Portland.
NEXT - PIONEER PLACE
With many more
It is the First major public building in the Pacific Northwest, now it is the oldest remaining public building in this part of the country.
It is in the Classical Greek revival (restrained) style.
The same architect, Alfred Mullet, built the San Francisco mint, and the state, war and navy building in Washington D.C.
It has a refined and noble appearance.
When this building was built in 1869, it was considered too far out of town to be of great use.
But the builder did this on purpose.
As many of the 19th century cities were being consumed by fires, they wanted to protect it from fire.
And it just so happened that 3 years later, the catastrophic Great Fire of eighteen seventy two, consumed the old town area along 1st to 3rd streets.
There have been many attempts over the years by the Federal government to destroy this building, and many more powerful attempts by Portlander's to preserve it.
Extensively renovated in 1971 to become the U.S. 9th Circuit Court, it is no longer a post office or courthouse. It now includes a visitor's center, with a film and historic information center, and welcomes visitor's.
It has been recently retrofitted to be earthquake proof (a rare base seismic isolation system). This costs several millions of dollars, but the City wants to keep its old courthouse.
Only about 50 buildings in the entire world use this system, as it is reserved for only special buildings.
Portland has earthquakes? You may ask!
The Cascadia Fault is the most likely source of an earthquake in our area. The Cascadia Fault can produce megathrust earthquakes with a magnitude of 9.0 or greater. The last known megathrust earthquake in the Pacific Northwest was the Cascadia earthquake in the year 1700. The Cascadia fault causes a megathrust earthquake every 300 to 600 years, so we are due.
Many scientists believe that a megathrust earthquake, and tsunami, could hit the Pacific Northwest in the next 50 years.
Be prepared!
The Pacific Northwest is beautiful and dramatic, with mountains, cliffs, caves, craters, and other fascinating landforms. Much of this landscape was formed by seismic activity such as earthquakes and volcanoes. Living in and visiting this beautiful region is not risk free, so it is important to be prepared.
Go up to the Court house cupola.
Best of all, you can go inside the courthouse (ID required) and view the beautiful, mostly original interior & climb to the cupola above the third floor and enjoy a splendid panoramic view of the city, and Pioneer Courthouse Square. But the cupola isn't just a viewpoint, originally it was from there, that the customs inspector spotted which ships were heading in and out of Portland.
NEXT - PIONEER PLACE
With many more
