It ain’t lost. Yet.
Luke from the Save the Portland Memorial Coliseum blog graciously loaned me a copy of a booklet that was used to promote the newly built Memorial Coliseum. In it are amazing photos of the construction, the inner workings [boiler room!] and every day scenes from Portland, Oregon, circa 1958-1960.
I have to admit I’ve been on the fence on preserving the structure. But, after seeing its baby photos, I’m on board: don’t tear this baby down. It’s been spared, for now. But things can change.
Following are some of the photos from the booklet. I have also added them to my Flickr account so they can be viewed in all their glory.
Looks like an A-bomb was dropped on the existing neighborhood. Ready for the Coliseum.
During construction.
The ticketing office.
Lost Oregon 
6 replies on “Memorial Coliseum, 1960”
“It’s been spared, for now. But things can change.”
That “thing” comes with a price tag of about $40 million bucks because that’s how much it will cost to update to where it can be an asset to the community. Tear it down and build a new memorial for the soldiers because the one that exists now really sucks to be honest.
Yeah, how about another minor league baseball stadium for $50 million? Or a Convention Center hotel that will be as empty as the ridiculously overbuilt Convention Center itself? Or a new “entertainment district” full of Olive Gardens and TGI Friday’s? All great alternatives.
Interesting stuff!
Love the blog, too. I have spent many of my days in Oregon, and it’s great to see it represented here.
What a cool find! I found one of those for myself in a tour of a used bookstore looking for old maps.
I don’t know how much monetary value it has, but in terms of utter coolness, it’s priceless.
I’m curious to hear how you think the Coliseum should be used, if preserved. I know it’s a historical site but I’m not hearing any good ideas for how to reuse the space, other than destroying it and making way for something new.
I have this book. I use it all the time when trying to place some thing, some place, some business or simply to prove to others that my memory isn’t as bad as they seem to think it is!
As I said…I use it all the time…it’s almost worn out! What a great piece of reference!
J