TESTING
You’ve captured a magnificent sight: the sternwheel steamship *Portland*, which has a remarkable history as the only surviving example of a powerful "walking beam" steam engine in the United States and the last commercial sternwheeler built in Portland. Built in 1947, she was the last vessel of her kind to be built on a large scale for commercial purposes in the country, specifically for handling tugboat duties along the Willamette and Columbia Rivers.

The *Portland* served a vital role in Oregon’s maritime industry, pushing log rafts downriver and maneuvering ships into port. This type of sternwheeler was particularly well-suited for navigating the shallow and sometimes treacherous waters of the Pacific Northwest rivers. Her iconic paddlewheel at the rear, though not clearly visible in your photo, is what propelled her and earned her the name "sternwheeler."

In 1981, she was decommissioned, but her story didn't end there. She was lovingly restored and is now a floating museum managed by the Oregon Maritime Museum, docked here in the Skidmore/Old Town Historic District. She's a perfect example of adaptive reuse, preserving a significant piece of America's maritime heritage while offering educational experiences. You might notice the name "PORTLAND" clearly visible on her pilothouse.

Nearby, you can also see a portion of the Steel Bridge in the background, a double-deck vertical lift bridge that is also a landmark of Portland, carrying both rail and road traffic across the Willamette River. The whole setting offers a glimpse into Portland's deep connection to its rivers and its industrious past.