No.42

Western Warehouse

Location: 1801 NW Upshur Street, Portland, OR
Date illuminated: Oct 8, 2026
Layers: 5

Layered History

This is a palimpsest - a ghost sign that shows multiple worn ads painted on top of each other. This specific building, nicknamed 'Western Warehouse' has five layers, across two sides, we were able to revive. Learn more below about the business and brands that called this building home.

Layer 1 — 1909-1913

Carman Furniture

This premier Pacific Northwest home furnishings manufacturer produced bedroom, dining, and living room pieces out of this building before expanding to a larger facility.

Layer 2 — 1913-1920

Montgomery Ward

The Chicago-based retail giant leased this NW Portland building as its regional distribution hub to service mail-order and retail operations across California, Oregon, and Washington.

Layer 3 — 1920-1929

Oregon Transfer Company

Founded in 1871, the Oregon Transfer Company utilized this building as a critical regional logistics warehouse to manage and move freight throughout the state.

Layer 4 — 1930

Security Storage and Transfer

Layer 5 — 1968-1982

Western Warehouse

Building

Constructed around 1908 in Portland’s Slabtown district, 1801 NW Upshur Street is a seven-story industrial warehouse built with massive Douglas fir timbers and thick masonry walls to support heavy freight along the city's early rail lines.

The building's interior retains its original architectural character, featuring high ceilings, exposed brick, original hardwood floors, and wide grid windows that let in abundant natural light.

Following a modern adaptive reuse project, the former warehouse was converted into a multi-tenant creative hub. Today, its historic spaces are home to architecture firms, design agencies, art studios, and independent local businesses, seamlessly blending Portland’s working-class heritage with its current creative economy.

Some of the signs as seen from the South East corner of the building at different stages of its history.

CBS Sunday Morning

Special thanks to:
Projection support by Epson America
Historical & archival research: Alicia Hazen