Portland's Motto:
Portland's Official Bird: Great Blue Heron
What Makes Portland unique?
I'll name a few:
WORLD'S LARGEST and SMALLEST:
1. The World's biggest floods on earth-the Missoula Floods which occurred at the end of the last ice-age, went right over the top of Portland, topping it with 400 feet of water, high enough to almost top our tallest buildings. See picture, Ice Age Floods.
2. The 2nd biggest lava field (100,000 SQUARE MILES) emanating from the Yellowstone hotspot millions of years ago, which was under Oregon at that time. Portland has one of only 4 volcanoes, within a city limits in the U.S. We'll listen to those eruptions in a moment.
We have nearly 100 dormant or extinct volcanoes in the immediate area.
- The City of Dreamers
- The City That Works!
- Keep Portland Weird
Portland's Official Bird: Great Blue Heron
What Makes Portland unique?
I'll name a few:
WORLD'S LARGEST and SMALLEST:
1. The World's biggest floods on earth-the Missoula Floods which occurred at the end of the last ice-age, went right over the top of Portland, topping it with 400 feet of water, high enough to almost top our tallest buildings. See picture, Ice Age Floods.
2. The 2nd biggest lava field (100,000 SQUARE MILES) emanating from the Yellowstone hotspot millions of years ago, which was under Oregon at that time. Portland has one of only 4 volcanoes, within a city limits in the U.S. We'll listen to those eruptions in a moment.
We have nearly 100 dormant or extinct volcanoes in the immediate area.
Continuing with WORLD'S LARGEST:
3. Largest Park within a city limits in the U.S., called forest Park.
4. World's Largest Asian elephants breeding program in the world
5. Beer Capitol of the World. World's greatest number of breweries per capita, so they say.
6. World's Longest Wheat Terminal.
7. World's Largest Log Cabin and Independent bookstore.
8. The Largest Living Thing on Earth is in Oregon. It is a 3.5-Square-Mile "humongous fungus", living in the Malheur Forest. It's also amongst the oldest, at 10,000 years old.
9. The Paul Bunyan statue in north Portland - representing the ultimate hipster, competes with Bangor Maine as the world's largest, both 31 feet (8433 N Interstate)
10. World largest, Naked Bike Ride. With over 10,000 riders. On June 24 annually.
11. Largest roller coaster west of Chicago in the late 20s, called the Big Dipper, at Janzen Beach Amusement Park. See pictures.
Finally, #12, of the world's largest. The Shanghai Capitol of the world, 4000 shanghaied a year. #1 in the world. More on that, in a few moments.
And now, for the smallest:
The World's smallest park, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, resides right here in downtown Portland.
THERE'S MORE:
Oldest Rose Garden in the U.S.
Simpsons Matt Grouenig grew up here:
The oldest federal building in the Northwest from eighteen sixty nine, called the Pioneer Courthouse
Bike-friendliest city - highest share (6%) of bicycle commuters in the U.S.
Some of the purest drinking water of any city in the country, the only major U.S. city to produce without fluoride.
The 10 bridges are nice, some being the oldest in North America with unique designs. (We have the only double-deck bridge with independent lifts in the world, and the 1st & second oldest vertical-lift bridges, in North America)
And did you know, Portland is the only U.S. city to own two operating steam locomotives? Explore and get up close to these giant marvels of the past at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center just across the river next to OMSI. On Saturdays, after you’ve taken in the latest exhibit, hop aboard the charming Oregon Pacific Railroad passenger train, for the 45 minute trip down to the Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge. $10 each, paid when boarding.
All aboard!
Quirky residents and fairy-tale like surroundings, make Portland the perfect setting for one-of-a-kind TV shows like Portlandia, and Grimm.
What Keeps Portland WEIRD?
Independence, creativity, nonconformity...Whatever you call it, there's something about Portland that brings out the odd in everyone.
And we're not afraid to be weird.
Things that are keepin' it weird:
Without a doubt, the Rose City is one of the most eclectic places there is! You can go from pristine and proper to weird and wonderful within blocks of one another.
NEXT is the Portland Building
With many more.
