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An Architectural Guidebook to Portland
Portland strikes a unique balance between the rich architectural traditions of the past and the cutting-edge creative developments of modern architecture. Within a small downtown area can be found 19th-century cast-iron-front buildings, skyscrapers, old brick warehouses, a landmark 1890 train station, historic bridges, and a distinguished assortment of museum, government, and retail buildings. Its civic planning, historic preservation, and overall attractiveness make Portland a place that natives revel in and visitors admire. Written for both layperson and professional, An Architectural Guidebook to Portland is filled with history and photos that demonstrate why this city is one of the most admired in the nation. The Guidebook's first edition was praised for its readability and usefulness as a reference book. It has now been revised and updated to reflect Portland's explosive growth in the 21st century. New features include an added focus on the development of green buildings and sustainable design in Portland, a chapter on downtown bridges, expanded coverage of the city's vibrant neighborhoods, and a glossary of architectural terms. With over 250 entries that tell the stories behind Portland's celebrated cityscape, this comprehensive guide is an indispensable resource for visitors and Portlanders alike.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
3 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Bart King
68 books124 followersI write funny and educational books for kids and immature adults. In 2026, two of my projects will hit shelves: FATHER HUMOR (a new edition of THAT'S HOW EYE ROLL), and a new Choose Your Own Adventure title that is still untitled.
Jeff Kinney described my CYOA tales in TIME TRAVEL INN as being full of "mind-blowing adventure and heart-stopping thrills!", so I have that going for me.
Back in 2016, Disney-Hyperion published my funny science-fiction novel, THE DRAKE EQUATION. Reviews:
— “This novel has a lot going for it. There’s an immensely likable protagonist and his marvelous twin friends, a school life that feels true —particularly the petty weirdness of other kids— and a mystery that really engages the reader. King tosses a lot of balls in the air, keeping the twists fast and furious, but thankfully, while the protagonist is suitably overwhelmed, the reader isn’t.” San Francisco Review of Books
— "Librarians will find that young readers empathize with the young birdwatcher and his friends.... children will enjoy the school and friendship aspects of the story." Teacher Librarian Magazine
— "Noah is a strong enough character to snag interest and keep it... there's clever humor and a great central protagonist to carry readers along to the end." Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
— "A clever sci-fi narrative with an enjoyable main character." Kirkus
I also wrote a Choose Your Own Adventure titled SPIES: MOE BERG, an espionage book titled THE POCKET GUIDE TO SPY STUFF, and THE BIG BOOK OF SUPERHEROES, a humorous guide to becoming a superhero, and then dealing with it.
What else? Oregon State University Press published AN ARCHITECTURAL GUIDEBOOK TO PORTLAND. (It's medium-sized!) Finally, I taught middle school for many years. This was a wonderful experience, and I hope to recover from it soon. (I kid; it was the best job I've ever had.)
Jeff Kinney described my CYOA tales in TIME TRAVEL INN as being full of "mind-blowing adventure and heart-stopping thrills!", so I have that going for me.
Back in 2016, Disney-Hyperion published my funny science-fiction novel, THE DRAKE EQUATION. Reviews:
— “This novel has a lot going for it. There’s an immensely likable protagonist and his marvelous twin friends, a school life that feels true —particularly the petty weirdness of other kids— and a mystery that really engages the reader. King tosses a lot of balls in the air, keeping the twists fast and furious, but thankfully, while the protagonist is suitably overwhelmed, the reader isn’t.” San Francisco Review of Books
— "Librarians will find that young readers empathize with the young birdwatcher and his friends.... children will enjoy the school and friendship aspects of the story." Teacher Librarian Magazine
— "Noah is a strong enough character to snag interest and keep it... there's clever humor and a great central protagonist to carry readers along to the end." Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
— "A clever sci-fi narrative with an enjoyable main character." Kirkus
I also wrote a Choose Your Own Adventure titled SPIES: MOE BERG, an espionage book titled THE POCKET GUIDE TO SPY STUFF, and THE BIG BOOK OF SUPERHEROES, a humorous guide to becoming a superhero, and then dealing with it.
