Building Portland's Memorial Coliseum (A Mid-Century Political Firestorm)

The arena that pitted the east side against the west side.

 

Portland, Oregon in the 1950s was a city at a crossroads. Would they retain the status quo of the first half of the 20th Century or rush headlong into the future?

Pitting east side upstarts against downtown traditionalists, the battle over where to build the Memorial Coliseum was at times exciting, controversial, and long-winded. Three very different locations set off a storm of subterfuge and political posturing that included the indictment of a commissioner originally tasked with choosing the site, and the rise of an east side used car dealer determined to prevent the city from building it downtown.

With the future of sports and recreation in the Rose City at stake, city leaders and private citizens sparred in public hearings and Portland’s first ever televised debates.

Author Michael A. Orr provides a behind the scenes look at the drama and machinations in the battle to build Portland a space for future generations.

While major retailers like Amazon may carry Building Portland's Memorial Coliseum (A Mid-Century Political Firestorm), we specialize in bulk book sales and offer personalized service from our friendly, book-smart team based in Portland, Oregon. We’re proud to offer a Price Match Guarantee and a streamlined ordering experience from people who truly care.

We’re trusted by over 75,000 customers, many of whom return time and again. Want proof? Just check out our 25,000+ customer reviews—real feedback from people who love how we do business.

Prefer to talk to a real person? Our Book Specialists are here Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST and ready to help with your bulk order of Building Portland's Memorial Coliseum (A Mid-Century Political Firestorm).