Take A Self-Guided Tour of Pittock Mansion in Portland

3 minute read | contains affiliate links

Welcome to the historic splendor of Portland’s crown jewel - Pittock Mansion. Perched atop the West Hills, this elegant chateau beckons visitors with its captivating architecture and breathtaking views.

Embark on a journey through time as we delve into the rich history and opulent charm of Pittock Mansion, offering a glimpse into the lives of Portland's most influential family.

Join us as we uncover the fascinating stories and hidden treasures that await behind the doors of this iconic landmark.

As I usually am with these types of posts, I’m going to be vague when discussing the tour and what you’ll see as I don’t want to spoil everything.

I’ll first go over the parking situation at Pittock Mansion, as well as tours offered and admission fees. Then, I’ll discuss the history of the mansion and its former owners, while showcasing photos I took that’ll provide a glimpse into what you’ll see on the tour.

Let’s get into it!

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Pittock Mansion Location, Parking & Admission Fees

Pittock Mansion (pronounced Pit-Tick) is located within one of Portland’s Forest Park, and is near many popular attractions such as the Portland Japanese Garden, Oregon Zoo, and the Wildwood Trail (which will also take you to the famed Witches Castle).

For GPS purposes, its address is:

• 3229 NW Pittock drive

 

Parking at Pittock Mansion is easy with its large, paved lot near the mansion’s entrance. The mansion is part of Portland’s “Pay to Park” program.

The parking rate here is $2 per hour with a daily maximum of $8. The enforcement hours are between 9:30am - 8:00pm, inclusive of holidays. You can see up to date rates and additional information at Portland.gov.

Currently, the only tour offered is self-guided and you’ll need to pay for admission. Pittock Mansion tour prices (as of July 2023) are:

• $14.50 (Adults)

• $12.50 (Seniors 65 & up)

• $10.50 (Children 6 - 18)

• Free (Children 6 & under)

During the self-guided tour, you’ll have access to the mansion itself and the grounds. Currently, there is no access to the Gate Lodge. You can check the status of that here.

Tour tickets can be purchased on site (not recommended during summer months) or online. You’ll be asked to choose your date of visit and an entry time.

Keep in mind that you don’t need to purchase a ticket in order to visit the grounds. You’ll only need one if you actually want to see the interior of the mansion.

Pittock Mansion History & Tour Photos

Pittock Mansion was built in 1914 by Henry and Georgiana Pittock, who are considered to be the founders of Portland as we know it.

Henry and Georgiana would arrive to Portland (separately) in the mid-1850’s. Henry would go on own the successful newspaper, The Oregonian (which prints to this day), and become a savvy investor in industries such as real estate, silver mining and the railroad.

Georgiana would become an influential leader and figurehead in Portland, founding many local charities and organizations, such as The Ladies Relief Society, Women’s Union, and The Martha House.

The 16,000 square foot, French Renaissance style home was designed by architect Edward T. Foulkes with all the latest (of the time) technology.

As you’ll likely notice, the mansion was built in an oval shape with 45 degree angled wings. This was done to enable a commanding view of downtown Portland and the beautiful Cascade Mountains.

There are 23 rooms contained within the mansion, of which include; a sewing room, smoking room, music room, library, five large bedrooms and two sleeping porches.

You’ll have access to view many of the rooms listed above. You’ll also ascend the multi-level dueling grand staircase, with marble flooring throughout, as part of the tour.

Henry and Georgiana weren’t the only two that lived here. In fact, many members of their extended family moved in with them when construction completed.

This included their two daughters and their husbands, as well as their three grandchildren, Rhoda, Georgiana, and Peter (who was born in the mansion). Their two orphaned nieces also took up residence in the hilltop home.

As fate would have it, Henry and Georgiana would only enjoy the mansion and its splendors for four years. Georgiana would pass away in 1918 from stroke complications, with Henry following suit just a few months later.

The family continued to live in the mansion well into the 1950’s, with grandson Peter and his father, Edward, being the final residents.

In 1958, they moved out of the mansion and put it up for sale. After sitting empty for four years, the mansion was heavily damaged by a hurricane-like storm and consequently fell into disrepair.

