Veterans Memorial Coliseum was almost a decade old when this aerial photo was taken in 1969. Quite a bit has changed over the years; the neighborhood north of N. Broadway is all gone now, as is the old Thunderbird Motel complex to the left of the photo. The Rose Garden arena will in later years fill the south part of this photo, and the future Fremont Bridge will define the area farther to the northwest.
(City of Portland Archives)
It appears the Eastbank Freeway was nearing completion in May of 1964. A lot of nice detail in this photo, including the new Memorial Coliseum in the distance. This view is north from SW Morrison Street.
(City of Portland Archives)
This nifty aerial view shows the I-5 Eastbank Freeway construction through inner North and Northeast Portland in 1962. In the upper right corner are NE Weidler and Broadway going east-west and Vancouver Avenue snaking across the construction on a temporary overpass. This view is to the southeast and another view of the same area can be seen here.
(City of Portland Archives)
We’ll end 2011 with a nice aerial view looking north down the Willamette River as it cuts through the heart of Portland. Construction of I-5 has begun through North Portland and the snarl of connecting ramps at the east end of the Morrison Bridge is well underway but demolition of buildings near the Hawthorne Bridge has not yet begun.
(City of Portland Archives)
It was at this point that Portland lost its eastbank river frontage to pedestrian-friendly use, perhaps forever. Directly below is the east end of the Morrison Bridge with new ramps that will connect to what will become I-5 through Portland. Industrial property had been cleared and the freeway path is visible heading north, curving around the new Memorial Coliseum partially visible in upper left.
(City of Portland Archives)
Vintage Portland 