TALKS AND EVENTS
Join us at our West's Block location for various talks and events! All of our talks will be hosted on site, at 701 SE Grand Ave.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Downtown Portland Building Stone Geology Program
Portland’s myriad architectural styles are a showcase for dramatic and beautiful geological stories. From lava floods and volcanos to tropical seas and billions-of-years-old mountain building events, the geology of building stone has shaped 150 years of Portland’s architecture.
Paul Edison-Lahm, Communications Director for the Geological Society of the Oregon Country, will present this virtual tour.
September 26, 2026
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
"Blood in the Archives" Mary B. Hansen Book Talk & Signing
Mary B. Hansen has a passion for using archival documents to reveal hidden, lost and forgotten histories, and she will bring her knowledge and insights to Architectural Heritage Center. Mary will talk about her work as a Certified Archivist with an MLIS as well as about her two published books – The Traveling Archivist and Blood in the Archives – and how she uses archival research in writing her novels. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Free event!
October 10, 2026
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
"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.
Six excursions exploring Portland’s downtown, Old Town, and Pearl District not only focus on the city’s important landmarks and hidden gems but showcase an evolving city’s resilience and heart. Alongside his own experiences, Libby reveals how luminaries like Humphrey Bogart, Mark Rothko, Gus Van Sant, Vera Katz and Bill Walton appreciated the City of Roses. From Pioneer Courthouse Square to the Crystal Ballroom, each location in the book celebrates the spirit of place in addition to its architecture. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Free event!
October 17, 2026
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Beaumont-Wilshire: Origins and Early History
Like many Northeast Portland neighborhoods, Beaumont-Wilshire was carved from orchards, open fields, and patches of forest. As a young Portland sprawled across the river, the rural landscape of the eastside was replaced by a grid of neighborhoods, a busy streetcar system, and tens of thousands of new residents.
Using early maps, documents, photos, newspaper accounts, and memories he’s collected from past residents, local historian Doug Decker will explore the early years of of the Beaumont-Wilshire neighborhood to examine connections between past, present, and future.
November 14, 2026
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
WALKING TOURS
From March to November, we offer tours of historic neighborhoods throughout the city. Click here to learn more!
SPONSORS
