Why Portland?
Portland, the City of Roses
Georgina Pittock, wife to longtime publisher of The Oregonian, Henry Pittock, turned her love for roses into a social affair in 1889, and the Portland Rose Society was born. In 1905, Portland held the Lewis and Clark Exposition, its only world’s fair, to attract people to the city and boost the regional economy. The organizers spent two years landscaping the 400-acre fairgrounds on the shores of Guild Lake.
To attract visitors to the exposition, the City of Portland planted around 10,000 bushes of the revered Madame Caroline Testout rose along Portland’s streets. The voluptuous Madame Caroline Testout rose is perhaps the most popular breed of hybrid tea rose, named after a nineteenth century French dressmaker in 1890.
At the end of the exposition, Mayor Harry Lane announced that he would build on the success of the fair and establish an annual rose festival. More than 1.5 million people attended the Lewis and Clark Exposition, and Lane thought a rose festival could have a similar economic impact. The first Rose Festival was held two years later in 1907, and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2015.
HOT SPOTS
My Favorite Places in Portland
Gold Door
New Age jewelry store
address:
1434 SE 37th ave
What I like about it
it has different jewelry from different cultures and the jewelry is affordable! Not just that, but the staff is very welcoming!
Shanghai Tunnels
Historical underground tunnel system for transporting goods in the 19th century to the 1940s
address:
120 NW 3rd Ave
What I like about it
This one is spooky and has a darker history behind it than just transporting goods making it an intriguing tourist hot spot. In addition, it is said the old Portland can be seen down there. Make sure to schedule your tour in advance, it's worth checking out! But don't go alone.... they say the Shanghai Tunnels are haunted!
Laurelhurst Park
A beautiful nature park in SE Portland
address:
SE Cesar E Chavez Blvd & Stark St
What I like about it
Laurelhurst is a park bursting with so much nature and beauty, it's magical. From a pond, to trails, to old fashioned light posts, it's enough to make you think you've wandered through a magical wardrobe.