Merchant Hotel

The Merchant Hotel is a four-story building in Italianate style on Northwest Davis Street featuring cast iron decorative details across its facade. The structure occupies half a city block and displays characteristic features of this architectural approach with ornamental elements on walls and roof.

The building was designed in 1880 by architect Warren Heywood Williams and initially served as a hotel for travelers and business people. After 1967 it was converted to other uses and has housed offices and commercial spaces instead of guest rooms since then.

This building is part of the Skidmore Old Town Historic District and reflects Victorian architecture from when Portland thrived as a port city. The surrounding area preserves the feel of the founding era and shows how wealthy merchants once lived and conducted business.

Access to the building is controlled through secured entrances, and after-hours entry is available for registered users. Bicycles can be parked on site, and the interior contains meeting spaces as well as a restaurant for visitors and tenants.

The building was among the first in Portland to install a hydraulic elevator, a technology that was quite rare at the time. This system allowed guests and goods to move quickly between floors, which was practically revolutionary back then.

Location: Portland

Inception: 1880

Architects: Warren Heywood Williams

Architectural style: Italianate architecture

Floors above the ground: 4

Part of: Skidmore Old Town Historic District

Address: 121 NW Second Avenue

GPS coordinates: 45.52430,-122.67300

Latest update: December 13, 2025 11:46