Bird’s-eye View of Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition and Oriental Fair, Portland, Oregon

Double sided map and guidebook to the 1905 Lewis & Clark Centennial Exposition in Portland.

Though not officially considered a World’s Fair by the Bureau of International Expositions, the global composition of the participants at the Lewis & Clark Centennial Exposition certainly came from far and wide. Over 1.5 million visitors descended on Portland, Oregon between June and October 1905 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the legendary expedition.

This bird’s eye view was issued by the Northern Pacific Railroad the year prior to encourage an enthusiastic attendance and shows the grounds in tremendous detail. Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helena dominate the background, while over a dozen buildings and attractions are illustrated and labeled within the image.

The verso features a map of the United States by the Poole Brothers of Chicago that highlights the routes of the Northern Pacific Railroad. The map and view were issued in a guidebook to the event, which is included and contains 55 pages of text, photographs, maps, and illustrations of attractions across Portland and the Pacific Northwest.