701 SW 6th Ave
Pioneer Courthouse Square is often called “Portland’s Living Room” because it is a place people gather to meet friends, relax, attend events, and enjoy the city. The square is located between SW 6th Avenue and Broadway, and SW Morrison and Yamhill Streets, right in the heart of downtown.
Pioneer Courthouse Square officially opened in 1984. It was designed as a place where people could gather for events, concerts, and community celebrations. With over ten million visitors annually, Pioneer Courthouse Square is one of the most visited public sites in Oregon.
The block has a rich history as the site of a City school (1856 Central School), the 1890 Portland Hotel, and a former two-story parking lot in 1951. The archway and gate work from the Portland Hotel are still part of the Square.
A Living Room for Portland
In the late 1970s and early 1980s, community members worked together to turn the parking lot into a public square. Many people in Portland believed downtown needed a place for people instead of vehicles. A nonprofit group called the Pioneer Courthouse Square Foundation helped raise money. People could sponsor engraved bricks with names or messages, and today thousands of those bricks cover the square’s ground. Visitors can still sponsor and purchase engraved bricks today through the Pioneer Courthouse Square Foundation, allowing new names and messages to become part of the square’s history.
Art Work
The square also features well-known public art.
Every noon, the Weather Machine performs, forecasting upcoming weather by displaying one of three metal figures amid a show of mist and flashing lights. Helia, a golden sun, indicates a clear, sunny day; Blue Heron predicts mist, drizzle, and changeable weather; and fierce, open-mouthed Dragon forecasts heavy rain, storms, or stormy weather
Allow Me, often called the “Umbrella Man,” which shows a man holding an umbrella and offering shelter.
A signpost displays distances and directions to global destinations, including many of Portland’s sister cities and local landmarks. lets visitors know how far they would have to travel and in which direction to reach sights such as Timbuktu, Great Wall of China, Hermiston, Pacific Ocean.
Echo Chamber is a small, semi-circular amphitheater near the Southwest Morrison Street side that creates a dramatic acoustic effect. By standing on the central granite disc and speaking toward the steps, the voice is reflected back at high volume, making it sound like the speaker is in a concert hall.
These artworks help make the square unique and fun to visit.
Many important events take place at Pioneer Courthouse Square each year. There are music concerts, cultural festivals, holiday celebrations, and even the city’s official Christmas tree lighting. Because it is in the middle of downtown, it is easy to reach by bus, streetcar, or light rail.
Pioneer Courthouse Square shows how people can change a city space for the better. Instead of a parking lot, Portland now has a welcoming place where people of all ages can gather. It is a symbol of community pride and an important part of Portland’s downtown life.
Guide Tip: Look at the bricks on the ground. Can you find one with a name, message, or date? Each brick tells a small story about the people who helped build the square.
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Discussion Questions::
1. Why do you think people wanted to replace a parking lot with a public square?
2. How do public gathering places help a city feel more connected?
3. What kinds of events would you like to attend in a place like Pioneer Courthouse Square?
4. Why are the engraved bricks an important part of the square’s history?
5. Why do you think Pioneer Courthouse Square is called “Portland’s Living Room”?
Vocabulary: echo chamber, signpost
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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 3.17. Use a variety of historical sources (artifacts, pictures, documents) to identify factual evidence. Historical Thinking