Industry

By the turn of the twentieth century, Portland was well established as a vital economic site for the western United States. Also, at this time the industrialization of the nation’s market that began in New England was now spreading to the Pacific Northwest at a rapid pace. Port cities such as Portland and Seattle were growing fast and competing for regional hegemonic power. The 1905 Lewis and Clark Exposition had a main purpose of attracting business interests to Portland and further develop the city's economic strength.

Following the exposition, the very site of the fair began a long series of drastic changes, including the filling of Guild's Lake, which would eventually turn the area into Portland’s chief industrial area. The Guild's Lake site became home to a number of industries including steel, rail, ship-building, and merchandising. It helped Portland maintain its strong position as a leader in the Pacific Northwest economy and remains a driving force in the region to this day.