Doug Gelbert

How Oregon Happened: A Story of the Beaver State in 100 Buildings Doug Gelbert

Imagine a group of settlers arriving in an undeveloped location. First come shelters in which to live and then structures in which to work and shop. There are buildings for worship and education. As the community grows government buildings are required. With prosperity comes places in which to spend leisure time. And each step along the way builds a story only Oregon can call its own.



That story is all around you in the work of those who came before you. In these pages you'll learn the explanations behind the quirks, the traditions and the secrets that make Oregon uniquely Oregon. Vertical street? Solved. ODOT green? A mystery no more. The largest non-motorized parade in the United States? Identified. The origins of cable television? Revealed.



Ancient fishing weirs...bing cherries... America's oldest collegiate baseball field...trolley parks...cast iron architectiture...kissing bridges...hazelnuts...the country's most expenisve lighthouse... Oregon Oscar winners...hydraulic gold mining...the first NCAA basketball champions. This book will have you telling stories like a native in no time.



Almost all of the selections within are open to the public, or at least visible from public spaces. So, if you haven't seen these landmarks in person, fire up your GPS and get out and see the story of the Beaver State standing in plain sight on Oregon streets!