What else? Oregon State University Press published AN ARCHITECTURAL GUIDEBOOK TO PORTLAND. (It's medium-sized!) Finally, I taught middle school for many years. This was a wonderful experience, and I hope to recover from it soon. (I kid; it was the best job I've ever had.)
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 17, 2018
This is the Second Edition, published in 2007, and a LOT of building has been going on in Portland since then, especially since 2012. The majority are ugly dense-occupancy apartment buildings that most Portlanders can’t afford to live in. But I digress...
I loved this book! There are b/w photos accompanying most of the listings, and handy maps! King does a great job of describing the architecture points to look for and if you don’t know the meaning of, say, “cornice”, there’s also a glossary!
Highly recommended for architecture and history buffs!
I loved this book! There are b/w photos accompanying most of the listings, and handy maps! King does a great job of describing the architecture points to look for and if you don’t know the meaning of, say, “cornice”, there’s also a glossary!
Highly recommended for architecture and history buffs!
April 22, 2021
Bart King is funny and loves architecture. I'm on board with both of these things. Take a gander at his eco-roof definition:
Any roof that you could grow salad greens on qualifies. An eco-roof insulates the building, limits water run-off, and lasts twice as long as a conventional roof. But without a caretaker and/or good drainage, an eco-roof can turn into a dead weedroof, which isn't as impressive.
Any roof that you could grow salad greens on qualifies. An eco-roof insulates the building, limits water run-off, and lasts twice as long as a conventional roof. But without a caretaker and/or good drainage, an eco-roof can turn into a dead weedroof, which isn't as impressive.
August 20, 2018
We got this as a gift for friends who moved to Portland, and after flipping through it I got so interested that I read it. It consists of eighborhood by neighborhood descriptions of interesting and historical architecture, woven with stories about Portland's history and colorful citizens. A school teacher with a history degree, the author has a dry sense of humor that I really like. Lots of pictures.
September 7, 2025
I love Portland, I love its history, and I love wandering past a building and thinking, “I wonder what stories you could tell.” So, when I saw a book dedicated to the city’s architecture, I thought I’d be in for a treat. Unfortunately, what I got instead felt more like a real estate listing binder with a faint case of the sniffles.
Let’s start with the positives, because there are some. The book covers a wide swath of Portland’s architecture, from historic landmarks to quirky little gems you might otherwise pass without a glance. It’s clear Bart King knows his stuff and has done the work to catalog the city’s built environment. If you’re new to Portland and want a basic “this is what’s here” guide, the book will give you that. There were even a few entries where I learned something I didn’t know, and for that I’m grateful.
But here’s the thing: this book could have been so much more. Portland’s buildings aren’t just static piles of bricks and mortar. They’re woven into stories of ambition, scandal, social change, and the occasional drunken architect with a penchant for rooftop flourishes. I was hoping for fascinating tales of the people who built them, lived in them, and maybe even snuck into them at midnight with questionable intentions. Instead, most entries read like: “Built in 1926. Designed by So-and-So. It’s a good example of the Colonial Revival style.” End of story.
That’s not a journey. That’s a bullet point list.
The photography, sadly, didn’t do much to rescue things. To be blunt, the images were rough. I know not every book can have glossy coffee-table-level photography, but here the photos were so grainy and low-contrast that it was hard to make out any detail at all. A building’s intricate stonework? Lost in a gray fuzz. A playful gargoyle? Reduced to a smudge. The overall look had the charm of something printed from a home inkjet in 2003 after running low on toner. And the paper quality didn’t help - it’s the kind where you half-expect the page to wrinkle if you look at it sideways.
This matters because architecture is a visual experience. Without clear, vibrant photos, the very soul of these buildings gets lost. It’s like describing a plate of food without letting anyone see or smell it - you’re missing the magic.
Tone-wise, the book feels a bit slap-dashed together. I don’t mean that it’s inaccurate or poorly researched, just that it lacks the polish and cohesion you’d expect from something that could easily become the go-to reference for Portland’s architecture. Instead, it has that “I’ve got a bunch of notes, let’s staple them together” vibe. There’s a difference between a lovingly assembled guide and a catalog, and unfortunately, this leans heavily toward the latter.
