PDX Through Time is my mastodon based archival project to gather and link sourced old photographs & videos of the city of Portland, Oregon from across the internet - from personal collections, community archives, and historical records - often placing them alongside present-day views, in hope to form a layered visual history of how Portland has shifted across decades.
A little home to share to other more ephemeral social media like reddit, bluesky, etc etc. It's a conversation piece.
| BlueSky Bridge | https://bsky.app/profile/PDXThroughTime.pdx.social.ap.brid.gy |
KOIN 6 Segment from 1992 on the drought plaguing Portland and all of Oregon.
The year 1992 fell toward the end of a generally dry period in Oregon. The 1992 drought was most intense in eastern Oregon, with severe drought occurring in Region 1. The Water Bureau begged Portlanders to conserve every precious drop of Bull Run's H2O they could and enforced water restrictions across the city.
Source Video: User 'Cheebed' Archived Footage | Youtube
Well...you can't talk about the United States without talking about its revolting racist past (& modern day!). Portland is no different. You may never pass this location the same way again...
5474 NE Sandy Blvd
"C**n Chicken Inn" 1931-1950s vs Clyde's Prime Rib 2026
I'll let the source links explain the rest of the story.
Sources: https://theclio.com/entry/4436
https://jimcrowmuseum.ferris.edu/links/essays/chicken.htm
W Burnside St and SW Oak St looking north on 10th Ave December 1939 vs 2026
Featuring Buildings of today's Powell's Books, Sizzle Pie, and Doc Martens.
You can see in the 1939 photograph, a sign featuring "Nash" which was an American automotive company that sold cars until the 1950's -- in the current space of Powell's Books.
More information on Nash Motors here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nash_Motors
Source: Portland Archives
https://efiles.portlandoregon.gov/record/2767125/
Angelina Jolie on top of the Broadway Bridge in the film "Foxfire" 1996
Source: Film Reel
News 8 "Californians Invade Portland" Segment Preview 1990
Source: Kevin Noonan Youtube
Downtown Portland | Wentworth - Irwin American Motors Corporation around 1976 selling the new Pacer vs Powell's Books 2025
1005 W Burnside St
Source: Facebook Portland Memories Group
Crystal Ballroom, Southeast corner of 14th & Burnside st 1917 vs 2026
Source: Portland Archives https://efiles.portlandoregon.gov/record/2669354/
Photo: Two men occupying the men's clothing counter 1936
Retail service was relatively limited in its first years. A 1936 expansion added retail space, covering a variety of goods, occupying a new mezzanine floor and parts of the 2nd and 3rd floors. In the post-World War II years, the Vaughn Street store's business declined steadily. An increasing proportion of the store's customers were attracted to new suburban shopping malls.
Looking west onto NW Wilson St from NW 23rd Ave Towards Montgomery Ward & Co building March 13, 1939 vs 2026
(I think the caption's streets are off a bit, or maybe the lens perspective is different, but I did a comparison from NW Wilson St and NW 23rd Ave)
Source: Portland Archives https://efiles.portlandoregon.gov/record/3730505/
Additional Reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montgomery_Park_(Portland%2C_Oregon)
The building is located on property once used for the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition, of 1905.
NE Sandy Blvd at 28th Ave looking east 1940 vs 2026
Happy Land beer parlor, Big Eleven Market, and Ankeny Hardware vs Hollywood Vintage, Katie OBriens, & Dear Sandy. Much of the architecture still in use.
Source: Portland Archives https://efiles.portlandoregon.gov/record/2769524/
