White Stag Building, Commercial building in Old Town Portland, United States
The White Stag Building combines three separate historic structures united under one name, crowned by a large neon sign showing a leaping deer that lights up the roofline. The facades feature brick and cast-iron detailing that speaks to its era of construction across the late 1800s and early 1900s.
The oldest section, called the Bickel Block, was constructed in 1883 with cast-iron columns produced in San Francisco. In the 1920s, the building was altered when the Burnside Bridge was built, forcing a redesign of its southern wall and adding a new floor.
The building housed a venison processing operation for decades, which inspired its lasting name. The industrial spaces still reflect the working-class heritage that shaped this riverside neighborhood.
The building sits at the corner of Naito Parkway and Burnside Street in Old Town, easily reached by public transit or car with nearby parking options. Visit during early morning or late afternoon hours to avoid the heavier foot traffic and car congestion typical of this downtown area.
The neon stag on the roof is one of Portland's oldest continuously operating rooftop signs, still glowing red each night since its installation in the 1940s. Local artists and photographers have made this sign a symbol of the city's industrial past, appearing in countless works celebrating downtown's character.
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