Portland Theme Tours

These tours are where my passion lays. In eastern philosophy they say to truly know the nature of man a Confucius will travel far from his village but a Taoist can study his home village deeply to find it. I have spent the last 60 year exploring Portland and Oregon to know it deeply. Now let me share with you.

Theme Tours

In terms of Western Civilization we are a very young place. But a lot went on here to get us caught up with the rest of the world. With these tours you can visit the places that made Portland and Oregon. Many lead you outside of Portland to find the early history and economy that Portland depended upon. These are perhaps less tour and more destination as they can be spread over the place. You can’t smoothly connect the dots on many of these. I do have tours that connect the dots and some of these destinations are part of those. You can find those tours at Driving Tours From Portland. For all of these a good place start is on the third floor of the Oregon History Museum in the South Park Blocks in downtown Portland. The Museum covers a time line from the geology to native people to first contact all the way to Silicon Forest of today. Two to three hour visit should give you a feel for how things got started.

Discovery

WE WERE ALREADY HERE

The story of the indigenous people – The the land was already occupied. Who were the people who were already here, how were they removed from the land and what became of them.

Nice impact photo but a tiny hard to read sign. I forgot to bring my magnifying glass along. These folks are a separate nation so the disability act does not affect them.

I wish there was some signage to let know what these are and why they are important. They had a general statement sign on the wall but it did not identify the artifacts, their use or the cultural significant or if it carries through to tribe today.

LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION – THE CORP OF DISCOVERY

One of the great journeys of discovery. Their mission was completed when they got to the Pacific Ocean. But then there was that little issue of getting back to report to Andre Jackson what they saw and part started here.

Resource Extraction

With Trapping, logging and fishing early arrivals saw such abundance that they thought it would never end and they saw their chance to strike it rich. They took all they could and at times squander much. The taking of the natural resources was more of a mining operation. The resources were limited and would eventually be mined out. Yet this is a very important chapter in Oregon’s and Portland’s history. Today we are left with the mining spoils and how to manage it. Up to now we are not doing a very good job of it.

WHEN WE WERE A BRITISH COMPANY – THE FUR TRADE

The Hudson Bay Company came to make money on animal pelts and by accident started settling of the Oregon Country.

The bastion was add to the fort in 1845 for protection. As settlers poured into the area Hudson Bay Co, became afraid the fort might be over run.

It was said that offender were brought before McLoughlin while he stood upon this porch. If found guilty the offender might be tied to the a cannon and whipped or sent to the jail.

Two house build in historic style of the era represent the village once made up of many houses, barns, churches and businesses.

FISHING FOR KING SALMON

Dip nets to gill nets to fishing poles and canning to back yard grills. Fishing for Salmon and fish hatcheries today.

WHEN TIMBER WAS KING

Early logging and logging Barons, to “getting the cut out,” to the two schools of forest management and now other growing demands on our forest. Where did I leave my hiking boots?

An area showing forests products from around the world.

Settlement

Unlike those who came to make their fortune and return home, the pioneers and others came to make this their new home.

HOW IT BEGAN

The start of Settlements, Government and Statehood.

LAND OF MILK AND HONEY

Settlement and Farming, The appeal of Free land to farm, from family farm to family vineyards.

The market was full of late season fresh vegetables.

RIVERS WERE HIGHWAYS and Then

Water Transportation – Steam boats, inland seaports, locks and barges, the waterways moved people and commerce. Then came other ways to move people and goods around.

Last of its kine.The steam powered stern wheel Portland is the home of the Oregon Maritime Museum.

Reinventing

After the War things went down hill for Portland and Oregon. Industry was fading, natural resources were depleted, the water, land and air polluted, a boom bust cycle was leading no where. Changes need to be made. The Democrats were pushing for new business and the Republicans were out to save nature. What the F***! Hey its weird here.