Current Impact

For over 60 years, Greater Portland Landmarks has worked to protect Portland’s heritage,
strengthen its identity, and foster a vibrant, livable community.

WE ENGAGE the community to learn from its history, preserve special places, and encourage development that serves and inspires those who live, work, and visit Portland today and in the future.

WE PROMOTE the sustainable reuse of historic places and ensure history is recognized honestly and inclusively.

WE ADVANCE policies and programs that preserve significant historic character, promote thoughtful new design, attract reinvestment, encourage sustainable approaches, and uphold Portland’s preservation law.

WE ARE STEWARDS of the Portland Observatory, where we introduce greater Portland’s rich local history to thousands of visitors from around the world.

A new Mission

Greater Portland Landmarks uses Portland’s heritage – its buildings, places, culture, and stories - as a catalyst for connection, affordability, and resilience. We engage the community to learn from its history, preserve special places, and encourage development that serves and inspires those who live, work, and visit Portland today and in the future.

Strengthened Values

Future Focused: Preservation is a tool for creating a more vibrant, sustainable, and equitable future.

Give Voice to All Histories: We preserve and share the full spectrum of our community's history.

Collaborative: We are effective through partnerships to achieve shared goals.

Innovative and Adaptable: We embrace new approaches to connect preservation with community goals. 

Transparent and Honest: We are accountable to our community and build trust.

Inclusive: We seek out and amplify diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences in preservation.

Intentional: We deploy our time, talent, and resources for consequential and sustained results. 

Our Goals and strategies

  • Implement a robust public engagement campaign to involve the community in defining the role of historic preservation to shape the future city. Build consensus and partnerships around a community-driven vision.

  • Work to better understand, interpret, protect, and share the full and layered history of Portland.

  • Develop a survey methodology to identify opportunities to address these issues. Involve the public, get input, share information, and chart a course of action.

  • Commit time, resources, and creativity to the goal of a more diverse and representative board, staff, and constituency

  • Substantially increase and diversify revenue generation by better conveying the community and economic value of our work and building new partnerships.

Learn About Our Process