Lewis and Clark Exposition

One of the great events in Portland's history happened to coincide with the emergence of postcards in America.

In the late 1800s, amidst a national economic downturn, Portland's leaders decided to  try to spur growth by having a large international fair.

In the end, they decided to celebrate the centennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition by having an exposition in 1905.

This unusual postcard shows off the webbed foot of the mascot of the exposition, naturally a duck. "Where Rolls the Oregon" refers to a famous quote from a poem by William Cullen Bryant in the early 1800s. In the late 1700s, many Americans still believed that there might be some sort of mighty river that could carry someone from East to West. It was often described as the "Oregon."

The exposition was a financial success, rare for the time, but didn't leave a lasting impression on the Portland landscape like the Chicago 1893 exposition. Almost all the buildings were torn down by 1906.

Portland's population exploded as a result of the expo, with an increase from 161,000 to 270,000 residents between 1905 and 1910.