Downtown Portland | Wentworth - Irwin American Motors Corporation around 1976 selling the new Pacer vs Powell's Books 2025
1005 W Burnside St
Source: Facebook Portland Memories Group
Remote
PDX Through Time
@PDXThroughTime@pdx.social
mastodon 4.7.3PDX Through Time is my mastodon based archival project to gather and link sourced old photographs & videos of the city of Portland, Oregon from across the internet - from personal collections, community archives, and historical records - often placing them alongside present-day views, in hope to form a layered visual history of how Portland has shifted across decades.
A little home to share to other more ephemeral social media like reddit, bluesky, etc etc. It's a conversation piece.
21 Followers
0 Following
19 Posts
Joined April 27, 2026
BlueSky Bridge:
Kids posing for photo Albina District (NE Ivy and NE Rodney). Wednesday July 31, 1963 vs 2026.
Historical Context of Razed Houses: In the 1960s, many homes in this area were razed for projects like the Memorial Coliseum, I-5 construction, and the Emanuel Hospital expansion.
Over 1,100 homes were demolished in total, forcing a mass exodus of Black families further north and east.
Source: Portland Archives | https://efiles.portlandoregon.gov/record/10945996/
https://vintageportland.wordpress.com/2018/07/11/help-us-out-39/
North on 1st Avenue at Stark, 1894 Flood vs 2026
Featuring the old Union Block Building in 1894 vs current day restructuring of 1st avenue 2026.
Built in stages between 1879 and 1881, the Union Block building featured fine cast-iron pieces from Willamette Iron Works. It was demolished in 1955.
More on the 1894 Flood: https://www.opb.org/article/2024/05/30/oregon-experience-130-years-ago-great-flood-1894-portland/
Photo Source : Vintage Portland https://vintageportland.wordpress.com/2010/05/13/1st-avenue-flood-1894/
Crystal Ballroom, Southeast corner of 14th & Burnside st 1917 vs 2026
Source: Portland Archives https://efiles.portlandoregon.gov/record/2669354/
Before there was Reo's Ribs 2026, there was Hollywood Burger Bar - which was open from 1954 - 2014.
4211 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, OR 97213
Source image: Facebook Portland Memories Group
Curious.. how many houses have been destroyed for parking lot construction through time.
Residence at 1416 NE Broadway, circa 1929 vs Current 2026 location.
Source: Vintage Portland https://vintageportland.wordpress.com/2026/05/11/ne-broadway-circa-1929/
Portland City Archives, AP/22800
100 Year Anniversary of the Burnside Bridge Completion
East Burnside Bridge looking east to Union Ave 1926 vs Current Day looking east to MLK Blvd 2026
Burnside Bridge will be closed to vehicles and open to pedestrians tomorrow, May 30th 2026, for its Centennial Party! https://multco.us/info/burnside-bridge-centennial-party
Source Photo: Portland Archives https://efiles.portlandoregon.gov/record/2955592/
W Burnside St and SW Oak St looking north on 10th Ave December 1939 vs 2026
Featuring Buildings of today's Powell's Books, Sizzle Pie, and Doc Martens.
You can see in the 1939 photograph, a sign featuring "Nash" which was an American automotive company that sold cars until the 1950's -- in the current space of Powell's Books.
More information on Nash Motors here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nash_Motors
Source: Portland Archives
https://efiles.portlandoregon.gov/record/2767125/
Angelina Jolie on top of the Broadway Bridge in the film "Foxfire" 1996
Source: Film Reel
News 8 "Californians Invade Portland" Segment Preview 1990
Source: Kevin Noonan Youtube
Downtown Portland, Oregon, early 1950s (likely around 1952–1953) - vs 2026 below it.
The view is looking south down SW Broadway from the intersection of SW Washington Street. This stretch was known as the "Great White Way" of Portland due to its dense concentration of neon signs and theaters.
If you look closely to the right side building, you can match the buildings fire escape ladders and window placement.
Source Image: Facebook Portland Memories Group
KOIN 6 Segment from 1992 on the drought plaguing Portland and all of Oregon.
The year 1992 fell toward the end of a generally dry period in Oregon. The 1992 drought was most intense in eastern Oregon, with severe drought occurring in Region 1. The Water Bureau begged Portlanders to conserve every precious drop of Bull Run's H2O they could and enforced water restrictions across the city.
Source Video: User 'Cheebed' Archived Footage | Youtube
Well...you can't talk about the United States without talking about its revolting racist past (& modern day!). Portland is no different. You may never pass this location the same way again...
5474 NE Sandy Blvd
"C**n Chicken Inn" 1931-1950s vs Clyde's Prime Rib 2026
I'll let the source links explain the rest of the story.
Sources: https://theclio.com/entry/4436
https://jimcrowmuseum.ferris.edu/links/essays/chicken.htm
Looking west onto NW Wilson St from NW 23rd Ave Towards Montgomery Ward & Co building March 13, 1939 vs 2026
(I think the caption's streets are off a bit, or maybe the lens perspective is different, but I did a comparison from NW Wilson St and NW 23rd Ave)
Source: Portland Archives https://efiles.portlandoregon.gov/record/3730505/
Additional Reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montgomery_Park_(Portland%2C_Oregon)
The building is located on property once used for the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition, of 1905.
NE Sandy Blvd at 28th Ave looking east 1940 vs 2026
Happy Land beer parlor, Big Eleven Market, and Ankeny Hardware vs Hollywood Vintage, Katie OBriens, & Dear Sandy. Much of the architecture still in use.
Source: Portland Archives https://efiles.portlandoregon.gov/record/2769524/
Exterior view of MacMarr Grocery Store 1931 Vs Mt. Scott Pub 2026
6005 SE 72nd and Woodstock
(View of a man standing in front of the shop. Vegetable starts, flour in sacks, and potatoes are displayed out front. Date is circa.)
Source: Portland Archives https://efiles.portlandoregon.gov/record/3573771/
A little 90s Flashback.
24 HOUR CHURCH OF ELVIS 1990
408 NW Couch Street, Portland
More Reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24_Hour_Church_of_Elvis
24 HOUR CHURCH OF ELVIS PORTLAND, OREGON 1990 HARD COPY TV Broadcast
Another one in the meantime.
A 90s Commercial of 'Organ Grinder Pizza', which was located on 82nd Ave - its iconic building now home to Super King Buffet.
Source: Kevin Noonan [VHS Collection Archive] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzFqloxiPdw
Relevant Article:
https://www.portlandmercury.com/food-and-drink/pipe-dreams-and-pizza-crusts-will-dive-into-the-wacky-world-of-organ-grinder-pizza/
(repost for visibility)
The Organ Grinder Portland Oregon 1990
You may pass by this everyday and never noticed this building billboard used to be far more extravagant.1969 vs 2026.
"Green Stamp Corp" & “Lifetime Gifts” billboard at SE Powell Boulevard and SE 8th Avenue, 1969.
Source: https://vintageportland.wordpress.com/tag/lifetime-gifts/
City of Portland (OR) Archives, A2011-018.386.
(redraft for visibility)