3. Largest Park within a city limits in the U.S., called forest Park.
4. World's Largest Asian elephants breeding program in the world
5. Beer Capitol of the World. World's greatest number of breweries per capita, so they say.
6. World's Longest Wheat Terminal.
7. World's Largest Log Cabin and Independent bookstore.
8. The Largest Living Thing on Earth is in Oregon. It is a 3.5-Square-Mile "humongous fungus", living in the Malheur Forest. It's also amongst the oldest, at 10,000 years old.
9. The Paul Bunyan statue in north Portland - representing the ultimate hipster, competes with Bangor Maine as the world's largest, both 31 feet (8433 N Interstate)
10. World largest, Naked Bike Ride. With over 10,000 riders. On June 24 annually.
11. Largest roller coaster west of Chicago in the late 20s, called the Big Dipper, at Janzen Beach Amusement Park. See pictures.
Finally, #12, of the world's largest. The Shanghai Capitol of the world, 4000 shanghaied a year. #1 in the world. More on that, in a few moments.
And now, for the smallest:
The World's smallest park, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, resides right here in downtown Portland.
THERE'S MORE:
Oldest Rose Garden in the U.S.
Simpsons Matt Grouenig grew up here:
The oldest federal building in the Northwest from eighteen sixty nine, called the Pioneer Courthouse
Bike-friendliest city - highest share (6%) of bicycle commuters in the U.S.
Some of the purest drinking water of any city in the country, the only major U.S. city to produce without fluoride.
The 10 bridges are nice, some being the oldest in North America with unique designs. (We have the only double-deck bridge with independent lifts in the world, and the 1st & second oldest vertical-lift bridges, in North America)
And did you know, Portland is the only U.S. city to own two operating steam locomotives? Explore and get up close to these giant marvels of the past at the Oregon Rail Heritage Center just across the river next to OMSI. On Saturdays, after you’ve taken in the latest exhibit, hop aboard the charming Oregon Pacific Railroad passenger train, for the 45 minute trip down to the Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge. $10 each, paid when boarding.
All aboard!
Quirky residents and fairy-tale like surroundings, make Portland the perfect setting for one-of-a-kind TV shows like Portlandia, and Grimm.
What Keeps Portland WEIRD?
Independence, creativity, nonconformity...Whatever you call it, there's something about Portland that brings out the odd in everyone.
And we're not afraid to be weird.
Things that are keepin' it weird:
- A lot of weird ice creams (salt & straw ON 23RD FOR EXAMPLE),
- Weird beers and really weird donuts.
- Many weird museums including the Freakybuttrue Peculiarium. Not for the faint of heart, the Freakybuttrue Peculiarium promises unusual experiences like selfies with aliens and bug sundaes. It's packed full of creepy but fun exhibits, like Al Capone’s safe, an alien autopsy table, and an exhibit on spontaneous combustion, this Northwest Portland gallery and shop serves up original artwork, ice cream and keeps Portland weird. Located 640 SE Stark St.
- Everyone has a beard, skinny jeans, nobody has a job and they all live in 12 room co-op houses. In short, everyone here has the day off.
- Our obsession with Elvis - From the jump-suited Elvis impersonator at the Saturday Market, every Saturday and Sunday, except January, in Old Town. To the 24-hour Church of Elvis, (closed), to the many interpretations of peanut butter and banana sandwiches, in Portland, the King is alive!
- Beer and liquor are served at theaters and barber shops.
- We have the fewest churches per square mile anywhere with the highest # of strip clubs per capita in the US.
- In fact, the United States 1st female police officer, was Lola Baldwin, and was hired in 1908, to patrol the strip clubs.
- We have 3 weird strip clubs--a vegan strip club, a steakhouse strip club, and a karaoke strip club.
- The Shanghai Tunnels are weird. More on that briefly.
Without a doubt, the Rose City is one of the most eclectic places there is! You can go from pristine and proper to weird and wonderful within blocks of one another.
NEXT is the Portland Building
With many more.
FULL STOP.
Here is what that Yellowstone explosion, the Columbia River Basalt Group, sounded like millions of years ago.
PLAY AUDIO OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASALT FLOODS, EMANATING FROM THE YELLOWSTONE SUPER VOLCANO.
Here is what that Yellowstone explosion, the Columbia River Basalt Group, sounded like millions of years ago.
PLAY AUDIO OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER BASALT FLOODS, EMANATING FROM THE YELLOWSTONE SUPER VOLCANO.
Does anyone have any questions?
