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.
Pioneer Courthouse Historical Society hosted a special CLE event
Thursday, October 16, 2025
The Pioneer Courthouse Historical Society was pleased to welcome members and guests to its annual fall CLE program, this year marking the 150-year anniversary of the Pioneer Courthouse building.
We welcomed two distinguished speakers who presented fascinating historical information about the role of the Pioneer Courthouse in Portland’s history and growth. Professor Carl Abbott taught urban studies and planning at Portland State University and has written several books about regional planning and the history of American cities, including Portland’s urban history. Mr. Robert Peck is the former Commissioner of Public Buildings at the General Services Administration, with expertise in the architectural design, historical significance, and restoration of federal courthouses, including the restorations of the Pioneer Courthouse in 1973 and in 2003-2005.
The CLE 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.