Stumped by Stumptown
Portland, Oregon has many nicknames. The Rose City and Rip City are just two examples. Both of them I feel have a certain ring to them. However, Portland has one strange name that has never settled well with me. Stumptown. The nickname isn’t exactly obscure either. Its been used for various organizations and businesses including Stumptown Coffee.
Despite new entities using the name, such as the coffee company, the nickname itself is nothing new at all. It more than likely was conceived during Portland’s early years when the city was known for logging. So many trees were cut down during the turn of the century, it was said the city had more stumps then trees. In the modern era, there is another reason the name has endured. Portland is often criticized for having an unimpressive skyline for a city of its size.
In other words, the skyscrapers which dot the city are not very tall. I feel this grossly unfair. Even though the skyscraper is usually seen as a symbol of wealth and prosperity, I feel it is a dated attitude. Architecture should be appreciated for its aesthetic qualities more than its scale, and Portland buildings certainly have a certain aesthetic mystic.
KOIN Center without a doubt is the first to come to mind, which is the third tallest building in the city. Although relatively small, standing at 509 feet, it certainly is interesting to look at. Some have even described it as neo-art-deco, since it resembles the style so popular during the 1920s. The second tallest building in the city is the U.S. Bancorp Tower. This gilded structure proudly stands at 536 feet, and is arguably the most eye-catching building in town.
However, there is one behemoth that towers over them all. The Wells Fargo Center rockets toward the sky until it reaches its final height at 546 feet. This is a record that has not been broken since the tower’s completion in 1972. Despite its simple design, the tower is a Portland landmark from any direction.
Event with that said, Stumptown still does not work for me. Even though these buildings are small, that was the intention from the beginning. Big skyscrapers may be impressive, but they can also be a burden for the eye. Take New York City for example. All that can seen is nothing but glass and steel. Portlanders have not wanted that to happen to their city.
Portland’s clever urban planning has been able to work its magic once again. City blocks have purposely been designed to be smaller compared to cities like Chicago so that skyscrapers can only become so tall. This is because the City of Portland is surrounded by beautiful scenery including natural monuments like Mount Hood. The town residents want to continue to see these everyday, and they simply do not want buildings getting in the way of that. In the end, Portlanders realize that it is Oregon itself is what makes their city so beautiful.
