Side Quest: Charting History’s Course

While most of the Overlook neighborhood sits above the bluffs, the industrial area of Swan Island down below does actually fall within its borders, too.

As its name suggests, the peninsula that juts out into the Willamette River once had water flowing on all sides, although continual dredging was necessary to maintain channels deep enough for ships to navigate. It wasn’t until 1927 that the Port of Portland received approval from Congress to fill in the northern end while widening the southern passage.

Material from the riverbed tripled the size of Swan Island, and for the next 13 years (until 1940), it served as Portland’s first airport. Famous aviator Charles Lindbergh paid a visit for its dedication in the Spirit of St. Louis, not long after his historic solo nonstop transatlantic flight.

During World War II, the site became a Kaiser shipyard, providing housing and jobs for workers who built 146 tanker ships, vital for refueling the U.S. Navy’s fleet.

At the PT658 Heritage Museum, you can experience a preserved patrol boat from this era (although it was originally built in New Orleans). Tours are offered Monday, Thursday, and Saturday, and advance notice is required.