The Urban Tour Group of Portland, Oregon, was founded in 1970 by a core group of members of the Women’s Architectural League, which at that time was an auxiliary of the local chapter of the League of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and some women who were wives of architects. By providing downtown walking tours to school children, the founders were seeking to create an appreciation of the city’s architecture and an awareness of their surroundings – natural as well as manmade. The tours were designed to help the children develop a sense of responsibility for their city and to provide a sense of the city’s past, present and future.
The local AIA chapter was a sponsor of Urban Tour Group, and AIA members assisted at the outset with development of the tours, as well as with the initial training program for guides. The Portland Art Museum, which had been operating a docent program for many years, was also a sponsor and helped with the initial organization. Though not an official sponsor, the Oregon Historical Society also provided significant support.
The public schools were at that time organizing an environmental education program for their teachers and were very enthusiastic about the tour. They offered content suggestions and cooperated in making the teachers aware of the tour. Portland Public Schools has funded various Urban Tour Group projects in the past and continues to support the group today.
In 1974, Urban Tour Group became a project of the Junior League of Portland, which provided needed financial assistance and tour guides. Today Urban Tour Group is a self-sufficient non-profit organization, operating completely independently.
The organization’s priorities continue to include comprehensive on-going training for guides, who learn from each other by means of “walk-abouts” and shadowing, from the educational nature of the monthly general meetings and through periodic retraining activities. Another priority is to maintain positive working relationships with community organizations and businesses.
Over the past 50 years, the names and content of the tours have evolved. The original tour was called A City Environmental Tour. This tour’s name has since changed to Life in the City. It provides a visual feast of rich, varied architecture, and creates an awareness of the urban environment. Highlights include public art work and sculptures, the trompe l’oeil mural at the Oregon History Center, the Park Blocks, First Congregational Church, Performing Arts Center, Portlandia, City Hall, the Justice Center, and the Mark Hatfield Federal Courthouse.
The Old Town Walking Tour was introduced in 1974 in response to a growing interest in historic preservation in Portland, and the need to familiarize the children with downtown history. This tour is now called Early City and is noted for covering the oldest commercial district with its large collection of mid-Victorian cast-iron buildings. It includes the Bill Naito Legacy Fountain in Waterfront Park, the New Market Theater, the Skidmore Fountain, the Japanese American Historical Plaza, Chinatown and the China Gate, the Embassy Suites, and the Merchant Hotel.
The Mall Tour, which began in 1978 and was renamed the Art and Architecture Tour in 1989, is now called Becoming a City. It highlights Portland’s unique Transit Mall. Included are many examples of public art, famous fountains, Pioneer Courthouse Square and historic buildings such as the Benson Hotel, US Bank Tower, Pioneer Courthouse, US Bank Building and the Multnomah County Library.
Downtown Walking Tours for adults and families were made available for a fee for multiple years. This practice was discontinued as alternative sources of paid tours were made available to adult. The Waterfront Tour was added for Middle School students in 2006 to emphasize the importance of the Willamette River to the development of Portland as a major port city, and the resulting impact on the environment. Due to scheduling difficulties with middle schools, this tour was discontinued.
Today, Urban Tour Group’s trained volunteers tour over 6,000 school children each year to help extend their classroom curriculum out into the broader community. It is hoped that these children will go on to become the future caretakers and protectors of their city.
Since its inception, Urban Tour Group has received recognition from the local media, SUNSET magazine (1974) and many architectural publications as well as an award from the Portland Beautification Association and the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
In 1990, Urban Tour Group celebrated 20 years of existence. Along with specially planned events, the group was proud to be the subject of a commemorative poster.
In 1999, Urban Tour Group received the Excellence in Action award from Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. This award seeks to “recognize and honor women of Washington County who have made outstanding and continuing contributions in volunteer service to their community, particularly as it is related to education, to children or to the general welfare of its citizens.”
To honor our 40th anniversary in 2010, a proclamation was issued by the office of the Mayor of Portland, which acknowledged the outstanding service provided by Urban Tour Group to the community over the past 40 years. On the 50th anniversary many members attended the Mayor’s Proclamation making January 8th UTG Day. The proclamation said:
50 year anniversary. “Now, therefore, I, Ted Wheeler, Mayor of the City of Portland, Oregon, the “City of Roses,” do hereby proclaim January 8th, 2020 to be Urban Tour Group Day in Portland, and encourage all residents to observe this day as Urban Tour Group Day as members continue to celebrate their 50th year Anniversary.”
Urban Tour Group provides its members with a wealth of interesting speakers, artists, historians, teachers, architects, city planners and business men and women. It offers an opportunity to go behind the facades of a variety of Portland’s structures old, new, restored, controversial, and spectacular. Members learn from one another about current events in Portland and deepen their understanding of Portland’s history through research and the sharing of information.
Being a member of Urban Tour Group is indeed a unique service opportunity and a truly rewarding educational experience.