111 SW Naito Pkwy
The Smith Block was originally built as a row of warehouses and mercantile (business) buildings. It is especially notable for its cast-iron facade of columns and decorative metalwork. When built, the ground floor windows on the Naito Parkway (Front Avenue) side were folding doors so that goods could be loaded and unloaded easily.
The second floor housed the city’s first stock exchange. During a renovation a blackboard with gold and wheat prices was found. A liquor merchant and druggist also occupied the building. In recent times, it has been renovated, seismically upgraded and adapted for modern office and restaurant use.
The building once extended 300 feet on Naito Parkway (still does) and 300 feet on First. The NW corner of First and Ash was removed in 1955 for a parking lot. The First Ave portion is known as the Railway Equipment Bldg. See section on Railway Equipment Bldg.
The Smith Block is more than just an old building—it’s a piece of Portland’s story. It shows how the city’s commercial district grew during the 1870s, how buildings were designed using cast-iron to look impressive, and how preservation can keep history alive while adapting to modern needs.
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Discussion Questions:
Are all the columns cast iron?
Why do you think some columns are not cast iron?
Vocabulary:
Facade
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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 3.16. Identify how people and events of the past have influenced the present. Historical Knowledge
Social Studies 3.17. Use a variety of historical sources (artifacts, pictures, documents) to identify factual evidence. Historical Thinking
VA:Re7.1.3a. Speculate about processes an artist used to create a work of art. Visual Arts Responding
VA:Re8.1.3a. Interpret art by referring to contextual information and analyzing subject matter, form, and materials. Visual Arts Responding
VA:Cn11.1.3a. Recognize that responses to art change depending on knowledge of the time and place in which it was made. Visual Arts Connecting
VA:Pr4.1.3a. Select and describe works of art, explaining why they are chosen for presentation. Visual Arts Presenting