You don’t have to travel far to view the architectural beauties Oregon has to offer! Here are some of my favorite architectural buildings in and around Portland. Leave a comment if you’ve visited any of these buildings or if I’m missing your favorite architectural building on this list!

Pittock Mansion
3229 NW Pittock Dr. Portland

_{^{Photo from pittockmansion.org}}

This French Renaissance-style chateau was built in 1914 for publisher Henry Pittock and his wife, Georgiana Burton Pittock. The mansion is also a museum and has amazing walking paths all along it’s hillside. Pittock Mansion was hit by a storm in the 1960’s and was almost knocked down and turned into a subdivision. Luckily, it was restored and transformed into a public space in 15 months. 

 

Gordon House
849 W Main St. Silverton

_{^{Photo from thegordonhouse.org}}

Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, arguably one of the most influential architects in the world, the Gordon House is Wright’s only design built in Oregon and is an example of his Usonian vision for America. The home was originally in Wilsonville, but in 1997, it’s new owners wanted to tear it down and develop a more contemporary home. The Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservatory was able to save the building and move it to the Oregon Garden. Gordon House is now open for tours, events, and even weddings!

 

Aubry Watzek House
1061 SW Skyline Blvd. Portland

_{^{Photo from yeoncenter.uoregon.edu}}

Built for a lumber magnate, The Watzek House is a major regional statement of Modern architecutre. The house is U-shaped and centered around a formal courtyard. It features spectacular views of Mt. Hood and offers daily tours.

 

The Old Church
1422 SW 11th Ave. Portland

_{^{Photo from Peter Mahar Photography}}

The Old Church is a non-profit, non-religious concert hall and historic landmark and focuses on restoring and preserving the structure. It was designed by Portland architect Warren Heywood Williams and features a Gothic 1800’s style and stained glass windows. 

 

Hollywood Theater
4122 NE Sandy Blvd. Portland

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Considered a gem of NE Portland’s culture and tradition, the Hollywood Theater is Portland’s historic nonprofit theater. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 and has even hosted many special guests like Quentin Tarantino, Pam Grier, Michael Ironside, Piper Laurie, and Joe Dante. The building is designed in multiple styles like Spanish Colonial and Bernini. 

 

Shelton McMurphey Johnson House
303 Willamette St. Eugene

_{^{Photo from WikiMedia Commons}}

Named after the three families who’ve called it home over the years, the Shelton McMurphey Johnson house is also known as Castle on the Hill. SMJ is Eugene’s most elaborate example of late Victorian Queen Anne Revival style architecture. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this gorgeous Victorian is now a museum.

 

U.S. National Bank Building
309 SW 6th Ave. Portland

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Designed in a Roman classical style, U.S. National Bank Building features a four story corinthian colonnade and uses beautiful glazed terracotta extensively.  

 

U.S. Bancorp Tower
111 SW 5th Ave. #1250 Portland

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U.S. Bancorp Tower is 42 stories tall and is the second tallest building in Portland. It’s unusual color gave way to it’s nickname: the “Big Pink”. Because of the street grid, the tower features no right angles in it’s parallelogram footprint which in turn makes it look either extremely slender or wide depending on the angle one is viewing the building.

 

The Portland Building
1120 SW 5th Ave. Portland

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Even though the Portland Building has received a lot of criticism in the past, it has had a huge effect on American architecture and an award winning example of Post Modern architecture. One of it’s famous attributes would have to be the beautiful copper-hammered statue Portlandia that graces it’s front entrance.

 

Old Town
Mitchell, Oregon

_{^{Photo from bendmagazine.com}}

Mitchell, Oregon is about a 4 hour drive SE from Portland and is the closest town to the infamous Painted Hills. Mitchell’s “Old Town” maintains a historic rustic charm featuring western false front architecture.