Pittock Mansion Portland Oregon



The Pittock mansion is nestled in the hills just outside of Portland. A beautiful 16000 square foot French chateau-style mansion. The mansion sits on 46 acres overlooking the city. Built as a retirement home in 1914 by Henry and Georgiana Pittock, the mansion boasted a central vacuum system, an elevator, a walk in refrigerator and an intercom system as part of its luxuries.
Henry was born in England immigrated to Pennsylvania and then travel the Oregon Trail at age 19. He arrived in Portland with very little money took a job at the Oregonian newspaper, later he was able to buy the newspaper and begin to build his fortune.
Georgiana had also come across the Oregon Trail from Missouri as a young woman, the couple married and had 6 children. Both Henry and Georgiana were pillars of the community helping others throughout their lives.
The Pittocks lived most of their lives in Portland before deciding to build their retirement home, sadly they were only able to enjoy their new home for 4/5 years. Georgiana died in 1918 at the age of 72 and Henry followed her in 1919 at age 84.
Family members remained in the mansion until 1958 when they decided the beautiful home was to much to keep up, the home was put up for sale but no one bought it, so it sat empty.
The Columbus Day storm of 1962 did some serious damage to the mansion and the family entertained the idea of selling the mansion to developers who would have torn it down to build on the prime real estate land. Luckily the community raised money to help the city buy the mansion. It was then restored and opened to the public.
Today visitors can climb the marble staircase with its eucalyptus handrail, wander through beautifully decorated rooms or take a stroll around the gardens making their way out to look over the city and Mount Hood.





You may even catch a glimpse of a ghost or two, visitors report seeing or hearing the couple wandering the halls and the gardner strolling the gardens.
Others report hearing voices or smelling the Roses Mrs. Pittock loved so much. There have been reports of Windows closing and latching themselves and even reports of a portrait being moved within the house. This was a couple who loved their community and their beautiful home I imagine they might stop back in to check on how their guests are enjoying their visit from time to time.

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