Railway Palaces of Portland, Oregon: The Architectural Legacy of Henry Villard

In 1883, railroad financier Henry Villard brought Portland and the Pacific Northwest their first transcontinental railroad. Earning a reputation for boldness on Wall Street, the war correspondent turned entrepreneur set out to establish Portland as a bourgeoning metropolis. To realize his vision, he hired architects McKim, Mead & White to design a massive passenger station and a first—class hotel. Despite financial panics, lost fortunes and stalled construction, the Portland Hotel opened in...