AHC NEWSLETTER | October 14, 2026 | | Crew Painting Our West Block Building: Window and Door Sets October 2026 | | |
IN THIS EDITION:
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In the News: Union Station National Historic Register Updated, OPB "This Portland Castle", Keller Auditorium, Building on History
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Object From Our Archives: Hidden Brick
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Walking Tours: Mt. Tabor Neighborhood, Hawthorne Portland Tour of Native American Public Art
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Community and Partner Event(s): Crow Manor Haunted House, Restore Oregon's Restoration Celebration
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Talks & Events: Brian Libby In Search of Portland: Exploring a Transforming City Book Talk 10/17 - Battle of The Brains, AHC Trivia Night 11/16
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Review Us On Google: Your Voice Matters - Link
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Closing 10/31/26: Lloyd Center Journal Horatio Hung-Yan Law & A Tribute to the Lloyd Center Mall Matt Masuoka
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Union Station National Historic Register Updated
Portland Union Station’s Black History Update: On September 24, 2026, the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability officially announced an update to Portland Union Station’s listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The new documentation formally recognizes and honors the terminal's immense significance to African American history, specifically highlighting the history of Black rail workers and travelers.
Link to Press Release
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This Portland castle ‘is an incredible piece of the past’ that’s faded from view and memory
By Cambrie Juarez (OPB)
PORTLAND, Ore. Oct. 10, 2026
But the three-story castle named after its creator, Charles H. Piggott, is Portland’s “most distinctive home meant to look like a medieval castle,” Norman Gholston, preservation program manager at the Architectural Heritage Center, told OPB. “The other homes don’t take it as far as Piggott. It is the only home that convincingly looks like you might see it on a Scottish Moor.”
Link to Full Article
| | | OBJECT FROM OUR COLLECTION | | Did you know the Architectural Heritage Center has a modest brick collection? | | |
The Hidden Brick Company started making bricks in Vancouver in 1871. The company was founded by Lowell Hidden and produced bricks at 15th and Main Streets. | | Daniel Hidden generously donated the bricks and the ephemera pictured above related to the Hidden Company to AHC. | |
The “1871” brick pictured was produced in 1871 as a Hidden Co. 100th anniversary Centennial Brick. Lowell Hidden Arrived in Vancouver from Vermont around 1864. The brick company moved to 26th and Kauffman Streets. Later, Lowell’s brothers moved to Vancouver and became partners in the Hidden Bros Brick Co. in 1890.
The Hidden brick company supplied many tens of millions of bricks for buildings in the region. Examples of buildings using Hidden bricks include Vancouver’s Providence Academy 1871-1873, and the Vancouver Carnegie Library, now the home of the Clark County Museum. The Hidden Family donated the land for the construction of the library in 1909. The Hidden Family has been philanthropic and an important part of civic life in Vancouver for over 160 years.
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Our tour guides are amazing volunteers. Thank you, Elizabeth Milliken - Lair Hill Tour. This tour is being offered again on October 15, 2026. Thank you, Joe Leong, for taking the photo.
10am - Noon. Reserve Your Spot.
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Our Walking Tours
We host tours to empower people to discover, understand, and appreciate the historic buildings, neighborhoods, and local stories that define Portland's unique cultural identity. Thank you, Kraft Custom Construction, for sponsoring our 2026 walking tours!
Tour Tickets
- $35.00 — General Public
- $20.00 — AHC Members
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Hawthorne Neighborhood Tour
10/24/2026 10:00 AM - Noon
Summary
Explore some of the commercial and residential sections of this former streetcar suburb.
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Portland Tour of Native American Public Art
Nov 2, 2026 10:00 AM - Noon PT
Summary
A walking tour of Native American public art in downtown Portland will go from a Rick Bartow statue near Pioneer Courthouse to the Portland Building to several PSU buildings (including the Native American Student and Community Center, which is filled with Native art).
Led By AHC's Board Member, Tracy Prince PhD
| | | Community & Partner Events | |
Thank you, Allen Temple CME, Bethel AME, and Vancouver Avenue First Baptist churches and Hennebery Eddy Architects
It was wonderful being a part of Albina's Historic African American Churches Tour and Career Fair on Saturday, October 10, 2026.
| | Executive Director Claire Long tabled for AHC at Vancouver Avenue First Baptist Church. AHC board member Denyse McGriff was one of the guest panelists at the event. | | | | |
Crow Manor!
Oct. 9 - Nov. 1
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A Haunted House: First Step for Preserving the Building.
Architect: Built in 1907, the home is recognized as one of the early works of prominent local architect John Virginius Bennes, an early disciple of Frank Lloyd Wright who also designed the historic Hollywood Theatre.