Architecture isn’t just about styles and dates - it’s about context. A lovingly told architectural guide should make you want to go see the building immediately, not just check it off a list. I wanted a sense of the city’s soul through its structures, but the writing here is functional at best. It’s like walking through Portland with a tour guide who only reads from the historical plaque and then stares at you in silence.
And that’s the missed opportunity. Portland has a wonderfully weird history. There are the bootleggers, the early timber barons, the bustling streetcar era, the social movements that shaped neighborhoods. The book nods at the buildings but doesn’t invite you into the stories that happened inside them. Without those tales, it’s just a cold inventory of real estate. The difference between a vibrant journey and a list of facts is storytelling, and this book never quite takes that leap.
If you’re a hardcore architecture buff who’s content with a tidy checklist of buildings, this book will get the job done. But if you’re looking for something that captures the romance, drama, and quirk of Portland’s past through its architecture, you might walk away feeling a bit unsatisfied.
In the end, this book is like getting a tour of Paris where the guide just points at the Eiffel Tower and says, “Tall. Built in 1889. Iron.” Yes, it’s technically accurate, but where’s the charm, the sparkle, the feeling that you’ve connected with a living, breathing city? Sadly, that’s missing here—and that’s a shame, because Portland has stories worth telling.
Let’s start with the positives, because there are some. The book covers a wide swath of Portland’s architecture, from historic landmarks to quirky little gems you might otherwise pass without a glance. It’s clear Bart King knows his stuff and has done the work to catalog the city’s built environment. If you’re new to Portland and want a basic “this is what’s here” guide, the book will give you that. There were even a few entries where I learned something I didn’t know, and for that I’m grateful.
But here’s the thing: this book could have been so much more. Portland’s buildings aren’t just static piles of bricks and mortar. They’re woven into stories of ambition, scandal, social change, and the occasional drunken architect with a penchant for rooftop flourishes. I was hoping for fascinating tales of the people who built them, lived in them, and maybe even snuck into them at midnight with questionable intentions. Instead, most entries read like: “Built in 1926. Designed by So-and-So. It’s a good example of the Colonial Revival style.” End of story.
That’s not a journey. That’s a bullet point list.
The photography, sadly, didn’t do much to rescue things. To be blunt, the images were rough. I know not every book can have glossy coffee-table-level photography, but here the photos were so grainy and low-contrast that it was hard to make out any detail at all. A building’s intricate stonework? Lost in a gray fuzz. A playful gargoyle? Reduced to a smudge. The overall look had the charm of something printed from a home inkjet in 2003 after running low on toner. And the paper quality didn’t help - it’s the kind where you half-expect the page to wrinkle if you look at it sideways.
This matters because architecture is a visual experience. Without clear, vibrant photos, the very soul of these buildings gets lost. It’s like describing a plate of food without letting anyone see or smell it - you’re missing the magic.
Tone-wise, the book feels a bit slap-dashed together. I don’t mean that it’s inaccurate or poorly researched, just that it lacks the polish and cohesion you’d expect from something that could easily become the go-to reference for Portland’s architecture. Instead, it has that “I’ve got a bunch of notes, let’s staple them together” vibe. There’s a difference between a lovingly assembled guide and a catalog, and unfortunately, this leans heavily toward the latter.
Architecture isn’t just about styles and dates - it’s about context. A lovingly told architectural guide should make you want to go see the building immediately, not just check it off a list. I wanted a sense of the city’s soul through its structures, but the writing here is functional at best. It’s like walking through Portland with a tour guide who only reads from the historical plaque and then stares at you in silence.
And that’s the missed opportunity. Portland has a wonderfully weird history. There are the bootleggers, the early timber barons, the bustling streetcar era, the social movements that shaped neighborhoods. The book nods at the buildings but doesn’t invite you into the stories that happened inside them. Without those tales, it’s just a cold inventory of real estate. The difference between a vibrant journey and a list of facts is storytelling, and this book never quite takes that leap.
