Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
2
DOWNTOWN PARK BLOCKS:
MUSEUM ROW
BOUNDARIES:
SW Morrison St., SW 10th Ave., SW College St., SW 3rd Ave.
DISTANCE:
2 miles
DIFFICULTY:
Easy
PARKING:
Metered street parking
PUBLIC TRANSIT:
Nearly any TriMet Bus or MAX Light Rail line headed toward down-
town
The area generally considered Downtown Portland encompasses a pretty vast stretch
of territory, but for this walk we'll stick primarily to the South Park Blocks and sur-
rounding area—basically the city's museum district. Not only is this where you'll find
the art museum and history center, it's also pleasantly removed from the bustling
commercial parts of downtown. Most of the route goes along an inviting stretch of
wide, traffic-free, tree-lined walkway leading toward the Portland State University
campus. Before we get there, though, we'll explore the city's “living room,” essen-
tially the heart of downtown, or at least its people-watching capital: Pioneer Court-
house Square, a wide public gathering space often filled with downtown workers
scarfing lunches bought from nearby food carts. It acts as an open-air event space,
too, hosting concerts in summer, a farmers' market each week, annual seasonal beer
fests, ethnic food and culture fairs, protests and demonstrations, book sales, and,
around December, the city's enormous holiday tree.
Start the walk at Pioneer Courthouse Square. Horrifyingly, the square
was almost turned into an 11-story parking garage instead; that's what
the owners of next-door department store Meier & Frank wanted to do
with the space in the 1960s, but luckily the city refused to allow it. In
fact, the threat of losing an opportunity for a shared public space down-
town led Portland's leaders to start developing an actual city plan, and
the creation of the public square was set into motion. It opened on April
6, 1984. Today it's the site of all kinds of civic activity, everything from
farmers' markets and food festivals to Occupy Wall Street protest rallies
to, recently, a jam-packed Girl Talk concert. Its curved steps make a
great place to sit and people-watch; the street theater here is tops.
