This historic community is a city of firsts. Oregon City was the first city west of the Mississippi and the location of the first long-distance power generation thanks to the mighty Willamette Falls. That history is on display at the many museums and interpretive centers throughout the area and even on a guided kayak tour to the base of the falls. From the excellent shopping and dining along the city's award winning main street to the epic view offered by the Oregon City Municipal Elevator towering above, this place is a family friendly community with character. Anchored by its Municipal Elevator, the only vertical street in North America, Downtown Oregon City is filled with unique local shops and family owned restaurants. It's also a special events hub with Oregon Trail history events. Visit explore Travel Oregon City, the city's official destination website for visitors and locals alike.
Browse White Rabbit Books & Gifts to embrace the works of regional artists in a shop dedicated to equitable representation. Foraged Made+Found+Design also supports the local maker community showcasing a curated selection of vintage finds and wares, such as pillows, pottery, woodcrafts and weavings. At the Scandinavian-inspired STUDIO GREY STORE, maker goods from around the world have a story to tell and a noble cause to support.
From James Beard award winning Chef Gabriel Rucker, favorite Canard dishes include foie gras dumplings, duck stack pancakes (brunch) and steam burgers. Nebbiolo Restaurant & Wine Bar specializes in tapas representing comfort foods from around the world, incorporating classic old and new world cooking methods. Across the street, Mi Famiglia Wood Oven Pizzeria tosses delicious pizzas, from the classics to the contemporary, such as prosciutto and fig. Located on a cliff overlooking Willamette Falls, The Highland Stillhouse Pub features Scottish favorites with a Pacific Northwest twist. Indulge in cottage pie and pasties alongside an impressive selection of whiskeys.
The HiVe Taphouse is home to Shattered Oak Brewing and Oregon City’s first food cart, The Perky Pantry, serving food with a nod to the owner’s Philly roots. Oregon City Brewing Co. is all about two things — making great craft beers and building community. Pair one of its many award winning brews with a meal from one of its many food trucks to enjoy under the covered and heated patio. Want to try a gin ranked in the top 50 in the world? Visit Trail Distilling — a certified farm distillery that uses grains grown from its family farm — and try the Trillium Pink Pinot Gin, aged in Oregon pinot noir wine barrels. The resident Mexican food truck GaBus awaits for authentic flavors to pair with the local spirits.
From downtown, stroll along the McLoughlin Promenade, a nearly eight-acre linear park overlooking the heart of Oregon City. History buffs will want to explore the McLoughlin Conservation District, home to over 300 architecturally and historically significant properties, some of which have been converted into museums and are open to the public. Don’t miss a tour through the McLoughlin House and the neighboring Barclay House, both included in the National Park System as units of the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. Nearby, visit the Ermatinger House — the oldest standing home in Oregon City — and discover authentic furnishings, artifacts and photos from the old American West.