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Governor Hotel (Portland, Oregon)
Encyclopedia
The Governor Hotel, formerly the Seward Hotel, is a historic hotel
building in downtown
, Portland, Oregon
, United States
. The present name dates from 1932.
Built in 1909, the glazed terracotta building's exterior motif features a blending of art nouveau
and Native American
designs. Its interior architecture and furnishings are in the arts and crafts style, popular during the period it was built. The hotel's architect, William C. Knighton
, went on to become the first Oregon State Architect in 1912, and later designed the Oregon State Supreme Court Building.
The building was extensively remodeled in 1992, after several years of neglect. This remodel joined the neighboring Princeton Building to the original Governor Hotel. It continues on in its role as a hotel today. Many conferences, civic events, and banquets are hosted in the hotel as well; the City Club of Portland
hosts its weekly Friday Forums there. In 1994, McCormick & Schmick's
established Jake's Grill in the former entrance lobby. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
(as the Seward Hotel) in 1985.
Before the most recent remodel, the Governor Hotel served as the scene for several films: Portlander Gus Van Sant
filmed a scene of My Own Private Idaho
and Madonna
filmed several scenes of Body of Evidence
inside.
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
building in downtown
Downtown Portland
Downtown Portland, the city center of Portland, Oregon, United States, is located on the west bank of the Willamette River. It is in the northeastern corner of the southwest section of the city and is where most of the city's high-rise buildings are found....
, Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The present name dates from 1932.
Built in 1909, the glazed terracotta building's exterior motif features a blending of art nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
and Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
designs. Its interior architecture and furnishings are in the arts and crafts style, popular during the period it was built. The hotel's architect, William C. Knighton
William C. Knighton
William Christmas Knighton was an American architect best known for his work in Oregon. Knighton designed the Governor Hotel in Portland, Johnson Hall at the University of Oregon, and the Oregon Supreme Court Building and Deepwood Estate in Salem. He served as Oregon's first State Architect from...
, went on to become the first Oregon State Architect in 1912, and later designed the Oregon State Supreme Court Building.
City Club of Portland
The City Club of Portland is a nonprofit, nonpartisan civic organization based in Portland in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was organized in 1916 by a small group of men who began meeting in a downtown Portland restaurant to discuss the city's public institutions and government...
hosts its weekly Friday Forums there. In 1994, McCormick & Schmick's
McCormick & Schmick's
McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants is an American seafood restaurant chain, based in Portland, Oregon. Founded in 1979, the publicly-traded company operates a total of 92 locations in North America under various brands. This includes seven Canadian locations that operate under the Boathouse...
established Jake's Grill in the former entrance lobby. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
(as the Seward Hotel) in 1985.
Before the most recent remodel, the Governor Hotel served as the scene for several films: Portlander Gus Van Sant
Gus Van Sant
Gus Green Van Sant, Jr. is an American director, screenwriter, painter, photographer, musician, and author. He is a two time nominee of the Academy Award for Best Director for his 1997 film Good Will Hunting and his 2008 film Milk, both of which were also nominated for Best Picture, and won the...
filmed a scene of My Own Private Idaho
My Own Private Idaho
My Own Private Idaho is a 1991 independent drama film written and directed by Gus Van Sant, loosely based on Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1, Henry IV, Part 2, and Henry V, and starring River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves...
and Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
filmed several scenes of Body of Evidence
Body of Evidence
Body of Evidence may refer to:*Body of Evidence: From the case files of Dayle Hinman, television series showcasing the case files of Dayle Hinman on truTV*Body of Evidence , a 1993 erotic drama starring Madonna and Willem Dafoe...
inside.
See also
- Architecture in Portland, OregonArchitecture in Portland, OregonPortland architecture includes a number of notable buildings, a wide range of styles, and a few notable pioneering architects.The scale of many projects is relatively small, as a result of the relatively small size of downtown-Portland blocks and strict height restrictions enacted to protect views...
- List of Registered Historic Places in Multnomah County, Oregon