Pioneer Courthouse

Infobox nrhp
name = Pioneer Courthouse
nrhp_type = nhl


caption = The Pioneer Courthouse as viewed from Pioneer Courthouse Square after 2005 renovations.
location = 555 S.W. Yamhill Street, Portland, Oregon
nearest_city =
lat_degrees = 45
lat_minutes = 31
lat_seconds = 7.0
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 122
long_minutes = 40
long_seconds = 42.1
long_direction = W
area =
built = 1869
architect = Alfred B. Mullett
architecture = Italianate
designated= May 05, 1977cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1365&ResourceType=Building
title=Pioneer Courthouse |accessdate=2007-11-19|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service]
added = March 20, 1973cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
refnum = 73001582
mpsub =
governing_body = General Services AdministrationThe Pioneer Courthouse is a federal courthouse in Portland, Oregon, United States. Built beginning in 1869, the structure is the oldest federal building in the Pacific Northwest, and the second oldest west of the Mississippi River.cite news
title=Pioneer courthouse's bare earth will soon sprout native plants
url=http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/portland_news/1160432721261470.xml&coll=7
work=The Oregonian
date=October 12, 2006
accessdate=2007-01-21] Along with Pioneer Courthouse Square, it serves as the center of downtown Portland. It is also known as the Pioneer Post Office because a popular downtown Portland post office was, until 2005, located inside. The courthouse is one of four primary locations where the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit hears oral arguments. It also houses the chambers of the Portland-based judges on the Ninth Circuit.

History

Built in stages between 1869 and 1903, it was first occupied in 1875 by judge Matthew Deady.Leeson, Fred. (1998). "Rose City Justice: A Legal History of Portland, Oregon". Oregon Historical Society Press. pp. 13-15, 21-26, 47-48, 52.] At that time the building was named the United States Building. Pioneer Courthouse has survived several attempts to demolish it, while continuing to function as a federal facility. On March 20, 1973, the building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. [http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/OR/Multnomah/state8.html National Register of Historic Places in Multnomah County, Oregon] ] It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1977.citation|title=PDFlink| [http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Text/73001582.pdf National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: United States Courthouse, Custom House and Post Office / The Pioneer Courthouse] |597 KiB |date=February 17, 1977 |author=Carolyn Pitts |publisher=National Park Service and PDFlink| [http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Photos/73001582.pdf "Accompanying 5 photos, exterior and interior, from 1973 and undated."] |367 KiB ]

In 2003, plans for renovating the courthouse sparked an unusual conflict between Portland Democratic congressmen Earl Blumenauer and David Wu. Wu, whose district contains the courthouse, supported a plan that included removing the post office from the courthouse, and adding five parking spaces in its basement. Wu's plan was ultimately adopted, [cite news
author=Senior, Jeanie and Don Hamilton
title=Often at odds, politicos go postal
url=http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=19400
work=Portland Tribune
date=July 29, 2003
accessdate=2007-01-21] and the $23.4 million renovation of the building was completed in December 2005. The work included the addition of base isolators to protect the historic structure from earthquakes, the secure judges' parking area under the building, and the renovation of the lobby where the post office had been.

ee also

*Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse
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References