Understanding the past, shaping the future

321 SW 6th. Photo by Brian Johnson

The work of the Architectural Heritage Center is reaching more people and increasing sound stewardship of Portland’s built environment. In 2020, we are excited to present new and interesting programs to bring you back to the AHC again and again, while also attracting more first-time visitors. We have big plans for next year, and your support will help us produce 12 months of high-impact programs.

In 2019, we presented over 130 original programs on Portland’s architecture, culture, and history. We brought you new voices and perspectives from local, regional, and national guests, like Roger Lewis of the Washington Post.
We convened community forums at our historic West’s Block Building to hear from you about policies that can have major effects on Portland’s development. We partnered with the City of Portland, City Club, Design Week Portland, and others to offer you programs on issues like adaptive reuse, Better Housing by Design, and sustaining Main Streets.
We launched a new, quarterly program that gives you the chance to meet our business members who can assist with repair and maintenance of your older home, apartment, or other property–a program that also helps sustain the future of these unique, local businesses.

Photo by Brian Johnson.

We continue to create more opportunities to cultivate future preservationists and welcome all ages to our programs. Your support makes it possible to offer free museum entry for children and for families in the military as well as complimentary student memberships. Watch for a family-oriented component in our exhibitions next year!

In 2020 we are excited to offer you new and interesting events, including programs with partners like the Oregon Jewish Museum as well as an original exhibition with artist Intisar Abioto that revisits our seminal 1990s project on African American architecture and culture through a young photographer’s eyes.