Welcome to MHA
Welcome to Multnomah Historical Association. Explore our archives to learn about the rich history of SW Portland’s Multnomah Village, from early days to today. Join us in preserving and celebrating local stories and photographs that connect our community now and in the future. The Association has struggled in recent years with lack of funding to the point where we lost our old website as well as our physical space in Multnomah Village. We are actively recruiting new members to keep the history alive.
Our Mission
The purpose of the Multnomah Village Historical Association is “To collect, preserve, to exhibit, to publish material of a historical character and to develop community wide interest in the growth and development of the Southwest neighborhoods of Portland, Oregon.”
We are a non-profit association that was formed by Multnomah School parents to preserve items of historical interest when the school was closed in 1979.
What We Do
From documenting local businesses and historic homes to uncovering lesser-known neighborhood tales, we aim to be a living archive and resource for the community. Whether you’re a longtime resident or a curious newcomer, there’s something here for you.
Over the years we have sponsored special events, published a variety of materials, gathered oral histories, and developed our library collection. We have had a representation in the community in regard to historic preservation and served as a resource for historical information. Large special events have included a celebration of the World War II Memorial Rock in 1996 and hosting a Multnomah School reunion in 2001.
Get Involved
We’re a volunteer-powered organization and we’d love your help. Do you have photos, memories, or time to share? Join us in preserving our neighborhood’s history and shaping the story we pass down.
Board Meetings are currently held virtually on the 1st Monday of each month (except September). Visitors are welcome and encouraged.
Early Multnomah History
The neighborhood began as a land claim of Thomas and Polly-Anne Tice, and through the 1800’s the area remained a densely wooded area, unnamed and home to only a few residents. Early resident Isaac Baird was a circus man who wintered his animals, including elephants, in a barn near his home. The community of Multnomah developed in the 1910s around a depot of the Oregon Electric Railway of the same name. In 1910, H. L. Gilbert consolidated the majority of the current village (including the existing Home Addition) into the Wildwood Subdivision. At this point, the site was bounded by the same physical streets, but their names were: Fulton Boulevard, Farewell Street and Gordon Avenue. The neighborhood continued to grow and was eventually annexed to Portland over an 8-year period beginning in 1954.