Click image to enlarge
|
"Made in Oregon" Sign.
Image taken February 14, 2009.
|
"Made in Oregon" Sign ...
|
The "Made in Oregon" Sign, also known as the "White Stag" Sign (and after 2010, the "Portland, Oregon" Sign), is located in downtown Portland, Oregon, and overlooks the Willamette River. The sign was erected in 1940 and today is part of the "Skidmore/Old Town Historic District" and is designated itself as a local Historic Landmark. It is owned by the Ramsey Sign Company and throughout its nearly 70 years the sign has has been advertised White Satin Sugar, White Stag Sportswear, and "Made in Oregon" retailers. During the Christmas season the nose of the "White Stag" is lit red, a tradition started when White Stag Sportswear leased the sign and introduced the stag.
|
Click image to enlarge
|
"Made in Oregon" Sign, from behind.
The "Made in Oregon" Sign sits atop newly remodelled historic buildings, now a part of the Skidmore/Old Town National Historic District.
Image taken February 14, 2009.
|
"Portland, Oregon" Sign, 2010 ...
|
In September 2010 the old "White Stag"/"Made in Oregon" sign became the property of the City of Portland. After much deliberation, the sign now reads "Portland Oregon", and was lit for the first time the day after Thanksgiving, 2010. The deer's nose will still red during the Christmas holidays.
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Portland Waterfront, as seen from Interstate 5, with the NEW "Portland, Oregon" sign.
The "Made in Oregon" Sign now reads "Portland, Oregon".
Image taken December 25, 2010.
|
History ...
|
In 1940 the sign was erected and originally read "White Satin Sugar" inside an outline of the state of Oregon. In 1950 the sign was animated to show the state filling with sugar.
In 1959 the sign was changed to advertise White Stag Sportswear, the company which actually owned the building at the time and had occupied it since 1924. The sign was changed to read "White Stag Sportswear" and a silhouette of a white stag was added to the top. That holiday season the Stag's nose was lit red, a move which became a Portland holiday tradition.
In 1996 and after the White Stag company was long gone from Oregon, the sign's lettering was changed to read "Made In Oregon", with the lettering "Old Town" in red across the bottom.
In 2010 the City of Portland became the owner of the sign and the lettering was once again changed. It now reads "Portland Oregon"
|
Skidmore/Old Town Historic District ...
|
Portland's "White Stag" Sign is part of the "Portland Skidmore/Old Town Historic District, listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 (District #75001597). The District includes 440 acres, many buildings, and 1 object - the "White Stag Sign". The District lies just west of the Willamette River. The sign was made a Portland National Historic Landmark in 1977.
|
Lighting the Nose ...
|
In 1959 the nose of the "White Stag" became red for the Christmas holiday season in an imitation of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. The lighting of the nose has become a Portland holiday tradition. In 2011 the nose was lit up November 23, the wednesday before Thanksgiving.
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Lighting Rudolph's nose, images from KOIN TV News.
Image taken November 23, 2011.
|
Click image to enlarge
|
Lighting Rudolph's nose, images from KOIN TV News.
Image taken November 23, 2011.
|
|
From the Journals of Lewis and Clark ...
|
|
Return to