Today, UTG offers three tours in downtown Portland, 1. Life in the City; 2. Early City ; 3. Becoming A City. Each tour has evolved over time with changes in content and name. Additionally, there is one tour that UTG gave that is no longer offered. The Waterfront Tour was first presented in 2005 and lasted until 2013.
Life in the City
The very first tour, developed and presented in 1970 was called the City Environment Tour. This tour reflected the environmental interest of the Women’s Architectural League and the American Institute of Architects as well as the Portland Public School District. That tour today is called Life in the City. The tour focuses on the rich and varied architecture and public art in an urban environment. This is a lively tour of some of Portland’s most important institutions such as City Hall and the Performing Arts Center. On this tour students will also be introduced to Portlandia as well as the Park Blocks, the Oregon History Center, and the Mark Hatfield Federal Courthouse.
Early City
UTG’s second tour called The Old Town Walking Tour was first introduced in 1974 in response to a growing interest in historic preservation and the need to provide students with the history of Portland. This tour is now called Early City and it takes students to Old Town to discover Portland’s history. While touring, students will visit some of the earliest buildings and public art to grace our city, such as the New Market Theater, other Victorian cast-iron buildings as well as the Skidmore Fountain. The influence of early Chinese and Japanese immigrants is captured in museums, memorials, the China Gate, Lan Su Gardens, and other sites in Chinatown/Japantown.
Becoming a City
The Mall Tour was first introduce in 1978 and was renamed the Art and Architecture Tour in 1989 and it is currently called Becoming a City. From the 25th floor of Big Pink, students see a panorama of Portland with its beautiful river and bridges. The tour highlights many historic buildings designed by A.E. Doyle and fellow architects of the early 1900’s. Grand old hotels and banks with elaborate exterior detailing and brass doors fill many blocks. The second oldest courthouse west of the Mississippi River anchors Pioneer Square while the newest skyscrapers fill the sky on the far side of the Square. Students will discover interesting public art and fountains along the transit mall and elsewhere on this tour. Portland’s history is highlighted along with the innovators who transformed our city from a stump town to a thriving urban community.
Waterfront
The tour of the waterfront was designed and implemented to offer a tour for an older group of students, primarily Sixth through Eighth grades. The tour started at the Chinatown /Old Town MAX station, crossed over the Steel Bridge, down the Vera Katz East bank Esplanade, and ended at the OMSI Overlook. It featured the Willamette River, its relationship in the development of Portland as a major port city and its impact on the environment. Further emphasis was placed on the development of the Harbor Wall, the network of Portland’s bridges, the Portland Skyline, Portland’s history, and Public Art. While reviews were very positive and guides loved giving the tour, it was found to be very difficult for teachers to schedule. Middle school students needed to be absent from several classes while on the tour. Because of these issues, the tour was disbanded.