ADVOCACY ALERT: Portland Monuments Project (PMP) Public Survey

Jan. 25, 2024

The City of Portland is soliciting the public's views on the fate of statues and monuments that were toppled during the 2020 racial justice demonstrations, as part of their Portland Monuments Project (PMP). Since then, the city has stored them for safekeeping until a plan could be determined. It’s important for the city to hear how citizens feel about these publicly-owned historic resources by taking their public survey, which will help inform City Council when they vote on this issue in February.

City staff is using this survey, created by the City Arts Program, as one way of community engagement to assess public opinion and gain a broader understanding whether the city should restore these toppled statues. The five statues under consideration include George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Harvey Scott; and "The Promised Land" depicting a pioneer family.

Each statue is unique in its historic value, as well as its protections under city code. The Lincoln and Roosevelt statues, which have stood in the South Park Blocks since the 1920s, were included as "Rank I" resources (the highest value) in the City's Historic Resources Inventory. Updates to city code have strengthened their protections as "significant resources." The South Park Blocks’ designation as a National Register historic district in 2021 did not include these statues since they were not present at the time of submittal. If restored, the statues could qualify as “contributing” resources to the district.

The George Washington statue, which occupied a site on private property at NE Alameda Street and Sandy Boulevard, has since been removed from the Historic Resources Inventory (HRI) by the City. The City Council will consider the question of whether to return the statue to another location yet to be determined. The Harvey Scott statue is protected as part of the Mt. Tabor Park National Register listing, while Chapman Square’s “The Promised Land” is not protected as an historic resource.

Opportunity for Public Input

Get engaged and take the PMP Public Survey by clicking the button above or by following this link. The survey deadline is February 16, 2024.

Results of the survey, along with public listening sessions and other public engagement, will be used by City Council to make an informed decision about the fate of the fallen monuments. The survey raises the question of adding "interpretation" to statues, which AHC believes is a positive additive approach; however, this difficult question could delay an outcome for an indefinite time. The City can make additions in the future, once acceptable interpretations are determined.

As New York City’s Mayoral Advisory Committee on City Art, Monuments, and Markers stated, there needs to be a “process of historical reckoning” and “nuanced understanding of the complicated histories we have inherited” in order to debate and discuss monuments and markers on City-owned land.

Thank you for adding your voice to this conversation about our city's public monuments!