By 1964, developers set their sights on the mansion, wanting to bulldoze it to make way for a new housing development. Portlanders, however, had something else in mind.

Citizens rallied against the idea of a development and instead demanded the mansion be repaired and preserved. The city agreed, paying a cool $225,000 for the property ($67,500 of which was raised by citizens).

Repairs took fifteen months to complete but by late 1965, Pittock Mansion opened to the public. The transformation from a private, luxurious residence to a historic museum was complete.

Today, the Pittock Mansion Society, a local non-profit, manages the day-to-day operations of the property and ensures it’s preservation for all.

I hope you’ll consider visiting and taking a tour of Pittock Mansion during your trip to Portland. It’s truly a beautiful property and a classic Portland experience.

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Gilda’s: A Wonderful Italian Restaurant in Portland

2 minute read | may contain affiliate links

During our trip to Portland last year, my wife and I were looking for a nice Italian restaurant to host our anniversary dinner. After scouring Yelp, we landed on Gilda’s.

Based on reviews, locals and visitors alike seemed to enjoy it (which is rare) and the dimly lit, semi-casual atmosphere seemed right up our ally.

Additionally, it isn’t a chain. It’s locally owned and operated, which is something we make a point of supporting during our travels.

Take all that and combine it with the fact that it was a quick 15 minute walk from our downtown area hotel and it was a no-brainer.

So if you’re looking for an Italian restaurant in Portland, read on to find out about our experience, what we ordered, our recommendations and more!

Restaurant Info

• Location: Portland, OR

• Address: 1601 SW Morrison Street

• Cost: Mid - high range

• Food: Italian

• Open: Lunch & dinner (closed for a couple hours in between)

• Seating: Indoor. Dining room and lounge available

• Alcohol: Extensive beer, wine and cocktail offerings

• Website/Menu: www.gildasitalianrestaurant.com

• Our Visit: March 2022

Disclaimer: I am not a professional restaurant critic, nor has this restaurant offered me any incentive to write this post. My opinions are my own and are based on my personal experience only.

Gilda’s is located in the Portland neighborhood of Goose Hallow, on the ground level of the historic Commodore Hotel.

It was opened by Chef Marco in 2010 and expanded in 2012 with the opening of the lounge in the adjacent space.

Chef Marco received his culinary training at Apicious International School of Hospitality in Florence, Italy. He credits his mother and grandmother (Gilda) as his early culinary influences.

As you may have guessed, the restaurant is lovingly named to honor Grandma Gilda, who sadly passed away in 2008, just two years before its opening.

According to the website, Grandma Gilda was known for her love of cooking homemade pasta, pizzas, soups and desserts for family and friends.

To her, food equalled love, and that’s the same passion for cooking Chef Marco committed to bringing to the City of Roses.

The dining room is dimly lit with Italian themed decor throughout, giving off a romantic, yet cozy atmosphere. A large photo of Grandma Gilda hangs deservedly near the entrance.

The menu consists of many Italian classics you know and love such as rigatoni, spaghetti and meatballs, and pappardelle, as well as rotating specials.

They also have an extensive libations menu consisting of a variety of beers, wines and cocktails. I deviated from my usual Old Fashion to try their Blackberry Lemon Drop (and I have no regrets).

Its base is Tito’s Vodka (a popular brand out of Austin, Texas) mixed with fresh lemon juice and blackberry coulis, finished with a lemon wedge and sugared rim.

I may or may not have ordered a few of these as I found the drink delicious, never mind smooth and perfectly crafted.

We were served a starter of their garlic bread with a side of tomato sauce. If you like garlicky-garlic bread, this is for you.

For our entrees, my wife ordered their special at the time, an oxtail dish. Speaking truthfully, she was let down by it as she felt the oxtail was overcooked and lacked sufficient flavor.

I kept it simple by ordering the Rigatoni Alla Bolognese, a house staple that I thoroughly enjoyed. The housemade pasta was perfectly cooked, the sauce had excellent flavor and I received a generous heaping of parmesan.