If you’re a hardcore architecture buff who’s content with a tidy checklist of buildings, this book will get the job done. But if you’re looking for something that captures the romance, drama, and quirk of Portland’s past through its architecture, you might walk away feeling a bit unsatisfied.
In the end, this book is like getting a tour of Paris where the guide just points at the Eiffel Tower and says, “Tall. Built in 1889. Iron.” Yes, it’s technically accurate, but where’s the charm, the sparkle, the feeling that you’ve connected with a living, breathing city? Sadly, that’s missing here—and that’s a shame, because Portland has stories worth telling.
November 1, 2025
I was excited to get this book as a gift over 20 years ago. I read about a few specific buildings and kept it on my shelf as a reference. I've picked it up a few times over the years to look up a particular building. This last time, I decided I'd go ahead and read it all the way through.
This book is organized into 10 geographic areas (chapters) with a map of buildings in that area. The first six chapters are zones within downtown. The last four chapters cover notable buildings throughout the rest of Portland and beyond. It extends way beyond Portland to include something in Mount Angel and Silverton. There wouldn't be enough for a separate book, so why not include some outliers?
Although the book includes a photo for most entries, a photo is not included for all of them. Many of the photos are less helpful, zoomed in to an architectural detail or just too small to show what it is. I suppose one is meant to tour Portland with this book. I often used Google Maps Street View to see the buildings described. The author may not have anticipated how much Portland would change that affects the entries without pictures. Google doesn't go back in time far enough to see how things were when this was written. Sadly, some of the featured locations no longer exist (Elk statue p. 103, Canterbury Castle p. 217). Others have changed substantially (The building described on page 186 as the most covered in extensive vegetation is not covered in any anymore).
I understand that I read the first edition and that there's a second edition. While I don't know what is different between the 1st and 2nd, there should probably be a 3rd edition by now because even the 2nd edition is 18 years old. It was actually interesting to read the few entries about upcoming developments, showcasing that this was before the first Portland Streetcar line: "a trolley line will be operational when the building is complete." p. 185. Also, the White Stag sign is featured before it changed p. 162
I miss how Portland was when this book was written. This book helps me appreciate Portland as there is a lot of uniqueness to Portland's history and its people that tells a story behind the architecture. The author gives background, including original settlements, how various neighborhoods originated, a brief history of Portland's Chinese immigrant population in the 1800s, stories how buildings were used previously, former businesses, some notable individuals including some of the people behind some of Portland's street names (P. 135 Dr. Rodney Glisan, P. 171 Captain John Couch, P. 162 Bill Naito). All the descriptions are brief. It tells enough to know whether there's a story, not the in depth novel about each one. That's okay. It piqued my interest to research a few locations.
I like how the author described it:
"Portland's magic lies in understanding that the sum of its parts creates a unified and pleasing environment; no one isolated architectural aspect of the city is necessarily world class." P. vii
The author mostly describes notable architecture in a positive way, but sometimes expresses dislike. Either way, the author's method of describing locations tends to be a little whimsical. Here are some examples:
"Some people report feeling mild vertigo on their first trip to Pioneer Courthouse Square...these people are no doubt easily dizzied" p. 3
"to give your brow some new furrows; its blatant disregard for the original structure is unfathomable." P. 85
"The Rose Garden's roof resembles a Belgian ship-captain's cap; its nautical-themed hat fits in with the nearby river" p. 236
"Despite being named as 'the father of the public schools' by the Oregonian in 1891, Josiah Failing does not have a school named after him. No doubt you can guess why. Interestingly, this site is where Portland's first public school opened in 1852. The headmaster was named John T. Outhouse, and his name is also unrepresented in local schools." P. 134
If this isn't witty enough, the author quotes others who have something witty to say. Referring to 1000 Broadway (the building pictured on the cover of the book), Randy Gragg "described it as looking like a robot, a bald offensive guard, or a perfume box" p. 77
This book is organized into 10 geographic areas (chapters) with a map of buildings in that area. The first six chapters are zones within downtown. The last four chapters cover notable buildings throughout the rest of Portland and beyond. It extends way beyond Portland to include something in Mount Angel and Silverton. There wouldn't be enough for a separate book, so why not include some outliers?