Design: The 9,200+ square-foot grand residence features classic Arts & Crafts details and sits on a 15,000-square-foot footprint
Keep Following Our Newsletter for a post-spooky-season hard hat tour in the works.
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Restore Oregon's
Restoration Celebration 2026
Friday, October 23, 2026
The Historic Dance Pavilion at Oaks Park
4:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Silent Auction & Happy Hour Reception
DeMuro Preservation Impact Award & Live Appeal
After Party
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Saturday, October 17th, Noon-1pm
Author Talk
In Search of Portland, Exploring a Transforming City Author Brian Libby Book Talk & Signing
More than a book about buildings, In Search of Portland reveals the stories behind the built landscape, the people, and the history that have created modern Portland.
Link to board member Fred Lesson's review of the book: "Brian Libby's Labor of Love".
FREE EVENT RSVP Link
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Battle of The Brains
When: November 17, 2026, 5:30 pm -7:00 pm
Where: Lucky Lab Brewpub, 1947 NW Quimby Street. Street parking only
Cost: $20.00 for members, $25 for non-members
Food, etc.- Pizza and Salad will be provided. Cash bar for drinks
What: Trivia and Mixer
Join us at the Lucky Lab on NW Quimby Street for a fun night of architectural history and Portland historic trivia as well as your introduction to our new Executive Director, Claire Long!
Our MC for the night is none other than historian extraordinaire, tour guide, and AHC librarian John Doyle.
You will be put on a team, meet other architectural history lovers, have endless pizza, and see if your team has what it takes to be the champions of the Battle of the Brains!
Trivia Jock: John Doyle has been a lifelong student of history, architecture, and art history. He has lived in Portland since 1997 and has been a docent for the Architectural Heritage Center and a private tour guide since 2010. John Doyle has been making his own brand of trivia in Portland for many years, and we are honored that he is willing to create an AHC-themed Trivia Night
Click Here to Register
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Seeking Front Desk Service Volunteers
Our wonderful Assistant team opens the museum, greets visitors, helps patrons navigate the museum, signs up new AHC members, manages the gift shop, among other tasks. Most importantly, these volunteers are the welcoming face of AHC -- the most important duty is greeting patrons with a smile! We're looking for volunteers who can take at least two shifts a month. No previous experience is necessary. We'll help you learn what you need to know. Contact info@visitahc.org if interested.
| Help Us Share Portland's Stories | |
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Enjoyed a Walking Tour? Mention your guide or a favorite stop.
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Attended a Lecture? Let others know what you learned.
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Visited our Gallery or Relied on our Advocacy? Tell future visitors why AHC matters to our city.
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Leave a 60-Second Google Review!
Whether you've joined us on a sunny neighborhood walking tour, explored our gallery exhibits, attended an inspiring lecture, or relied on our team of volunteers and staff for historic preservation advocacy, Your Voice Matters.
Despite serving the Portland community for decades, our small non-profit relies heavily on word-of-mouth. Today, most new visitors find us through search engines--and--Google Reviews are the single biggest way travelers, history buffs, and new neighbors discover our programs.
Google Review Link
| | | | View Our Collection Online | | |
The AHC and Bosco-Milligan collection is now accessible on our website! Note: This is the beta version and we'll be refining its search capabilities in 2025.
All of this would not have been possible without our many volunteers who have and continue to helped catalog and document our collection.
View past collection featured items | View our collection online
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Stop by to see our current exhibits!
- ILLUMINATED IRIDESCENCE: Artistry in Stained Glass
- WHEN DOORS OPEN: Places of Pride, Preserving LGBTQ+ Portland
- PRESERVING PORTLAND THROUGH LOCAL ACTION: Historic Preservation in the Rose City
- VISION FOR THE CITY: Tools for Seeing & Shaping our City: Past, Present, & Future
| | Exhibits graciously sponsored by: | | | | |
Regular Gallery Hours
Thursday - Saturday: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Admission is always free for members!
$10 admission for non-members.
The AHC is a Blue Star Museum. We offer free admission to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families, including the National Guard and Reserve.
The AHC also participates in Museums for All: those receiving food assistance (SNAP benefits) get reduced admission.
Students are always free with valid ID.
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All levels of AHC members receive free or discounted admission to AHC exhibits and programs.
Additionally, for nine years, regional attractions have partnered to offer reciprocal admission to show appreciation for our loyal members and highlight the important role that cultural organizations play in our communities.
Through the Reciprocal Membership Program, membership to one of the 29 participating organizations is your key to free admission for a member and three guests of any age to a different attraction each month.
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| Find products, services, and information for historic homes and spaces - and those who love them! These businesses are members of the Architectural Heritage Center and support our work. | | | | |
