Photo of the Washington Park Reservoir looking south from SW Washington Way.
Picture Post

Picture Post: It’s reservoir [preview] day! The amber posts mark the edge of one of the original 1890s reservoirs.

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Photo of the Washington Park Reservoir looking south from SW Washington Way.
Photo of the Washington Park Reservoir looking south from SW Washington Way.
Photo looking southeast toward the SW Vista Ave bridge and Downtown Portland from the Washington Park Reservoir.
Photo looking southeast toward the SW Vista Ave bridge and Downtown Portland from the Washington Park Reservoir.
Photo looking northeast towards Reservoir 4 at Washington Park.
Photo looking northeast towards Reservoir 4 at Washington Park.
Photo looking towards Dam 4 of the Washington Park Reservoir showing amber posts marking the edge of one of the original 1890s reservoirs.
Photo looking towards Dam 4 of the Washington Park Reservoir showing amber posts marking the edge of one of the original 1890s reservoirs.
Photo of an amber post in the ground at the Washington Park Reservoir marking the edge of one of the original 1890s reservoirs.
Photo of an amber post in the ground at the Washington Park Reservoir marking the edge of one of the original 1890s reservoirs.
Photo looking north along a path leading to Pump Station 1 showing amber posts in the ground marking the edge of one of the original 1890s reservoirs.
Photo looking north along a path leading to Pump Station 1 showing amber posts in the ground marking the edge of one of the original 1890s reservoirs.
Photo of an amber post buried in the ground marking the edge of one of the original 1890s reservoirs.
Photo of an amber post buried in the ground marking the edge of one of the original 1890s reservoirs.
Photo looking north towards Pump Station 1, Dam 3, and Gatehouse 3 of the Washington Park Reservoir.
Photo looking north towards Pump Station 1, Dam 3, and Gatehouse 3 of the Washington Park Reservoir.
Photo of an interpretative window at Pump Station 1 describing the original "thumper" hydraulic pumps used.
Photo of an interpretative window at Pump Station 1 describing the original “thumper” hydraulic pumps used.
Photo looking through a window of Pump Station 1 at one of the original "thumper" pumps.
Photo looking through a window of Pump Station 1 at one of the original “thumper” pumps.
Photo of a commemorative marker in the Reservoir 4 Plaza. It reads, "In the 1890s, streetcar and cable car companies developed an extensive network serving the city. One cable car route led to this spot, which, before the reservoir was built, housed the park zoo."
Photo of a commemorative marker in the Reservoir 4 Plaza. It reads, “In the 1890s, streetcar and cable car companies developed an extensive network serving the city. One cable car route led to this spot, which, before the reservoir was built, housed the park zoo.”
Photo of a commemorative marker in the Reservoir 4 Plaza. It reads, "When city engineers built drinking water reservoirs here in the 1890s, they had both function and beauty in mind. Instead of building rectangular pools, they designed graceful, curving reservoirs that nestled into the landscape. Instead of building drainage ditches, they designed walkways, that could both drain rainwater and, as an 'Oregonian' article suggested, become 'the most popular promenades in the city.' In 2020, the city retired the original reservoir on this spot and built a reflecting pool to honor its legacy."
Photo of a commemorative marker in the Reservoir 4 Plaza. It reads, “When city engineers built drinking water reservoirs here in the 1890s, they had both function and beauty in mind. Instead of building rectangular pools, they designed graceful, curving reservoirs that nestled into the landscape. Instead of building drainage ditches, they designed walkways, that could both drain rainwater and, as an ‘Oregonian’ article suggested, become ‘the most popular promenades in the city.’ In 2020, the city retired the original reservoir on this spot and built a reflecting pool to honor its legacy.”
Photo looking southeast from the Reservoir 4 Plaza towards an electrical substation and an exterior wall of the Robertson Tunnel used by MAX to serve Washington Park from Goose Hollow.
Photo looking southeast from the Reservoir 4 Plaza towards an electrical substation and an exterior wall of the Robertson Tunnel used by MAX to serve Washington Park from Goose Hollow.
Photo of the original iron fence around Reservoir 4 with Dam 4 in the background.
Photo of the original iron fence around Reservoir 4 with Dam 4 in the background.
Photo looking north from the south end of Reservoir 4 through the original iron fence. On it, a sign reads, "NOTICE: ANYONE THROWING OBJECTS OF ANY KIND INTO THIS RESERVOIR SHALL BE SUBJECT TO ARREST UNDER PROVISIONS OF SECTION 16.1353 CITY OF PORTLAND POLICE CODE. THIS IS YOUR DRINKING WATER!!!"
Photo looking north from the south end of Reservoir 4 through the original iron fence. On it, a sign reads, “NOTICE: ANYONE THROWING OBJECTS OF ANY KIND INTO THIS RESERVOIR SHALL BE SUBJECT TO ARREST UNDER PROVISIONS OF SECTION 16.1353 CITY OF PORTLAND POLICE CODE. THIS IS YOUR DRINKING WATER!!!”
Photo looking northwest from the south end of Reservoir 4 showing the historic iron fence.
Photo looking northwest from the south end of Reservoir 4 showing the historic iron fence.
Photo looking northeast towards Dam 4 showing the end of the historic iron fence, right, amber posts marking the original edge, left, and the lowland habitat that replaced the original Reservoir 4, center.
Photo looking northeast towards Dam 4 showing the end of the historic iron fence, right, amber posts marking the original edge, left, and the lowland habitat that replaced the original Reservoir 4, center.
Photo looking north towards Dam 3 and Gatehouse 3 from the western edge of Reservoir 4.
Photo looking north towards Dam 3 and Gatehouse 3 from the western edge of Reservoir 4.
Photo of the northern edge of Reservoir 4. Pump Station 1, Dam 3, and Gatehouse 3 can be seen in the background.
Photo of the northern edge of Reservoir 4. Pump Station 1, Dam 3, and Gatehouse 3 can be seen in the background.
Photo of a decorative concrete gutter and crown molding around Pump Station 1.
Photo of a decorative concrete gutter and crown molding around Pump Station 1.

Taken on Jun 14, 2025 @ 11:29.

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AUTHOR

Stephen Weber
Geek, otaku, and public transport advocate. Knows where their coffee is.

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