Although the book includes a photo for most entries, a photo is not included for all of them. Many of the photos are less helpful, zoomed in to an architectural detail or just too small to show what it is. I suppose one is meant to tour Portland with this book. I often used Google Maps Street View to see the buildings described. The author may not have anticipated how much Portland would change that affects the entries without pictures. Google doesn't go back in time far enough to see how things were when this was written. Sadly, some of the featured locations no longer exist (Elk statue p. 103, Canterbury Castle p. 217). Others have changed substantially (The building described on page 186 as the most covered in extensive vegetation is not covered in any anymore).
I understand that I read the first edition and that there's a second edition. While I don't know what is different between the 1st and 2nd, there should probably be a 3rd edition by now because even the 2nd edition is 18 years old. It was actually interesting to read the few entries about upcoming developments, showcasing that this was before the first Portland Streetcar line: "a trolley line will be operational when the building is complete." p. 185. Also, the White Stag sign is featured before it changed p. 162
I miss how Portland was when this book was written. This book helps me appreciate Portland as there is a lot of uniqueness to Portland's history and its people that tells a story behind the architecture. The author gives background, including original settlements, how various neighborhoods originated, a brief history of Portland's Chinese immigrant population in the 1800s, stories how buildings were used previously, former businesses, some notable individuals including some of the people behind some of Portland's street names (P. 135 Dr. Rodney Glisan, P. 171 Captain John Couch, P. 162 Bill Naito). All the descriptions are brief. It tells enough to know whether there's a story, not the in depth novel about each one. That's okay. It piqued my interest to research a few locations.
I like how the author described it:
"Portland's magic lies in understanding that the sum of its parts creates a unified and pleasing environment; no one isolated architectural aspect of the city is necessarily world class." P. vii
The author mostly describes notable architecture in a positive way, but sometimes expresses dislike. Either way, the author's method of describing locations tends to be a little whimsical. Here are some examples:
"Some people report feeling mild vertigo on their first trip to Pioneer Courthouse Square...these people are no doubt easily dizzied" p. 3
"to give your brow some new furrows; its blatant disregard for the original structure is unfathomable." P. 85
"The Rose Garden's roof resembles a Belgian ship-captain's cap; its nautical-themed hat fits in with the nearby river" p. 236
"Despite being named as 'the father of the public schools' by the Oregonian in 1891, Josiah Failing does not have a school named after him. No doubt you can guess why. Interestingly, this site is where Portland's first public school opened in 1852. The headmaster was named John T. Outhouse, and his name is also unrepresented in local schools." P. 134
If this isn't witty enough, the author quotes others who have something witty to say. Referring to 1000 Broadway (the building pictured on the cover of the book), Randy Gragg "described it as looking like a robot, a bald offensive guard, or a perfume box" p. 77
September 28, 2019
Didn't have as much information as I was hoping for.
February 26, 2009
Overall, I really enjoyed this well-researched book on Portland's major buildings and bridges. Copious facts abound on the myriad architectural trends, past and present, that have contributed to this city's built environment. Historical players and anecdotes abound, as does a valid boasting of Portland's many contemporary LEED-certified designs and restorations. My only gripe, albeit minor, is related to a wish that the author had written this otherwise wonderfully informative guidebook with a touch less idiosyncratic goofiness.
July 4, 2011
I love the unique architecture and beautiful color of this city, but this guide is unfortunately limited on the number and quality of photographs and all of them in my copy are black/white (and not for aesthetic appeal!)
Meh. Looking forward to traveling here again next month to experience the scenery and all its actual glory. I suppose a book never really can compare, no matter how great.
Meh. Looking forward to traveling here again next month to experience the scenery and all its actual glory. I suppose a book never really can compare, no matter how great.
January 19, 2010
I LOVE this book. It has awesome info. Like today I learned that the Morgan Building (on Broadway) is on top of an old grave yard, and there are most likely bodies beneath the blocks. EEKS! And maybe my old apartment building. A must read for anyone who loves Portland.
Want to read
November 24, 2009per CoR
June 21, 2011
Excellent book. All the cool buildings of Portland and some of their back stories as well.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews