Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Walk 7: Forest Park
). Otherwise, or after a picnic break, forge ahead on
NW Thurman St. as it winds its way uphill and the houses and yards
grow ever more attractive. At the end of the curvy street, you'll come to
a gateway that marks the entrance to NW Leif Erikson Dr. (Sometimes
also called Leif Erikson Trail, it was named Hillside Dr. until 1933,
when the local Sons of Norway lobbied to change the name in honor of
the Norwegian explorer.) This trail is a nice wide dirt-and-gravel road
that stretches 11 miles into Forest Park; it's a favorite among runners
and bicyclists. We'll turn you loose here to decide for yourself how far
you feel like going. (This trail is also a fine entry point for more-extens-
ive hikes throughout Forest Park, but you'll definitely want to have a
good map on hand.)
To return to the starting point, simply reverse course and follow NW
Thurman St. to NW 23rd Pl. Or hop Bus 15 back; you can catch it at
NW Gordon St.
BACK STORY: 1905 LEWIS AND
CLARK CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION
The summer and early fall of 1905 saw Portland's first and only world's fair,
the Lewis and Clark Centennial Expo. Millions of people showed up, and
many of them stayed; the city's population doubled in the next five years.
World's fairs in general were a chance for people to see the very newest and
most exciting advancements in architecture, science, technology, and ideas.
Twenty-one countries participated in the Lewis and Clark Expo, each with an
elaborately decorated pavilion meant to display its glorious bounty. Often the
pavilions themselves
were
the display, as in the case of the Forest Building,
which was made of huge Douglas-fir logs, bark and all, and meant to repres-
ent the potential of the logging industry in the Pacific Northwest. (It stayed up
and in use until a fire destroyed it in 1964.) Many of the structures were later
taken apart and moved to other parts of town when the Expo ended—for in-
stance, the McMenamins theater pub in St. Johns and its original dome (see
Walk 25: St. Johns and Cathedral Park
for details).
POINT OF INTEREST (
START TO FINISH
)
St. Honoré Bakery
sainthonorebakery.com
,
2335 NW Thurman St., 503-445-4342
