Darcelle XV Showplace received a National Register of Historic Places designation in November 2020, becoming the first LGBTQ+ specific nomination in Portland. But what is the larger landscape of historic queer spaces in the city? Keep Portland Queer-ed examines spaces and places in Oldtown and downtown to understand the breadth of 20th century queer life. Along the way, the tour highlights successes and challenges of preserving queer histories and historic places.
This tour highlights some of the stories and places that were documented by the City of Portland’s LGBTQ+ Historic Sites Project. This project built on decades of community work to honor and preserve places of significance to Portland’s queer history during the 20th century.
Walking tour route
The walking tour is a one-way route that starts at the Japanese American Historical Plaza and ends at the Crystal Hotel. The route is 1-mile long, and includes changing sidewalk conditions, standing in areas with no shade, standing on sidewalks, and a slight grade.
Event registration
The event will be capped at 25 participants.