Close-up view of Harbor Drive from the Burnside Bridge, circa 1965.
City of Portland Archives, Oregon, A2004-002.6748
Harbor Drive, circa 1965
Vintage Portland
Close-up view of Harbor Drive from the Burnside Bridge, circa 1965.
City of Portland Archives, Oregon, A2004-002.6748
Vintage Portland 
About ten years after this picture was taken, Harbor Drive was permanently closed and converted to Waterfront Park. At the time there was a lot of opposition to closing Harbor Drive, but I think most people today would agree that it was the right decision.
I used to walk along the river in the mid 60s & early 70s. It was always a hassle getting across Harbor Drive.
It took me a minute to recognize the tall building with the peaked roof in front of the Harrison Tower Apartments; It’s the back of the pre-renovated Civic Auditorium (today’s Keller Auditorium).
all I remember was the mess coming off the west side of the Ross Island bridge and trying to go north through all the tangles of construction/re-routing
Wow. I’ve seen pictures of Harbor Drive before, but never from this angle.
The Journal Building. I was sad when it was torn down. It was iconic.
I always thought the keeping portions of the Journal building (clock tower, walled structures, hard surfaces) could have been part of the waterfront including semi-indoor farmer’s markets, events facilities, cafes, brewpubs, even a place to get out of the rain and still use the park. Just imagine part of the Blues Festival using some of it…
Six lanes, smooth pavement, & few signal lights. Then, that was a half century ago. I am glad for waterfront park. Now if they can only do something about todays Naito nightmare.
I’m counting twelve lanes of traffic between downtown and the river that a pedestrian would have to cross.
I don’t see a single homeless person…………anywhere in the picture.
There were no homeless people on the streets back then, rumblefish351. There were a lot more social safety nets back then.
Social Safetynets back then consisted of warehouse like asylums.
The good ‘Ol days…
Dammasch, Edgefield, OSH, et. al.
This is one of the best shots of Harbor I have seen, and how important it was to get rid of it…but imagine if that road was on the east side of the river and I-5 had gone along I-205 instead.
K. You think living on the streets is better?
Someday son, all this will be grass!