Recent Advocacy Work of Restore Oregon – Federal and State Although there is a direct connection between policy and what happens on the ground, it‘s often difficult to make that connection. In the very big picture, if Oregon had more tools and financial incentives for historic preservation, existing historic properties would be less threatened with […]
Announcing the Release of Oregon’s Intangible Heritage: Supporting the Preservation of Legacy Businesses!
Restore Oregon, with support from the Oregon Cultural Trust and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, announces the release of Oregon’s Intangible Heritage: Supporting the Preservation of Legacy Businesses–a vital part of Restore Oregon’s commitment to pursuing new and diverse historic preservation programming for Oregonians statewide. The report lays the groundwork for more inclusive and […]
Meet Robert Rummer
Photo of Robert and Phyllis Rummer. About Robert Rummer Robert Rummer, now a fixture of Oregon’s mid-century architectural landscape, was not immediately moved by modern design. It wasn’t until 1959 that Rummer, a man in his 30s with a successful insurance business, turned his attention to building modern tract housing. The credit for his change […]
Urgent Community Call: Join Together this Sunday at 2 pm in Portland
Although we fought against it, the Yamaguchi Hotel is slated for demolition starting next Monday. This important building is where Masae Yamaguchi served as the community’s midwife and the Yamaguchi family ran a hotel from 1921-1941. Please join us at the Japanese American Museum of Oregon’s (JAMO) event to remember this historic site this Sunday […]
State Forester’s Office: Ready for Restoration and Adaptation
This National Register-listed WPA-era gem faces decades of deferred maintenance and operating upgrades to make it ready for its next century. By Doug Decker, RO Board member and retired State Forester The fire that destroyed the original Oregon State Capitol building on the night of April 25, 1935 sparked changes in Salem and across state […]
The Jantzen Beach Carousel Ready for Next Phase
Bring the Jantzen Beach Carousel to Your Community Learn more about this opportunity. Restore Oregon seeks visionary new owner to carry turn-key restoration project through completion With preservation planning nearly complete, Restore Oregon, Oregon’s only statewide nonprofit historic preservation organization, is reactivating their search for a visionary entity or community with resources adequate to both assume ownership of […]
Please Welcome Nora Harris to the Restore Oregon Team!
We are thrilled to welcome our preservation programs intern, Nora Harris! Nora is pursuing an undergraduate degree in history, religion, and American studies at Kalamazoo College in Michigan. In addition to historic preservation, she is interested in public history, memory studies, material culture, and social history. Previously she worked as an archival and research intern […]
From Restore Oregon, With Love – XOXO
When most people think of the Jantzen Beach Carousel, they picture its four rows of elaborately carved horses. But did you know the carousel has another distinctive and rather romantic identifying feature? The canopy of the Jantzen Beach Carousel features dozens of cherubs, including 18 cherub shields adorned with winged faces and carved flowers and […]
February is Black History Month!
Above: The Mayo House, shown being relocated in January 2019, is a Queen Anne Cottage with a complex history. Moved twice previously, Eliot neighborhood residents Cleo Davis and his wife Kayin Talton Davis saved the house from development pressure and are working on plans to reimagine the Mayo House with a multipurpose future by creating […]
Advocacy in Action: Our Proactive Work at the Oregon Legislature
Restore Oregon staff and our expert volunteers on the Policy & Advocacy Committee have already reviewed close to 2,500 bills introduced in the first three weeks of the session! Based on our adopted legislative agenda, we have already submitted testimony for funding and are tracking a whole slew of bills where we believe historic preservation […]