Portland's Hawthorne Boulevard

Hawthorne Boulevard in Portland, Oregon has transformed from a farm path in 1850 to a tourist destination in the 21st century. Named after Dr. J.C. Hawthorne, who opened Oregon’s first asylum there in 1861, the street from the Willamette River to Mount Tabor has been called a hippie haven and a shopper’s paradise. Streetcars brought population growth, grocery stores, and saloons, and in 1912, the Elks’ national convention paraded on it. The 1948 Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade was also held there. The Hawthorne Boosters kept the bustle in the 1950s, but vacant storefronts emerged in the 1970s. Cheap rent attracted hip entrepreneurs, and sensitive revitalization in the 1980s preserved the neighborhood’s unique character. Today, Hawthorne Boulevard attracts visitors from across the city and around the world. It's a nice street.