VANPORT: A STORY LIVED. A STORY TOLD
~A Vanport Mosaic pop-up traveling exhibit~
presented by Lake Oswego Public Library with the generous support of the Rotary Club of Lake Oswego
WHERE: Lake Oswego Public Library
706 Fourth Street
Lake Oswego, OR 97034
WHEN: February 1-8, 2022
Mon-Thu...10:00am - 7:00pm
Fri-Sat.......10:00am - 5:00pm
Sun.............1:00pm - 5:00pm
FREE and open to the public.
[Join us for a virtual screening and conversation in conjunction with the exhibit, February 4th 12-1.15pm. RSVP here)
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Come explore the enduring impact of the Miracle City, built in less than a year and destroyed by a flood in a single day.
Mixing archival photographs and historical records with personal testimonies of former residents, this Vanport Mosaic traveling exhibit presents the multifaceted story of Vanport and its vibrant community. It is a story of migration, housing, displacement, and perseverance.
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A “miracle city.” A “sociological experiment.” A “municipal monstrosity.” A “nasty ghetto.”
During its short life span (1942-1948) Vanport drew national attention and conflicting opinions, but for the multiracial community that lived there, it was simply home.
With ten thousand units, it became the largest World War II federal housing project in the United States, and the second largest city in Oregon, reaching over 40,000 people in 1944.
They came from all corners of the country to contribute to the war effort and in search of a better life, forming an instant community in a city with everything but a future.
On May 30, 1948 a flood destroyed the entire city, killing at least 15 people and forcing Portland to open its doors to thousands of local refugees. Many stayed, forever changing the social, economic, and political fabric of our region.
Curated by Laura Lo Forti and Greta Smith. Designed by Ryan Sullivan.
Made possible by the generous support of:
The Oregon Community Foundation, Oregon Arts Commission, Portland State University and the Division of Global Diversity and Inclusion, Oregon Historical Society, and The City of Portland.
Special thanks to:
Oregon Historical Society, City of Portland Archives, Japanese American Museum of Oregon, Multnomah County Archives, Portland State University Special Collections and University Archives, Kaiser Permanente Heritage Resources, Oregon Black Pioneers, Kim Moreland, James Harrison, Susan Barthel, Thomas Robinson, Tanya March, and Norman Gholston.
FREE and open to the public