Ride Report: Fallout Shelters of Portland

Reporter – Amos Hunter
Ride – Fallout Shelters of Portland
Date – Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Report
A great group of around 50 joined up at the Lloyd Center to hear the history of fallout shelters and the civil defense program in Portland. After a bit of history we bombed through the underground parking labyrinth and emerged on the other side where we visited our first stop: the designated and signed fallout shelter in the Lloyd Center Macy’s building.

We visited a few other similar structures in town and talked cold war history along the way, and then made our way up to our final destination: an underground civil command center built to be used as a city hall in the case of nuclear attack in the side of Kelly Butte. The shelter has had a history of visitors and modifications since it was made defunct, so it was well sealed and it took us a while to find the front, but we had a good time rummaging around looking for air vents, escape hatches, and buried cold war treasure.

It was a great group, and almost everybody stuck around to the very end (even with the long ride and very steep hills at times). I think I will make this an annual event!

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, contact me via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a paying subscriber.

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patty
patty
14 years ago

This was an interesting ride with a nice long way out east pedal to Kelly’s Point. Enjoyed Amos and all