In the past, I have picked up Portland Monthly and flicked through it, reading snippets here and there and admiring the heft of it. This month, October 2005, caught my eye because of the cover: 200 Years in Words and Photographs. I am a history buff and love the history of our fair city. When I wander the streets walking, I look around and wonder what the history is of a house or a building or a street. Why are places named the way they are? Who is Kearney?

Well, this month’s Portland Monthly isn’t a giant retrospective of Portland’s history in pictures, but it’s a great attempt. Most of the focus is on the 1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition with great stories and pictures. Further, there is a great picture of the current St. John’s Pub, the only remaining building from the Exposition. Now a brew pub theater.

The editors then did a great job of highlighting local businesses and their history in photographs: Legacy Good Samaritan from a 3 story victorian home to the hospital it is today. The Multnomah Hotel from the 20’s which is now the Embassy Suites down off W. Burnside. Rejuventation, once a small 3 story victorian on N. Albina (now a Tattoo parlor) to the large 3 story warehouse and retail space they have on SE Grand ave.

I love seeing how the city has changed ove the last 180 years and it’s best to see it all in photographs. The one thing missing is a little more personal stories from people from that era. I think it would have been great to read an anecdote about early Parr Lumber to go with the photos.

Portland Monthly is a really nice magazine to read. Very glossy and flashy and thick. Most of the magazine is adds, but in my opinion, they don’t take away from the stories. There is a large section highlighting million $$$ homes and their realtors which is a bit ostentatious, but oh well.

Grab next months magazine and check it out. You’ll be surprised what you’ll learn about your city that is not available on the internet.