One example is in the short piece below, published by a newspaper in Petaluma, California (in Sonoma County, north of San Francisco) on August 4, 1939, about a couple who drove up to Oregon for their vacation.
It’s kind of fascinating to see that, not so long ago, travel anecdotes like this were considered newsworthy. Especially for generations past, much of the pleasure in travel came from sharing the excitement with friends and family — and, yes, a little bragging. To that end, travelers were sure to send plenty of postcards to the folks at home.
Here you can see 15 different postcards showing Portland, Oregon, in the late thirties and early forties — much like those that couple might have mailed back from Oregon back to Petaluma.
Dr & Mrs H S Gossage return from Portland
Returning home from a seventeen-day trip in the north, Dr and Mrs Harris S Gossage report having enjoyed a most delightful trip, spending much of the time in Portland, Oregon.
They visited Smith River and later motored to Portland, where they visited the sanctuary of “Our Sorrowful Mother,” which has been visited by more than 400,000 persons during the year. In an out-of-door setting, surrounded by flowers and growing ferns and shrubs, it is described by Mrs Gossage as almost ethereal in beauty.
Dr and Mrs Gossage also visited the world-famous Lambert Gardens in Portland. Privately owned, they are commercialized, the owners realizing some revenue for the upkeep.
Mrs Gossage has made five trips to Portland, and each time she is more favorably impressed with the city. The couple motored to the northern state, going up the Redwood highway, and returning by the valley route.
DON’T MISS: See how Seattle has changed over the decades with these historic city views
Mt Hood from Portland Oregon
Air view of Portland business district
5 main bridges and east side in background
USS Portland passing under St John’s Bridge
$1,000,000 Public Market on Portland Harbor
Showing patrol boat and seaplanes
Portland-Columbia Airport, Oregon
The monastery, Sanctuary of Our Sorrowful Mother, Portland, Oregon
Scene in Laurelhurst Park, Portland, Oregon
Rose Test Gardens, Washington Park, Portland
ALSO SEE: Inside an old general store: See Oregon’s old Pease & Mays store in 1898
Broadway, Portland – Theatres by day
Broadway “The Great White Way” – Theatres by night
Portland Oregon city view
Looking north on Fifth Avenue, from Taylor Street, Portland
Portland Central Bus Depot
The Union Station, Portland
ALSO SEE: Vintage California tourist postcards from the ’30s and ’40s
