The original Heathman Hotel was built in 1926, located at the intersection of Park and Salmon streets in downtown Portland by contractor and hotelier, George Heathman. By the following year, Portland had become a burgeoning city with a demand for higher-end accommodations to meet the social station and needs of the affluent residents and travelers passing through. Given the success of the first hotel, Heathman started construction on a sister property.
In 1927, The New Heathman Hotel opened its doors, just a block from the original. It was a 10-story concrete and brick structure, with decorative details in the Jacobean Revival style. Unabashedly classic in spirit, the Heathman has always been a storied actor in the city’s artistic conversation due to its location in the heart of Portland’s cultural district. In the hotel’s early years from the 1930’s to the 1950’s, the mezzanine was home to the studios of Portland radio station KOIN.
In 1984, the Heathman underwent a major renovation during which the original exterior and eucalyptus-paneled Tea Court Lounge were fully restored to their original glory. in 2018, a room renovation took place. Lighter, brighter and more contemporary, the new design is rooted in the building’s unique history and pays homage to the hotel’s role as muse to generations of guests and locals alike.
