Portlandia

Portlandia, the iconic sculpture by Raymond Kaskey positioned above the entrance of the Portland Building in downtown Portland, Oregon, is the second-largest copper repoussé statue in the United States after the Statue of Liberty. This striking figure was designed to reflect the city’s seal, depicting a woman in classical attire, holding a trident in one hand and extending the other as if to welcome visitors. Though crouched at 35 feet tall, the statue would stand approximately 50 feet high if fully upright.

The statue was crafted in sections by Kaskey, along with Greg Pettengill and Michael LaSalle, in Maryland before being transported to Portland by rail. After being floated up the Willamette River on a barge, it was installed on October 6, 1985. The installation journey through the city streets was memorable, as many people reached up to touch the statue, rubbing off a layer of copper from Portlandia’s finger.

For those interested in more about the statue, Kaskey's full-scale mold and other related items are on display across the street in the Standard Building, open to the public.