A Vanport Mosaic exhibit developed in collaboration with Pittock Mansion

March 4-July 12, 2021 EXTENDED THROUGH NOV. 15, 2021!

(Archival photo courtesy by Oregon Historical Society)

We are thrilled to continue to honor the memories of Vanport former residents and flood survivors through this rich exhibit featuring historic photographs, artifacts from the Terri Johnson’s collection, and the artwork created by Alex Chiu as part of Stories in Movement ( a Vanport Mosaic program part of the City of Portland Office of Community and Civic Life Constructing Civic Dialogue Initiative).

Vanport was a temporary city built in 1942 to address the desperate need of housing for the thousands of migrants from all over the country pouring into Portland to work in WWII industries. It was the largest wartime federal housing project in the nation, and at its peak, it became the second largest city in Oregon, home to a multiracial and multicultural community of over 40,000 residents. On May 30, 1948 a flood destroyed the entire city, killing at least 17 and leaving over 18,500 people houseless. Vanport was never rebuilt, but its legacy lives on.

This exhibit is the culmination of six years of collaborative research and community partnerships, and was developed by Vanport Mosaic co-founder Story Midwife Laura Lo Forti, Public Historian Greta Smith Wisnewski, and Pittock Mansion Senior Manager Tim Hecox. The Vanport Mosaic is deeply grateful to Pittock Mansion and its Presenting sponsor Howard S. Wright Construction and Supporting sponsor Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, and OnPoint Bank for making this exhibit expansion possible.

Our deepest gratitude to the Vanport Community.

Special thanks to:

Alex Chiu
Angie Morrill
Chisao Hata
City of Portland Archives and Records Management
Edward Washington
Eliza Canty-Jones
Heather McAfee
Jackie Winters
James Harrison
Japanese American Museum of Oregon
Joyce Nelson
Kimberly Moreland
Laura John
Oregon Black Pioneers
Oregon Historical Society
Portland State University
Katrine Barber
Raymond Burrell
Shalanda Sims
Sunshine Dixon
Susan Barthel 
Tanya March
Terri Johnson
Thomas Robinson
Velynn Brown
Zita Podani

Run time:
February - July 2021

Admission: 
Pittock Mansion

Member FREE
Adult: $12, Seniors: (+65) :$10, Youth (6-18): $8
Children (under 6): FREE