Attractive historic homes near LC bring the past to life

THE CITY OF Portland was established in 1851 and many  beautiful old homes from its earliest years still stand. Here is a list of a few of the architectural sites to see in the surrounding area.

The Johan Poulsen House 

If you have ever driven over the Willamette River on the Ross Island Bridge, you may have noticed a large house on the right that resembles a castle. Known as the Poulsen House, this intricate building was constructed in 1891 and features blue paneling, white trimming and a medieval-style 50-foot turret. 

The 5,211 square foot, eight bedroom house sold in June of this year for $1,690,000; the house is now owned by a Portland media firm called Prospect. According to the website of the seller’s realtor, this unique house is an example of “Queen Anne-style Victorian” architecture, though its architect currently remains unknown. The house is privately owned, so it is not visitable by the public. However, video tours are available online due to its recent sale.

The Simon Benson House

Another example of Queen Anne-style architecture, the Simon Benson House was built in 1900. According to the house’s website, the entire building was relocated in 2000 and now stands on the campus of Portland State University. The Simon Benson House currently serves as the school’s visitor center and the headquarters for its alumni association. 

Simon Benson, the original owner of the house, was a Norwegian immigrant who started a successful logging business at the age of 16. He was an influential historical figure, responsible for the purchase and deeding of Wahkeena Falls and Multnomah Falls to the City of Portland, and for the installation of “Benson Bubbler” fountains throughout the city. Benson Polytechnic, a Portland  public high school, was also named for him after Benson donated $100,000 to help establish the school, according to the house’s website. Benson moved out of state in the early 1920s, but is now buried just a mile from Lewis & Clark in the Riverview Cemetery.

Pittock Mansion

A landmark of the Portland community since 1965, Pittock Mansion is a historic house museum that has offered tours and exhibitions for decades. It is also among the most popular destinations for birdwatchers in the area. The first owner of the house was Henry Pittock, a financial mogul that dominated various Portland industries in the late 19th century. According to the mansion’s website, “Henry Pittock also built a financial empire by investing in real estate, banking, railroads, steamboats, sheep ranching, silver mining, and the paper industry.”

The mansion was constructed between 1912-1914; Pittock and his wife only lived there for four years before their deaths. In 1964, the City of Portland purchased the home for $225,000 with the intent to convert it into a museum. Incredibly, $67,500 of that cost was raised by individual Portlanders to help with the acquisition. The nonprofit organization Pittock Mansion Society took over management of the home from Portland Parks & Recreation in 2007 and continues to run the museum today. Adult tickets for tours cost $12 and the current exhibit is about Vanport, a public housing city that existed during World War II.

These are just three historical landmarks that reside in Portland. This city has a rich and complicated history, and houses such as these present an interesting way to interact with that history and bring it to life. Just a little research into historic homes in Portland is quite rewarding, as there are dozens more waiting to be discovered.

Photograph by Will Toppin