PORTLAND, OR — It’s known as the “Rose City,” named after the flower, a symbol of renewal and growth. From its beginnings in 1845 as a supply post and trading center for Gold Rush prospectors to its modern day image of world-class manufacturing, distribution, and commercial trading, Portland symbolizes steady growth and a clean environment.
Constant reminders of the beauty and devastation of Mother Nature also surround it. Lurking along the northern horizons are the ominous figures of Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens. While Mt. Hood shows off its majestic peak 11,240 feet above sea level, Mt. St. Helens displays its massive “hole,” caused by the 1980 volcanic eruption that killed 57 people and turned the countryside barren and ashen gray.