Portland General Electric Company Station "L" Group, historic power plant in Portland, Oregon
Portland General Electric Company Station L Group is a collection of six brick and concrete buildings constructed between 1910 and 1929 on the banks of the Willamette River in Southeast Portland. The structures feature large windows, heavy doors, and connected walkways that show how the industrial complex operated as an integrated facility for generating electricity.
The power station was built starting in 1910 after Portland General Electric formed in 1892 to deliver electricity to the expanding city. It operated for nearly fifty years, initially burning wood waste before switching to oil and gas, until it was placed on standby in 1964 and permanently shut down in 1975 when cheaper hydroelectric power became available.
The name 'Station L' reflects a simple lettering system used by Portland General Electric to organize its power facilities across the city. The site demonstrates how ordinary people depended on reliable electricity for streetcars, lighting, and cooking, making this facility a vital thread in the fabric of early Portland's daily life.
The site sits along the Willamette River in an area with modern development, making the old structures easy to spot alongside new buildings, parks, and transit lines. Visitors can walk around the exterior of the buildings, though some parts may be fenced off or inaccessible due to age and deterioration, so staying on public paths is important.
A large turbine that once generated electricity at this station was recovered and is now on display at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry. You can visit this massive piece of machinery to see how steam power created electricity in the past and understand the mechanical heart of early power generation.
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