Guide Tours at Pittock Mansion!

Interested in history and sharing one of Portland's premier attractions? Bring Portland stories to life as a volunteer tour guide at Pittock Mansion.

Guide Description: Pittock Mansion Guides greet visitors and answer questions about the Mansion and the Pittock family. Guides familarize themselves with the information in the Guide's Guide and Gate Lodge Families. They lead three 50-minute tours through the Mansion, and share stories of Henry and Georgiana Pittock, Oregon Trail pioneers.

Impact: Tour Guides actively support the Mansion’s mission to inspire understanding and stewardship to Portland history through Pittock Mansion, its collections, and programs.

Training: All volunteers are required to attend a 2-hour training. Tour Guides must sign up for multiple host shifts (see post about hosting at Pittock Mansion), and shadow multiple tours before guiding their own.

Commitment: Tour Guide lead three 50-minute tours through the mansion: 11:30am, 12:45pm, & 2:00pm OR 12:00pm, 1:15pm, & 2:00pm. Shifts are available 7 days a week, February through mid-November. (Tour guides are asked to host during the holiday season) Each shift is about 4-hours. There isn’t a maximum or minimum number of shifts a volunteer must sign up for—schedules are flexible.

History of the Mansion and Pittock Family: Pittock Mansion was built in 1914 for one of the Oregon’s most influential families, and it’s filled with rich history and remarkable stories. The Mansion is known for its architectural and technological prowess—original Otis elevator, central vacuum cleaning system, dumbwaiter, and thermostat-controlled central heating.

In 1853, Henry Pittock arrived in Portland “barefooted and without a cent.” By 1860, Mr. Pittock had moved his way up as a typesetter to the owner of The Oregonian newspaper. Portland’s history is reflected in the unique lives of the Pittocks whose work, interests, and life stories still influence Portlanders today. Henry and Georgiana Pittock were activists, community builders, and lovers of the outdoors. Henry Pittock helped establish the Portland Rose Festival, the Mazamas climbing club, and the Oregon Riding Club. Georgiana Pittock was a gifted fundraiser for the Ladies Relief Society, Portland Women’s Union, and helped found the Portland Rose Society, holding the first rose show at her downtown home in 1889.  

Note: All floors of Pittock Mansion are elevator accessible to those able to transfer to a manual/push wheelchair. The 1913 elevator cannot accommodate powered chairs or scooters, due to its size and weight limitations.