Whenever I visit Portland, I must go down to the river – the Willamette, that is. I love to walk and wander the mile-long esplanade that parallels the river along Naito Parkway between Southwest Harrison and Northwest Glisan St.
Acquired in 1927, this 30-acre Waterfront Park gives hometowner folks and visitors alike a marvelous place to stroll, relax and learn about Portland’s maritime history. It is open 5 a.m. to midnight.
Major Park Features
The Battleship Oregon Memorial was built in 1956 to honor an 1893 ship. It was nicknamed ‘the Bulldog of the United States Navy. On July 4, 1976, a time capsule was sealed in the base of the memorial. The time capsule is to be opened July 5, 2076.
Salmon Street Springs was dedicated in 1988. Designed by Robert Perron Landscape Architects and Planners, the fountain is controlled by an underground computer that changes the pattern of the fountain’s 185 water jets. At full capacity, the fountain recycles 4,924 gallons of water per minute through as many as 137 jets at once.
On August 3, 1990, the Japanese American Historical Plaza was dedicated to the memory of those who were deported to inland internment camps during World War II. In the memorial garden, artwork tells the story of the Japanese people in the Northwest – of immigration, elderly immigrants, native-born Japanese Americans, soldiers who fought in US military services during the war.
In 1993, the Police Memorial, located at SW Jefferson near the Hawthorne Bridge, was dedicated to Portland police officers who had given their lives in the performance of their official duties.
