Crystal Hotel, historic hotel in Portland, Oregon, USA
The Crystal Hotel is a four-story building in downtown Portland's west end with a trapezoid shape and distinctive brickwork. Today it operates as a hotel while also hosting community events, maintaining its role as an active gathering place for the city.
Originally called Hotel Alma, the building was first listed in the National Register in 1969, initially recognized for its commercial significance and role in early 20th-century city development. A later assessment focused on its importance to Portland's LGBTQ+ history from 1969 to 1985.
Between 1969 and 1985, this hotel served as a gathering place for Portland's LGBTQ+ community, offering a space where people could meet and socialize without fear. The building remains a symbol of resilience for a community that faced discrimination elsewhere in the city.
The hotel is located in the Burnside Triangle, a central downtown area with shops and restaurants easily accessible on foot with active street life. Visitors can explore the exterior and inquire about community events hosted there to experience the space more fully.
The hotel housed several gay-owned businesses including the Majestic Hotel and Club Baths, a bathhouse franchise that provided spaces for gathering. This use supported health initiatives for people living with HIV/AIDS, revealing an overlooked aspect of community care during that era.
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