National Historic Landmark

Pioneer Courthouse

Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon
Listed
March 19, 1973
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
73001582

About this property

The Pioneer Courthouse is a federal courthouse in Portland, Oregon, United States. Built beginning in 1869, the structure is the oldest federal building in the Pacific Northwest, and the second-oldest west of the Mississippi River. Along with Pioneer Courthouse Square, it serves as the center of downtown Portland. It is also known as the Pioneer Post Office because a popular downtown Portland post office was, until 2005, located inside. The courthouse is one of four primary locations where the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit hears oral arguments. It also houses the chambers of the Portland-based judges on the Ninth Circuit.

Location

520 SW Morrison St.
Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon
45.51871, -122.67831

Categories

POLITICS/GOVERNMENTARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Pioneer Courthouse

This page lists Pioneer Courthouse. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Pioneer Courthouse report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Pacific Building
Industrial
0 mi
Meier and Frank Building
Industrial
0 mi
Kress Building
Industrial
0.1 mi
Northwestern National Bank Building
Industrial
0.1 mi
Selling Building
Industrial
0.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Pioneer Courthouse listed on the National Register?

Pioneer Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 19, 1973.

What type of historic resource is Pioneer Courthouse?

Pioneer Courthouse is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Pioneer Courthouse a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Pioneer Courthouse has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Pioneer Courthouse?

The period of significance for Pioneer Courthouse is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Pioneer Courthouse?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Pioneer Courthouse will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Multnomah County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Multnomah County.

Explore MultnomahCounty ›

More historic places in Oregon

Browse all historic places in Oregon.

View Oregonhistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Oregon history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Oregonhistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Pioneer Courthouse will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report