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About Pittock Mansion: A 16,000-square-foot mansion with 44 rooms (23 which
are open to viewing) in Portland's West Hills that is rooted in history. Visitors
can enjoy the architecture, stunning views or the history of the Pittock family.
What to bring: The Pittock Mansion is a walking tour that can
take anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours. Bring your camera - but the staff
asks that you do not use tripods. Picnics are welcome on the grounds, so a picnic
lunch is welcome. No food or drinks are allowed in the mansion. Make sure you
finish your picnic before you take your tour.
Hours and Fees:
Subject to change. See the Pittock Mansion Web
site for current information.
Getting
There: Visit their Web
site for a map on how to get to the mansion.
Tips: When
visiting the mansion make sure you do not miss the outbuildings - the gate lodge
and the garage offer even more glimpses into the past and a gift shop that helps
to support the operational costs of the mansion. You can dress up or down for
your tour, but be sure to give yourself plenty of time to discover all the nooks
and crannies of the mansion. Bringing
a picnic lunch is a great way to spend an afternoon, taking in the scenery of
downtown Portland. The mansion is also near the Oregon Zoo, Japanese Gardens and
other parks and gardens in the West Hills. You could make a day trip out of visiting
the many sites.
History: The Pittock Mansion was home to Portland
pioneers Henry and Georgiana Pittock from 1914 to 1919. During the late 1800s
and the early 1900s, their lives and work paralleled the growth of Portland from
a small Northwest town site to a thriving city with a quarter million people. English-born
Henry Lewis Pittock journeyed on a wagon train from Pennsylvania to Oregon in
1853 where, at the young age of 19, and in his own words, "barefoot and penniless,"
he began working for Thomas Jefferson Dryer's Weekly Oregonian newspaper. A
consummate businessman, Henry Pittock took ownership of the Weekly Oregonian in
1860, changing its format to a daily paper. He went on to build an empire incorporating
real estate, banking, railroads, steamboats, sheep ranching, silver mining and
the pulp and paper industry. A
vigorous outdoorsman, Henry rode horses in the Rose Festival parades, and was
a member of the first party to climb Mt. Hood, one of the spectacular peaks visible
from the mansion. Henry
and Georgiana were at the pinnacle of their successful lives when they commissioned
architect Edward Foulkes to design and build their new home overlooking Portland,
the city they loved. In keeping with their loyalty to their home state, the Pittocks
hired Oregon craftsmen and artisans, and used Northwest materials to build the
house. The final estate included the mansion, a three-car garage, a greenhouse,
and the Italianate gate lodge servants' residence, all situated on 46 acres of
land almost 1,000 feet above downtown Portland. More
Photos (click for larger view)
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Walk through some of Portland's history
By
Patrick Johnson
For Oregon.com Although
the Pittock Mansion has been overlooking Portland for more than 80 years, there
is always something new to see when visiting the historic site. Whether
it's the mountaintops peaking through the clouds or the continuing efforts by
the staff to bring the mansion back to its former glory, the mansion is a must
see for anyone interested in Portland history or grand views. "Some
days we can see six mountains from here," says Lucy Smith McLean, mansion
curator. "When they designed this place they really opened it up to the views." The
46-acre estate features several buildings and a yard that is wonderful for picnics,
sitting at almost 1,000 feet in altitude directly above Portland. The 16,000-square-foot
mansion is filled with the history of Portland and of the Pittock family - and
there is a constant effort to clean up and update the mansion. "Right
now we are on the cutting edge of restoration when it comes to old wallpaper,"
McLean says. "In the breakfast room we are working on trying to restore the
wallpaper. Over the years it got really dark and we are digitally trying to figure
out what color it was so we can recreate it." Projects
like this keep the mansion ever changing and growing. McLean says that during
her more than 25 years as curator, she has seen rooms open to the public and that's
what makes the mansion so exciting. In 2000, the kitchen area was opened to the
public with a new antique stove and handcrafted flooring that mimic the original
flooring. "We
actually interviewed a lady who as a little girl visited the mansion and remembers
the stove," McLean says. "That's how we were able to find the right
stove and the floor pattern." Although
the mansion was finished in 1914, it has some amenities found in homes today such
as an intercom, central vacuum system and indirect lighting. According to McLean,
the house was designed in 1909 and includes Turkish, English and French designs. Visitors
to the mansion are not only treated to learning about a family that was integral
in the history of Portland, but they can see some amazing architecture, landscaping
and views of downtown Portland. "I
love looking out the windows and seeing people having a picnic and enjoying the
views," she says. "I think it's one of the best places to visit in Portland." Currently
the basement of the mansion is available for business meetings and dinners. Tours
of the mansion are available every hour. For
more information about the location, tours or the history of the home go to the
Pittock Mansion's Web
site or call 503-823-3624.
Story
and photos by Patrick Johnson, a freelance writer based in Canby, OR. |
