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Past Activity

PDX Architecture, Oregon Historical Society, Powells

  • Start date: 06/23/2026

  • Start time: 7:30 AM

  • End date: 06/23/2026

  • End time: 9:00 PM

Description:

This is a trip to Portland via Amtrak. We will visit the new PDX Terminal to experience the updated architecture, followed by the Oregon Historical Society, then spend time at Powell’s Bookstore before returning via Amtrak. This will be a full day.

We depart Eugene on Amtrak for a ride to Union Station in Portland. We will then catch the Red Line Streetcar and travel to PDX. The new PDX terminal is the result of a $2 billion renovation that makes it bigger, prettier, more sustainable and more resistant to earthquakes. The airport is now considered one of the pretties in America, and includes a 400,000 square foot latticed ceiling, massive skylights, towering trees and green spaces. Plan for 1 hour exploring the airport, or grab a coffee at the Country Cat or Portland Coffee Roasters. We will give fellow Obsidian, Christiane, a farewell sendoff on her overseas flight. Then, we return to Portland on the Redline and visit the Oregon Historical Society. OHS features three floors of permanent and traveling exhibitions that explore the dynamic people and complex stories and events that have shaped the history of Oregon and the nation. Afterward, we will walk to Powell’s Books for some time there. We then walk back to Union Station and return to Eugene via Amtrak.

Schedule: (times are approximate, except for the train(

07:45am: Depart on Amtrak Cascades #504 (EUG > PDX)

10:20am: Arrive PDX Union Station, then catch the Redline Streetcar

11:20am: Arrive PDX

12:30pm: Send Christiane off on her flight; depart PDX on Redline to downtown

1:30pm: Arrive Oregon Historical Society (OHS)

3:15pm: Depart OHS and Walk to Powell’s Books

3:45pm: Arrive Powell’s Books

5:15pm: Depart Powells

5:45pm: Arrive Union Station

6:09pm: Depart Union Station via Amtrak Cascades #507 (PDX > EUG)

8:47pm: Arrive Eugene

Additional:

Purchase coach tickets on Amtrak (07:45am Amtrak Cascades (EUG > PDX); and 6:09pm Amtrak Cascades (PDX > EUG). The price will $34 for a round trip ticket. Portland redline tickets can be purchased in Portland at will run about $5.60 for the day. Powell’s will cost as much as you want. Bring snacks, water, and wear layers. Plan to buy a sandwich or other food in Portland and eat dinner on the train returning to Eugene.

Parking in Eugene::
You can park at the parking garage at Willamette between 7th and 8th (entrance is on 8th Avenue). The walk from the parking garage to the train station is about 5 minutes. You can also park at the Hult Center Parking Lot on 6th and Olive. Parking is $8/day.

  • Event Leader: Mark Hougardy

  • Event Leader Phone: 541-206-9532

  • Event Leader Email: hougardy@gmail.com

  • Assistant Leader:

  • Event category: Trips

  • Area Type: Valley

  • Departure Location: See Trip Description

  • Rating: Easy

  • Roundtrip total drive miles:

  • Season: 2026

  • Permits Required:

  • Event Status: Passed

  • Supplies and Equipment Required:

  • participant prerequisites:

  • Conditions:

  • Total Distance: 3

  • Member Fees: —

  • Elevation Gain: 200

  • Non-Member Fees: 8

  • Committee: Trips

  • Junior member fees: —

Trip Report

Our ride from Eugene to Portland on the Amtrak Cascade train was a 2+ hour planning session for many future (possible) trips. Arriving in Portland, we made our way to the airport via the trams. The Portland Airport is really a work of art! What everyone noticed was just how calm the airport was, especially when compared to other large-scale airports. One of the highlights was a 9-screen giant panel display showing different natural scenery from around the Pacific Northwest. In the first panel, a hiker is seen making their way from south to north across the scene’s horizon, then they ‘step’ into the next scene and hike across this, then ‘step’ into the next, and so on. Due to the ticketing counter not being open as expected, and then a long line, this created a delay. Thank you to all the participants for their patience! Christiane was able to make her flight to see family. Our next destination was the Oregon Historical Society, which is a gem! Due to time, we could not visit as long as we would have liked. We hope to make additional trips to spend additional time here. We also enjoyed some time at Powell’s Books before returning to Union Station and our ride home. This was possibly one of the last Obsidian trips on the older Amtrak coaches, which have been in service for 40+ years. This trip leader is looking forward to the new Amtrak Airo trains and more Obsidian trips to Portland.