The Portland, a steam towboat, was used in the mid 20th century to dock, turn and assist ships through the Willamette River's narrow channels. She was retired in the early 1980s when more efficient diesel engined boats took her place. Today, after decades of retired neglect, she has been restored by a team of volunteers and stands dockside, a beautiful relic of a by-gone age. The Portland is now home of the Oregon Maritime Museum.
I snapped this photo one spring morning when we were strolling on the banks of the Willamette River. I liked the look of the ship, a beautifully restored and preserved piece of the past (not unlike a restored classic car), and how the image tells you exactly where you are.
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