About Terwilliger Parkway

Envisioned by John C. Olmsted and implemented by his associate and Portland’s first Park Superintendent, Emanuel T. Mische, the road and bordering parkland represent a scenic parkway design influenced by the City Beautiful Movement.

In contrast to the larger highways that became the primary route for transportation, Terwilliger Parkway is characterized by slower speeds, curves following the contours of the hills, and opportunities to leisurely enjoy scenic vistas and outdoor recreation made possible by a wooded buffer zone of about 100 feet on both sides.

When Terwilliger Parkway first opened in 1912 the primary attraction was the panoramic views over the city due to the hillsides having been stripped of large trees in the 1800s. Over time the trees grew back to the point where there is now a mature 2^nd growth forest of douglas firs, cedars, maples, etc. The northern section of the parkway opened with a dedication by the Elks Club. Two years later, the 115-acre road was completed. In 1917, the city attempted to turn the maintenance-heavy parkway over to the county but was stopped by donors who reminded that they donated the land with the stipulation that it “be forever used as a boulevard and parkway, for the benefit and use of the public.” The threat of donors taking back the land was so severe that the city opted to pave the entire road in concrete to reduce maintenance needs instead.

Only minor changes have been made, keeping the parkway true to the original vision. Most notably, Eagle Point was added in 2013, an important location on the original Olmsted plan because of its magnificent views. A forest corridor with occasional views is characteristic of much of the parkway now.

The Friends of Terwilliger Parkway was established in the early 1990s with a mission to protect the historic, natural, and recreational character of the parkway. They were instrumental in listing Terwilliger Parkway on the National Register of Historic Places in 2021.