Portlandia

Portlandia is a monumental copper sculpture above the main entrance of Portland Building downtown. The kneeling female figure wears classical robes and holds a trident in her left hand while extending her right downward.

Raymond Kaskey designed the sculpture for the new postmodern government building completed in 1982. After casting, it traveled by barge along the Willamette River in 1985 and was then lifted by crane onto the building.

The name comes from the city seal featuring Lady Commerce, who has represented Portland since the 19th century. Visitors today see a kneeling female figure with a trident reaching her hand over the building entrance, reminiscent of ancient harbor goddesses.

The sculpture sits on the facade of Portland Building on Southwest Fifth Avenue near City Hall. Viewing from the sidewalk across the street offers the best angle to appreciate the proportions and details of the figure.

The sculpture weighs around 6 tons and stands roughly 10.5 meters (35 feet) tall, making it the second largest hammered copper statue in the United States. Kaskey maintains strict copyright control over its image, requiring negotiation for any commercial or media use.

Location: Portland

Inception: 1985

Creator: Raymond Kaskey

GPS coordinates: 45.51576,-122.67900

Latest update: December 17, 2025 10:59