To finish the meal, we ordered the Italian classic, Tiramisu. I’ve yet to have a bad Tiramisu and Gilda’s was no exception (I bit into it before getting a picture).

Aside from my wife’s dish, we had a great experience at Gilda’s. If we’re ever in Portland again (and we definitely will be), we wouldn’t hesitate to book a table.

Whether you’re a visitor looking for a great place to eat in Portland or a local looking for a date night meal, I hope you’ll consider Gilda’s.

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21 Weird, Unique, and Fun Things To Do In Portland Oregon

3 minute read | contains affiliate links

Portland, Oregon’s largest city, has long had a reputation for being, shall we say…weird. That’s no insult, either. Portlandiers wear that badge with pride.

That weirdness the city is known for brings in tourists by the millions, annually. Recently, those millions included the two of us.

We visited a number of tourist attractions and local favorites during our visit in order to bring to you, dear reader, our list of twenty-one weird, unique, and fun things to do in Portland.

Some of these include links to their own, detailed posts we typed up. So if you’d like further information on that particular one, give that link a tap (psst, doing so also helps support this site. Thanks in advance).

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A Quick Note About Portland…

It’s no secret. Portland has been in the news a lot recently and you’ve no doubt noticed.

Between the protests, homelessness, and crime, its been never ending.

For prospective, we stayed, ate, and walked around downtown Portland. Not once did we feel threatened and no one ever bothered us.

That said, there are homeless camps everywhere and crimes such as theft and vehicle break-ins are common.

Much like any city you visit, be aware of your surroundings and keep your valuables close by. You shouldn’t have a problem.

That being said, let’s get on with the list!

1) Voodoo Doughnuts

Much like you can’t visit Seattle without hearing about Amazon or Starbucks, chances are good that if you’re coming to Portland, someone will mention Voodoo Doughnuts.

They’re not the best doughnuts in the city (in our humble opinions), but they’re delicious and certainly the best at making creative, unique doughy treats.

A few of our favorites include the Bacon Maple Bar, Dirt, The Homer, Vicious Hibiscus, Maple Blazer Blunt, and the Voodoo Doll (their signature donut).

They have a couple locations but for the true experience, head to the Old Town store. This is the original location.

Get there early to avoid the line (it gets long). We arrived around nine and were able to walk right in but during the tourist season, that rarely happens.

They also accept online orders and offer delivery through DoorDash and Uber Eats if you don’t want to make the trip to the store.

2) Funhouse Lounge

Catching a comedy show at the Funhouse Lounge is one of those quintessential Portland experiences you must do.

They offer a variety of shows such as comedy musical parodies, stand-up comedy, improv, amateur nights, burlesque, and more.

They also have a clown room you can check out while you’re there. Unfortunately for us, it was being used as a storage room at that time, so we couldn’t see it.

The show we came for, however, was hilarious! It was a musical parody of the classic film, Pulp Fiction. The actors and actresses were superb.

To see their current schedule and purchase tickets, check out their website.

3) Mill Ends Park

This one definitely falls under the “weird” category of this article. Mill Ends Park is a tiny (and we mean, TINY) urban park in the middle of the street near an intersection.

With a total area of just 452 square inches in a two-foot circle, Mill Ends Park is likely the smallest park you’ll see anywhere in the world.

There’s only room to safely fit two to four people, max. So if there’s a group already there, hang out on the sidewalk until they’re done.

It is located near the intersection of SW Taylor and S Naito PKWY and can be easily accessed from the Tom McCall Waterfront Park (near the fountain).

4) The Freakybuttrue Peculiarium and Museum

Unfortunately, we ran out of time and couldn’t visit this awesomely weird place, but you definitely should!

This museum is packed with creepy exhibits, merchandise, and artwork. Per their website, it isn’t recommended for small children.

For further information, you can check out their website here.

5) Witch’s Castle

Witch’s Castle was one of the highlights for us. Not just because we got to explore the ruins of this local favorite, but because the hike on the way was stunning!

Located in the boundaries of Forest Park, the hike to Witch’s Castle (or Stone House) begins at either the Upper or Lower Macleay Park along the Wildwood Trail.

