If you love beautiful, old, historic homes, and you haven't been to the Pittock Mansion in Portland yet, then that's something you need to do right away! This breathtaking home was built in 1914 as a private home and served that purpose for many years until it was abandoned in 1958. In 1964, the City of Portland purchased it, restored it, and opened it to the public a year later. Ever since, it's been a Portland landmark and thousands of people visit it each year. Read on to learn more about this historic home in Oregon.
The Pittock Mansion is beautiful. It is a private home built in French Renaissance style more than 100 years ago. It has 46 rooms and is set on 46 acres overlooking the Rose City.
This home was built by the London-born publisher of The Oregonian. Henry Pittock and his wife, Georgiana Burton Pittock, had it designed by San Francisco architect Edward T. Foulkes.
They built the home near the end of their lives. Construction began in 1909 and the home was completed in 1914. Georgiana died in 1918 at the age of 72 and Henry followed in 1919 at 84. Their children and grandchildren lived in the home after their deaths.
This home was far ahead of its time. Some of the luxuries included a central vacuuming system, intercoms, an elevator, and a walk-in refrigerator.
Every room in the house is beautiful. This is the music room; it features an 1887 Steinway piano.
The formal dining room is another elegant space.
On tours through the mansion, you'll have the opportunity to visit many of the mansion's rooms. The furniture is not all original to the home, but is all from the proper time period.
The formal gardens are impressive as well. Georgiana Burton Pittock was an avid gardener and was a founding member of the Portland Rose Society - the group that began the Portland Rose Festival.
The view of Portland from the mansion's grounds alone are worth a visit. On a clear day, visitors can view five Cascade Mountains from this 1,000 foot vantage point.
The Pittocks also loved the view, and they knew their guests would, too. The mirror in this sideboard in the dining room reflects Mount Hood, so even their dinner guests who were facing the wall would be able to see it.
Every year, the staff at Pittock Mansion decorate the property for Christmas. This is an excellent time to visit the mansion.
No matter when you decide to go, though, you'll be impressed by this very special historic home. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and is a hidden gem of this city.
The Pittock Mansion is a lovely place to visit and to learn about and reflect upon the history of Portland, and on how far this western city has come over the past century. Plan a visit today!
If historic homes are your thing, the Pittock Mansion is just one of many in Oregon! Check out this list for more: You’ll Want To Visit These 13 Houses In Oregon For Their Incredible Pasts
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