Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Pioneer Courthouse Square

…Continued from Site of the Portland Hotel.

IMG_3277 Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland, Oregon on September 7, 2008
Pioneer Courthouse Square on September 7, 2008

For 30 years the parking lot on the former site of the Portland Hotel occupied an entire city block in the heart of downtown Portland, until public discussions led to the decision to transform the site into a public park. Named after the historic Pioneer Courthouse that looked over it, Pioneer Courthouse Square was opened to the public on the weekend of April 6-8, 1984, coinciding with the birthday of the City of Portland and the Portland Hotel.

The Pioneer Courthouse Square Design Team included Design Architect Willard K. Martin, F.A.I.A., Project Architects Marcus C. Bevins and Cameron G. Hyde, Artist Robert Reynolds, Landscape Architect Douglas Macy, A.S.L.A., Historian Terence O'Donnell, Sculptor Lee Kelly and Writer Spencer Gill. A plaque describes the team's design philosophy:

"From travels through the world and human history we found remarkable examples of open examples of open spaces that are still alive, distinctive, legible symbols of free and equal citizens taking active part in political and social life.

Reorganizing the present vital forces shaping our own city, we searched for a symbol, appropriate for now and the future. We visualized that symbol as a special 'living room'; walls defined by the changing elements of the city, the roof formed by the sky, complete in its design only when occupied by its urban family.

Through our combined hopes, dreams, and skills, we hope that we have here designed a public square which will attract both use and affection, and thus become a vital place in the hearts of the people."

Part of the Pioneer Courthouse Square Design Team's philosophy was that Pioneer Courthouse Square would be the city's "living room," with "walls defined by the changing elements of the city." Since the buildings surrounding the square are essentially the walls of this "living room," they can almost be considered part of the square.

IMG_3278 Waterfall Fountain at Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland, Oregon on September 7, 2008
Waterfall Fountain on September 7, 2008

Pioneer Courthouse Square's dominant feature is the Waterfall Fountain, designed by Will Martin and constructed in 1983. The fountain was sponsored by The Galleria and Morgan Park, Inc. In the center of the fountain is the entrance to a Visitor Information Center.

IMG_3519 Waterfall Fountain at Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland, Oregon on September 7, 2008
Waterfall Fountain on September 7, 2008

At the top of the Waterfall Fountain is a Keystone Lectern, sponsored by Pacific-Six Twenty by Mrs. Harold A. Miller, and flagpoles displaying the flags of the United States, Oregon and Portland, contributed respectively by Hayden Island, Inc., the Oregon Community Foundation and Dillingham Ship Repair in honor of their employees.

IMG_3283 Waterfall Fountain at Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland, Oregon on September 7, 2008
Waterfall Fountain on September 7, 2008

The fountain was rededicated in 1997 in honor of Mary and Pete Mark for their inspiration, leadership and support.

IMG_3291 Allow Me Statue at Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland, Oregon on September 7, 2008
Allow Me on September 7, 2008

This bronze statue of a man offering his umbrella is called Allow Me by J. Seward Johnson. It was given by Harry H. Schwartz of New York City as a gift to the City of Portland in 1983.

IMG_3510 Broadway Entrance Feature at Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland, Oregon on September 7, 2008
Broadway Entrance Feature on September 7, 2008

This Broadway Entrance Feature at the corner of Broadway and Yamhill Street was contributed by Norris, Beggs & Simpson.

IMG_3514 Columns at Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland, Oregon on September 7, 2008
Pioneer Courthouse Square Columns on September 7, 2008

This series of columns lines the Yamhill Street side of Pioneer Courthouse Square.

IMG_3515 Columns at Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland, Oregon on September 7, 2008
Pioneer Courthouse Square Columns on September 7, 2008

IMG_3509 Wine Sycamore Maple Trees at Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland, Oregon on September 7, 2008
Wine Sycamore Maple Trees on September 7, 2008

The Broadway side of Pioneer Courthouse Square is lined with these Wine Sycamore Maple Trees contributed by Mr. & Mrs. Melvin Mark, Jr.

