Southeast Portland’s Juniper House has been nominated to the National Register of Historic Places for its association with HIV/AIDS healthcare during the late 1980s. If listed by the National Park Service, this resource would follow Old Town drag venue Darcelle XV, Northeast Portland softball field Erv Lind Field, and West End bathhouse Majestic Hotel to be Oregon’s fourth federally recognized LGBTQ+ historic site and contribute to the growing number of LGBTQ+ landmarks across the country. The nomination is a result of the City of Portland’s LGBTQ+ Historic Sites Project, which has sponsored a series of LGBTQ+ historic preservation activities since 2022.
Juniper House’s nomination was prepared by Ernestina Fuenmayor of Salazar Architect, with support from Kristen Minor of Minor Planning and Design and Shayne Watson of Watson Heritage Consulting. The nomination incorporates oral interviews conducted by the project team, as well as extensive archival documentation assembled from numerous sources.
Before being considered by the National Park Service, the public is invited to testify on the nomination at the Portland Historic Landmarks Commission on September 9 and the State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation on October 18.
About the nominated site
The National Register nomination for Juniper House documents and elevates the history and significance of HIV/AIDS care in Portland and Oregon during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Juniper House was initially built as a Craftsman style residence and was converted into an HIV/AIDS hospice facility in 1987. Its opening in May 1987 marked the first HIV/AIDS dedicated end-of-life care facility in the region. Between May 1987 and September 1989, Juniper House staff and volunteers cared for 90 individuals with HIV/AIDS. The care facility “filled a critical void in the state’s healthcare system during a period marked by widespread stigma and systemic discrimination,” as explained in detail in the nomination document.
Juniper House contrasted many institutional healthcare systems during its short but critical operating history. John Trevitts, Doug Foland, and Jan Weyeneth established the facility with a focus on compassionate, home-like comforts. In both print records and oral interviews, volunteers and staff recalled the house being a place for life and laughter during one of the most challenging periods of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Although the address was kept private for safety, Juniper House was featured in two local documentaries aimed at increasing public awareness and reducing HIV/AIDS stigmas. Juniper House ceased operations in September 1989, yet its legacy continued by influencing additional HIV/AIDS dedicated end-of-life care facilities and changes to Multnomah County’s health classifications for such centers.
Juniper House is being nominated to the National Register for significance in the areas of LGBTQ+ History and Health for the period 1987 to 1989. Due to its more recent time period (less than the typical 50-year minimum required for listing in the National Register), the preparers of the National Register nomination included arguments detailing the exceptional significance of the property. If accepted by the National Park Service, Juniper House would be the first property in the country listed in the National Register specifically for its HIV/AIDS historical significance.
About the LGBTQ+ Historic Sites Project
Since its launch in late 2022, the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability’s LGBTQ+ Historic Sites Project has identified several hundred historic resources associated with different aspects of Portland’s LGBTQ+ history. These resources date from the early 1900s through the 1990s and include parks, bridges, buildings, and streetscapes associated with a diversity of queer individuals and experiences. Of the 400 identified LGBTQ+ historic sites, 90 were selected for in-depth documentation through a reconnaissance-level survey to capture both architectural and social history. Through this survey process, Juniper House, Majestic Hotel, and Erv Lind Field rose to the level of significance needed for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places.
About the National Register of Historic Places
The National Register is the nation’s official list of historic places, ranging from individual buildings such as Pittock Mansion to districts like Ladd’s Addition. In Portland, listing an individual property as a National Register Landmark automatically results in the application of a land use demolition protection known as demolition review. Additional land use regulations — and certain incentives — are provided to properties that achieve a separate City Historic or Conservation Landmark designation. To be eligible for listing in the National Register, a property must meet established National Park Service criteria for both historic significance and physical integrity. Owner consent is required for individual listing in the National Register.
Upcoming public hearings and next steps
The National Register nomination for Juniper House will be reviewed at two upcoming public meetings. Written and oral testimony will be accepted at both meetings and all community members are invited to participate.
Portland Historic Landmarks Commission
Monday, Sept. 9, 1:30 p.m. (Virtual hearing)
Hearing information and testimony registration
Oregon State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation
Friday, Oct. 18, 1:30 p.m. (Virtual and in-person hybrid hearing)
Hearing information and testimony registration
After the two hearings, the nomination is expected to be forwarded to the National Park Service for final consideration and a decision in early 2025.
Questions about the nomination and hearings process can be directed to the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability’s Historic Resources Program at historic.resources@portlandoregon.gov.