Every summer, the Hatfield School of Government celebrates Senator Mark O. Hatfield's birthday on July 12th with one of its most enriching events, the Civil Rights Tour. Led by prominent Portland historians Ron Silver (retired Attorney General) and Ed Washington (retired from Portland State University), they bring to life the rich and often untold history of Portland, guiding participants through locations where this history was made.
The tour stops at iconic sites including the Golden West Hotel, Irving Park (the heart of the Albina Civil Unrest), and Vanport, the historic community that served as the birthplace of Portland State University, among many others. The tour also celebrates the profound contributions of Japanese and Black communities to the growth and culture of Portland, offering a deeper understanding of the city we know today.
2026 Bus Tour ScheduleDescription |
|---|
The Golden West Hotel Discuss the beginnings of Black Portland 1880–1920 as well as the Asian American experience in Portland |
Inside the Portland Expo Center Discuss the Japanese Internment at the Portland Assembly Center |
Heron Lake Golf Club Discuss Vanport. Henry Kaiser. |
Irving Park Ed will talk about the Albina Civil Unrest. |
Albina District, Dawson Park, and site of Fred Hampton Free Clinic. Discussion of redlining in Portland |
SE 31st & SE Pine in the Laurelhurst Area Discuss the murder of Mulugeta Seraw |
Lone Fir Cemetery Discuss Multnomah County Board issued a heartfelt apology to Portland's Chinese American Community for the County's role in permitting the desecration of hundreds of graves of Chinese men and women who had been buried there in the 19th Century |