It’s a short, half-mile hike from the upper trail or a near equally short 3/4 mile hike from the lower trail to Witch’s Castle.

The lower portion of the trail was closed during our visit, so I can’t speak on what it’s like. The upper portion, however, is stunning.

If you’re in Portland and you’re even remotely into hiking, you need to check this one out. For more detailed information, read our guide here.

6) Pioneer Courthouse Square

Long known as, “Portland’s Living Room”, Pioneer Courthouse Square is a 40,000 square-foot public space in the center of Downtown Portland.

When there’s not a pandemic going on, the city holds many local events and concerts here. It also features a few local food trucks and a Starbucks.

Even when there isn’t an event going on, it’s still worth checking out. There’s plenty of artistic exhibits to see and during the holidays, the city Christmas Tree is on full display.

7) Wishing Tree

Since 2013, tourists and locals alike have been writing their wishes on little white tabs and hanging them from this special tree.

It’s located on the corner of NE Morris street and 7th avenue on private property. The owner of the property keeps blank tabs on the tree. Simply pick one and write down your wish.

8) McMenamins Kennedy School

Kennedy School was originally built in 1915 and served as a public elementary school until 1975. It closed and remained vacant for years.

The McMenamins brothers, who were the founder’s of Oregon’s first post-prohibition brewpub, purchased the property and began restoring it in 1997, saving it from demolishment.

A lot of effort was made to preserve the building and its contents, such as; using school book pages as wallpaper, framing yearbook photos, and painting murals of former students.

These days, what was old is now new again as Kennedy School retains much of its original charm. In the former classrooms, you can now find bars, restaurants, lodging, shops, and more!

To get information on room rates and more, check out their website here.

9) Pittock Mansion

Pronounced, Pit-tick, this beautiful home was where Henry and Georgina Pittock lived in the early 1900’s. Henry Pittock was the owner of the newspaper, The Oregonian, and is often credited as the man who built Portland.

Georgina found her way to Portland along the Oregon Trail and would go on to find success in founding numerous charities and organizations such as Ladies Relief Society and Women’s Union.

The family would occupy the mansion until 1958, when the Grandsons of Henry and Georgina would put it up for sale. It sat empty for years and was heavily damaged by storms.

After holding fundraisers, the city would eventually acquire the property and restore it. Today, self-guided tours are offered to the public.

To purchase tickets or for more information, go here.

10) Portland Japanese Garden

Once dubbed by former Ambassador of Japan, Nobuo Matsunaga, as, “the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden in the world outside of Japan”, the Portland Japanese Garden is a can't-miss destination.

Unfortunately, we were rained out on this day and couldn’t go (expensive cameras and water don’t mix). To see pictures of this beautiful place, head over to their website here.

11) Eat Gourmet S’mores at ‘1927 S’mores Company’

Remember sitting around the campfire and enjoying that sweet, chocolaty classic, S’more? Well, you can now enjoy one in a downtown setting as well.

Located on SW Alder street in Downtown Portland, 1927 S’Mores Company serves up amazing gourmet s’mores and hot chocolate.

In our travels, this is the first time we’ve encountered a place solely dedicated to s’mores, so we felt it deserved a spot on this list.

Be sure to get there early, as the interior isn’t spacious at all. You can view their Yelp profile here.

12) Powell’s Books

Powell’s Books is the largest independent bookstore in the world. It has served Portland since 1971 and is beloved by locals and tourists alike.

The store has multiple entrances, several levels (with elevators), and has over one million books for sale. You can find just about any book you could think of here.

The original, flagship location can be found on W Burnside street in the downtown area. If you’d like to browse their inventory online, you can do so here.

13) The ‘Keep Portland Weird’ Mural

Remember at the beginning of this article when I stated, “Portlandiers consider their weirdness as a badge of honor”? Here’s the proof.

It’s one of the many murals found throughout the city, but it’s special because it represents the city’s quirky nature and the individualism of its citizens.

It’s painted on the back of Dante’s Nightclub in Old Town, right across the street from VooDoo Doughnuts (making it an easy two-for-one trip).

