The Pioneer Courthouse, in Portland, Oregon, has been home since 1875 to the United States Courts in the State of Oregon and is currently the Oregon home for the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
The Pioneer Courthouse Historical Society held its 2024 fall CLE on Thursday, October 17, 2024 — “The Historic Grants Pass Decision: How We Got Here and What It Means for the Future.”
Moderators of this engaging panel discussion: the Honorable Diarmuid F. O’Scannlain and Danny Newman | PCHS Board Chair, Partner, Tonkon Torp LLP
Panelists: Theane Evangelis | Partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, Ed Johnson | Director of Litigation, Oregon Law Center, Marc Jolin | Attorney and Former Head of Multnomah County and City of Portland’s Joint Office of Homeless Services, and Lieutenant David Bonn | Hillsboro Police Department This event was sponsored by Tonkon Torp LLP and Perkins Coie LLP
The Building
Learn about the architecture and history of the building from 1875 through to its seismic upgrade in 2003-2005.
The cupola
See Portland past and present from the windows of the cupola. On this web page you’ll also see historic views of the city.
Documents of History
Documents, from the Magna Carta (1215) to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 have shaped our history.
The Galleries
feature an exhibit on Judge Deady’s Oregon, portraits of the Ninth Circuit judges based in Pioneer Courthouse, building restoration and more.
Ninth Circuit Timeline
The Ninth Circuit’s history reflects the history of America’s development as a nation and its westward movement.
Watch a Video…
At the Forefront of Adventure and Architecture: Pioneer Courthouse, Portland, Oregon www.gsa.gov/portal/content/147009
Visit Pioneer Courthouse, a National Historic Landmark
Pioneer Courthouse is located in the heart of downtown Portland, adjacent to the ever-lively Pioneer Courthouse Square, Portland’s “living room” and once the home of the grand and popular Portland Hotel.
The courthouse, which is a National Historic Landmark, is the single most important 19th-century government building in the Pacific Northwest to survive into the 21st century. Opened in 1875 as the seat of the federal government in the region—incorporating the post office, judiciary, customs office, and tax department—the Pioneer Courthouse welcomed presidents, witnessed significant trials and court hearings, and has stood watch as Portland has grown from a small town to a large city.
You are invited to visit the building to tour its ornate hallways and public areas, dignified courtroom on the second floor, the cupola above the fourth floor (with its astounding vista of a century of Portland architecture), and exhibits throughout that tell the story of the building, the courts, and the people who have worked here. This website offers a sampler of those exhibits.