121 NW 2nd Avenue & Davis Street
The historic Merchant Hotel in Old Town / Chinatown is an excellent example of Italianate, cast-iron architecture. At one point it was a luxury hotel, complete with one of Portland’s early hydraulic elevators. The Merchant Hotel stopped being used as a hotel in 1967 and was converted to offices and retail. Today it is known as the home of Old Town Pizza & Brewing which is located in the former lobby of the hotel. Some people believe the restaurant is haunted by the ghost of a young woman by the name of Nina who lost her life during the building’s history. The Merchant Hotel is a tangible landmark that shows how buildings can adapt to new uses while preserving history. The building has seen multiple uses in its history: luxury hotel, offices, restaurants.
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Discussion Questions:
What does it mean for a building to be part of a historic district?
Does the story of Nina the ghost help you remember this building?
Do you know how the historic label helps a building?
Why is this building important?
Vocabulary: historic, Italianate, cast-iron, hydraulic elevator, seismic, renovation, National Register of Historic places, haunted
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State Education Standards
Social Studies 3.11. Describe how individuals, groups, events, and developments have shaped the communities and regions. Historical Knowledge
Social Studies 3.12. Compare and contrast the history of the local community to other communities in the region. Historical Knowledge
Social Studies 3.13. Apply research skills and technologies to gather information about the past in a region. Historical Thinking