PITTOCK MANSION SOCIETY
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Mission Statement
To inspire understanding and stewardship of Portland history through Pittock Mansion, its collections, and programs.
About This Cause
Pittock Mansion takes its name from English-born American pioneer, and pivotal publisher of The Oregonian Henry Pittock who envisioned a “mansion on the hill” on property that had panoramic views of Portland, the Willamette River, and the distant Cascade Mountains. After two years of construction, Henry and Georgiana moved into the home in 1914 with eight other members of the family. Family continued to live in the home into the 1950s with the last family members, Pittock grandson Peter Gantenbein and his father, Edward, moving out in 1958 and putting the Mansion up for sale. After sitting vacant for four years, the Mansion was hit by the Columbus Day Storm on October 12, 1962. Hurricane-force winds damaged roof tiles and windowpanes, which allowed water to infiltrate the Mansion. By 1964, the Mansion was in poor condition and developers expressed interest in tearing it down and turning the estate into a subdivision. In light of this news, dedicated members of the community rallied and assisted the City of Portland by raising $67,500 to contribute to the purchase of the property for $225,000. By 1965, the Mansion had been restored and opened to the public as a historic house museum. In 1968, the Pittock Mansion Society formed as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to manage the Mansion including taking care of the permanent collection and providing educational activities. Those educational activities include sharing the stories of the diverse populations that called Portland home at the time during Pittock Mansion’s construction and throughout its lifespan. Recent examples of those types of exhibits include Black in Oregon, Thrill of the Climb, and the upcoming This IS Kalapuyan Land. The population served includes as many as 90,000 visitors ranging from infants through seniors who visit throughout the year to experience Pittock Mansion as a home with many stories, not only of the Pittock Family, but stories that also embody the growth, culture, and spirit of Portland. The museum’s experiences are offered for everyone, from children just beginning to show interest in Oregon history to adults drawn to the home for its architecture, its owners’ contributions to Portland history, or the home's landscaping and inviting views of Portland’s skyline.