IMG_3286 Echo Chamber Amphitheater at Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland, Oregon on September 7, 2008
Echo Chamber on September 7, 2008

The "Echo Chamber" amphitheater honors two pioneers who worked on or near this block: Garrison J. Gray, a carpenter from 1851, and George Neuner, a U. S. Attorney from 1925 to 1933. Included in the amphitheater are bronze tiles depicting Portland's past, handmade by Gail Martin.

IMG_3293 Milepost Sign at Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland, Oregon on September 7, 2008
Pioneer Courthouse Square Milepost on September 7, 2008

This milepost sign on the east side of Pioneer Courthouse Square gives the distance to local attractions, Portland's sister cities and other locations around the world.

IMG_3296 Milepost Sign at Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland, Oregon on September 7, 2008
Pioneer Courthouse Square Milepost on September 7, 2008

Northwest
Suzhou: 5,815 miles
Khabarovsk: 4,446 miles
Sapporo: 4,456 miles

North
Lillehammer: 4,614 miles
Mt. St. Helens: 72 miles
Crozet Basin: 12,419 miles

Northeast
Portland, ME: 2,540 miles
Red Square, Moscow: 5,361 miles
Col. Riv. Gorge: 8 miles
Tipperary: A Long Way

West
Pacific Ocean: 82 miles
Zoo/Elephants: 1.7 miles
Washington Park/Rose Garden: 1.2 miles
Tri-Met Info: 54 yards
Mutare: 10,115 miles

East
Mecca: 7,691 miles
Times Square: 2,443 miles
Ashkelon: 6,930 miles
Waterfront: 7 blocks
Walden Pond: 2,530 miles
Hermiston: 186 miles

Southwest
Kaohsiung: 6,295 miles
Ulsan: 5,282 miles
Grt. Wall of China: 5,510 miles
Alice Springs, Aus./Kangaroos: 8,003 miles

South
Corinto: 3,063 miles
Crater Lk.: 245 miles
Remote, OR: 182 miles
Guadalajara: 2,035 miles
Crozet Basin: 12,419 miles

Southeast
Timbuktu: 6,726 miles
Casablanca: 5,643 miles
Mt. Hood: 70 miles
Portlandia: 5 blocks
Independence: 1,497 miles

IMG_3298 Milepost Sign at Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland, Oregon on September 7, 2008
Pioneer Courthouse Square Milepost on September 7, 2008

IMG_3279 Weather Machine at Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland, Oregon on September 7, 2008
Weather Machine on September 7, 2008

The Weather Machine shows the temperature and air quality and forecasts the weather for the next 24 hours. It was designed by Richard Ponzi, Ray Grimm, Jere Grimm and Roger Sheppard and dedicated on August 24, 1988. Major contributors included Mary & Pete Mark, E. Kimbark MacColl, Alyce R. Cheatham, Meier & Frank, AT&T Foundation, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Standard Insurance Company and Alexandra MacColl.

IMG_3523 Weather Machine at Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland, Oregon on September 7, 2008
Weather Machine on September 7, 2008

The symbol at the top gives the forecast: the sun goddess Helia for clear, sunny weather, the silver blue heron, Portland's city bird, for misty, cloudy and drizzly weather, or the copper dragon for storms with heavy wind and rain. A daily fanfare at noon shows all three symbols before showing the new forecast. The temperature is shown by lights on the edge of the column and lights at the top show air quality: green for good, amber for moderate and flashing red for poor.

IMG_3288 Bronze Chessboards at Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland, Oregon on September 7, 2008
Pioneer Courthouse Square Chessboards on September 7, 2008

Three bronze chessboards, designed by Soderstrom Architects, were added to the Morrison Street side of Pioneer Courthouse Square in June 2003.

IMG_3289 Bronze Chessboard at Pioneer Courthouse Square in Portland, Oregon on September 7, 2008
Pioneer Courthouse Square Chessboards on September 7, 2008

Continue to MAX Light Rail at Pioneer Courthouse Square

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