PROGRAM (in progress)
FRIDAY, MAY 22 · 6:00 - 7:30 PM
MAXVILLE & VANPORT - PJEC Multimedia Performance
Location: Roosevelt High School, 6941 N Central St, Portland, OR 97203
This profound collection of songs and short films focuses on two towns that were vital places of opportunity and refuge for Black Oregonians in the first half of the 20th century: Maxville, a logging town built by the Bowman-Hicks Lumber Company in 1923, and Vanport, built to house shipyard workers in 1942. Composer Ezra Weiss, lyricist S. Renee Mitchell and filmmaker Kalimah Abioto .
SATURDAY, MAY 23
ANNUAL REUNION FOR VANPORT RESIDENTS, FLOOD SURVIVORS & DESCENDANTS
Private event by invitation only
WEDNESDAY, MAY 27 · 6:00 – 8:00 PM
LOST CITY, LIVING MEMORIES: VANPORT THROUGH THE VOICES OF ITS RESIDENTS
Location: Alberta House
Tickets: Coming soon
Screening of short oral history documentaries from the Vanport Mosaic collection, featuring special guests from the Vanport community. With a live musical performance by the Northwest Freedom Singers.
THURSDAY, MAY 28 · 6:00 – 7:30 PM
BIRDWATCHING & HISTORY WALKING TOUR
Location: Force Lake, 11415 N Force Ave
Tickets: Coming soon
Join Marti Clemmons, archivist and historian at Portland State University, and Bo Lyons (BIRDHERS) as we explore a space where history and nature intersect.
FRIDAY, MAY 29 · 10:00 – 11:00 AM
VANPORT STATE HERITAGE TREES DEDICATION
Location: Delta Park/Historic Vanport
INFO: Free and open to the public. Everyone is welcomed
Stay tuned for more details!
FRIDAY, MAY 29 · 6–8 PM
Memories In The Taking
Location: Alberta House
Tickets: Coming soon
A staged reading of selected narratives from the SHARP study — Sharing History through Active Reminiscence and Photo-imagery — accompanied by historical neighborhood images and era music. Created by life-long Portlander Dr. Raina Croff (OHSU), the project engages older Black adults with and without memory loss in walking the Albina district with old photos, prompting conversational reminiscence about living and working there before gentrification. Directed by Raina Croff and Clarice Bailey.
SATURDAY, MAY 30 · 9:30 – 3:30 PM
VANPORT AS CLASSROOM WORKSHOP
Location: Historic Alberta House, 5131 NE 23rd Ave.
Tickets: Coming soon
A hands-on workshop for educators bringing Vanport's history into the classroom. Engage as a learner, exploring past student projects, experimenting with place-based learning strategies, and gaining practical facilitation tools to share with your students and colleagues. Stay tuned for details!
Exhibits
📍 Alberta House · Open Gallery Hours
Vanport: A Surge of Social Change – A curated collection exploring Vanport’s lasting legacy.
The Climate Refugees of Vanport – Paintings by Henk Pander.
Impressions of Vanport – By the 3rd Grade students at Buckman Elementary; Artwork created by 3rd Graders at the Sauvie Island School .