TELEGRAM BUILDING

Telegram Building History

The Portland Telegram Building, located at the northwest corner of SW Washington Street and SW 11th Avenue, was constructed in 1922 for Portland industrialist J. N. Barde at a cost of $300,000. Built by W. D. Andrews Construction Company and designed by Portland engineering firm Rasmussen & Grace Company, the building was purpose-built to house the Portland Evening Telegram, a newspaper founded in 1877 by Henry L. Pittock, publisher of The Oregonian.

The building was specifically designed to accommodate the newspaper’s operations, including editorial offices and production facilities. Barde leased the property to the Telegram under a 25-year agreement. In 1931, E. W. Scripps, owner of the Portland News, acquired the Telegram and merged the two publications to form the Portland News-Telegram. Following the merger, newspaper operations relocated to offices at SW 5th Avenue and Main Street.

Over the decades, the building became home to a variety of other notable businesses and organizations. Radio station KXL occupied the building from 1938 to 1941 during the early years of commercial broadcasting. Other tenants included the Oregon Automobile Association, PayLess Drug Stores, Commercial Fidelity Corporation, and Hogg Brothers Furniture Company.

Preserving Portland’s Architectural Legacy

The building’s exterior is a distinguished example of Georgian Revival architecture, featuring white glazed terra cotta detailing and a prominent corner clock tower. Inspired by the belfry of Philadelphia’s Independence Hall, the tower reflects a once-common tradition of giving major newspaper buildings distinctive architectural identities that symbolized their importance as civic institutions.

The Portland Telegram Building remains one of Downtown Portland’s most recognizable historic landmarks. Listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, it is also one of the few surviving newspaper buildings from the early era of major American daily newspapers, preserving an important chapter of Portland’s architectural, media, and business history.

Class A Space in a Historic Downtown Landmark



Today, the Telegram Building offers thoughtfully renovated Class A office and retail space. Abundant natural light, high ceilings, distinctive historic character and contemporary finishes create an inspiring environment for modern businesses. Conveniently located between Portland’s Central Business District and the Pearl District, the property provides exceptional access to the Portland Streetcar, MAX Light Rail, and TriMet bus service, along with on-site tenant parking.

Address: 419 SW 11th Ave.

Portland, OR 97205