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The City of Portland, Oregon

Nick Fish (In Memoriam)

City of Portland Commissioner

phone: 503-823-3589

Email: nick@portlandoregon.gov

1221 S.W. 4th, Room 240, Portland, OR 97204

Portland icons ready for restoration

August 30, 2012

By David Nguyen

We are excited to learn that three of Portland’s historic sculptures: the George Washington, the Sacagawea and Jean-Baptiste, and the Portland Building's iconic Portlandia, will be receiving some much-needed restoration thanks to a grant from the Oregon Cultural Trust and the Regional Arts and Culture Council.

The $5,000 grant will offer treatments for the George Washington and the Sacagawea and Jean-Baptiste, including removal of built-up oxidation on their bronze surfaces, hot-wax treatment to control future oxidation, and cleaning of the monuments' bases and pedestals.
 
Portlandia, the second largest hammered-copper sculpture in the U.S. - second only to the Statue of Liberty - will receive a complete condition assessment along with an inspection of its internal steel frame and mounts.  Experts will assess the accumulation of dirt, and work on clean-up.  The last large-scale cleaning of Portlandia was in 2006.

Restoration of these sculptures is expected to be completed by April 2013.

In the photo: Portlandia statue

Grant to help restore historic Portland sculptures

James Mayer in The Oregonian