As part of the 11th Vanport Mosaic Festival
May 22-31
LOST CITY LIVING MEMORIES: VANPORT THROUGH THE VOICES OF ITS RESIDENTS
A “miracle city.” A “sociological experiment.” A “municipal monstrosity.” A “nasty ghetto.”
During its short life span (1942-1948), Vanport--at its peak Oregon’s second largest city and the nation’s largest public housing project--drew national attention and conflicting opinions. For the over 40,000 people who lived there, Vanport was simply their home.
When the Columbia River flooded in 1948, on Memorial Day, the entire city was erased from the map and much of Portland’s memory in a single day.
Through nearly a decade of collaboration with the Vanport community, Vanport Mosaic has established the largest collection of oral histories about Vanport, ensuring the preservation and honoring of one of Oregon's most pivotal historical communities.
Through archival footage, historic photographs, and compelling first-person narratives, Lost City, Living Memories creates a rich and elaborate “mosaic” of the vibrant community that made up Vanport, and commemorates the tragedy that displaced it.
NW Freedom Singers are going to take us through Vanport and WWII to Albina and Dawson Park and the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and on to Church and the heartbeat of Portland’s Black Community.
May 27, 2026
6pm - 8pm
Historic Alberta House
5131 Northeast 23rd Avenue, Portland, OR 97211
Free/by donation