The exact address is 350 West Burnside street.

14) The Redwoods at Hoyt Arboretum

This is another one we got rained out on and wish we had more time to explore. This short loop trail starts near Hoyt Arboretum and goes through a beautiful forest of redwood trees.

You can find it in Washington Park, not too far from the Japanese Garden and Portland Zoo.

15) Cartlandia

Since Kisha is a natural-born foodie, us coming here was a no-brainer. With over 30 food trucks to choose from, Cartlandia is every foodie’s dream come true.

It is located on SW 82nd avenue and is open daily from 7am to 9pm. Covered seating is plentiful and on-site parking, while limited, is available.

Here, you can find just about every category of food, including; BBQ, Mexican, Asian, Egyptian, breakfast, desert, and so much more.

For up-to-date information on which carts are currently on site, check out their website here.

16) White Stag Sign

This one is more for the Photographers out there (unless you happen to enjoy staring at signs in the middle of the night).

You could always photograph or see the sign during the day but at night, when it’s all lit up, is best, in our opinion.

The sign is viewable from the waterfront, but it is partially obstructed by trees. To get the best view, head up to the Burnside Bridge.

Either side results in a great photo but in my opinion, I liked the left side of the bridge (facing the sign) the best. This area can be a bit sketchy a night. So if you go, be cautious.

17) Tom McCall Waterfront Park

While you’re nearby checking out White Stag, be sure to spend some time exploring Tom McCall Waterfront Park.

It runs adjacent to the Williamette River and is around 36 acres in size. You’ll get amazing views of Portland’s many bridges and see many art installations along the way.

Cherry Blossom Trees dot the walking path and are a special treat for the eyes if you get here while they’re in full bloom.

18) Mount Tabor Park

Located just a short drive from the downtown area, Mount Tabor Park is a large forested park covering what was once an active volcano!

It has hiking trails, tennis courts, playgrounds, and amazing 360-degree views of the city and surrounding landscapes.

19) The Portlandia Statue

The Portlandia is a sculpture by Raymond Kaskey. It’s easy to find as it’s right along the sidewalk and above the entrance of the Portland Building on SW 5th avenue.

The sculpture was commissioned by the city in 1985, is 34-feet high, weighs 6.5 tons, and is based on the Portland city seal.

It is located just a few blocks away from Pioneer Courthouse Square, making it an easy jaunt once you’re done exploring that.

To get photos form an elevated position, head over to the building across the street and go up the escalator.

As it’s private property, I asked a Security Guard if it was ok and he let me go in. So keep that in mind if you decide to do the same.

20) Discover Art Murals

Portland, including and especially the downtown area, is littered with amazing art murals on the sides and rear of buildings and walls.

Other cities such as Seattle, Austin, and Reno have many beautiful murals, but we enjoyed the ones in Portland the best.

There’s no real starting point (unless you’re looking for a specific one). Essentially, just start walking around. It won’t take long before you start seeing them.

21) Chase ALL The Waterfalls

While you won’t find any in the city itself (aside from the few cascades in Forest Park), you’ll find a whole bunch of them just outside of it.

Just around 30-minutes or so up the Columbia River Gorge Scenic Byway is where you’ll find the majority of them.

A few of the most popular ones include Multnomah Falls (the tallest waterfall in Oregon), Bridal Veil Falls, Elowah Falls, Latourell Falls, Wahkeena Falls, and so much more!

List Recap:

1. VooDoo Doughnuts

2. Funhouse Lounge

3. Mill Ends Park

4. The Freakybuttrue Peculiarium and Museum

5. Witches Castle

6. Pioneer Courthouse Square

7. The Wishing Tree

8. McMenamins Kennedy School

9. Pittock Mansion

10. Portland Japanese Garden

11. 1927 S’mores Company

12. Powell’s Books

13. The ‘Keep Portland Weird’ Mural

14. The Redwoods at Hoyt Arboretum

15. Cartlandia

16. White Stag Sign

17. Tom McCall Waterfront Park

18. Mount Tabor Park

19. Portlandia Statue

20. Art Murals

21. Chase Waterfalls

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