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ULI Northwest: Portland Expo Center | Past, Present, & Future
Pricing
Pricing | Members | Non-Members |
---|---|---|
All Types | FREE | $15.00 |
In honor of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage (AAPI) month, we are grateful for the opportunity to feature the Portland Expo Center and explore its past, present, and future.
In the early part of the 20th century, the Expo Center operated primarily as a livestock terminal. But when World War II broke out, the Expo Center suspended operations for several months and was transformed into a waiting station for roughly 3,500 Japanese and Japanese-Americans who were eventually sent to internment camps in California and Idaho.
In the post-World War II era, the area is best known for being the location of Vanport City. Vanport was the home to many African American workers hired to work on the nearby shipyards. On Memorial Day in 1948, a raging and swollen Columbia River flooded and wiped out the entirety of Vanport City. About 15 people died, though 18,000 people were left homeless as a result of the natural disaster.
Join ULI Northwest, Oregon Metro and Cascadia Partners on Tuesday, May 25 at noon to discuss the past, present and future of the Expo Center. Recently, Metro and Cascadia Partners embarked on a community-driven development study towards shaping the future of the Portland Expo Center. Throughout the study, Metro and Cascadia Partners engaged with community-based organizations to recognize the site’s history and elevate their voices in decision-making.
We will also hear from George Nakata, a Japanese American who experienced the Expo Center internment as a nine-year-old boy. George will reflect on the past while looking ahead to a resilient future for AAPI communities in Portland and beyond.
Tuesday, May 25th
12:00 – 1:00 PM
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Registration Fees
Free for ULI members
$15 for Non-members
Registration required to receive Zoom link
Free for ULI members
$15 for Non-members
Registration required to receive Zoom link