The fore ground is a weedy plot of land on a road are early 1900s vehicles in between the road and homes looking east are circus tents the big top is at a low point the poles stand proud and there are a cluster of trees on the left

Fun Fact #87 Where did Buffalo Bill and other circuses set up in the early 1900s Portland?

Written by

Tanya March

in

Answer: Between NW Pettigrove & Raleigh Streets at NW 25th. Future site of Wallace Park was the circus grounds.

Before it became the neighborhood green space we know today, the land that is now Wallace Park had a much wilder history: it was once a favorite location for traveling circuses visiting Portland. Thanks to rare photographs from local private collections, our tour guests get to compare today’s peaceful park benches with historical shots of big top tents and circus wagons set up on this exact terrain.

Elephant in NW Portland there are two adults and two children in the foreground way too close to the elephant - in the back ground there is a house with about 8 folks out front. There are street car tracks on a dirt road
Courtesy Norman Gholston
Circus performer a cowboy on a horse with T-pees behind bucking steer
Courtesy Oregon Journal
Portland 2 Days Thurs. Fri. Sept. 21-22 Tents at 25th and Raleigh Sts. Seats on sale show day at Owl Drug Show Buffalo Bill Original Wild West 3 [MEDDS] performances Elephants Sell-Floto-Circus - The Two World champions Jess cartoon show an Indian Chief Bill with his pointed beard a garaff and two boxers in shorts shaking hands
Tents at 25th and Raleigh Portland Mon May 24 Tues May 25 Reserved Seats at Owl Drug store Show Day Free two mile parage to [Soap]
The fore ground is a weedy plot of land on a road are early 1900s vehicles in between the road and homes looking east are circus tents the big top is at a low point the poles stand proud and there are a cluster of trees on the left
Circus Tents on the future site of Wallace Park Courtesy Norman Gholston
A team of horses pulling a carriage with two look a like "Wild Bills" in the frint you can't see the face of their passaer and there is a man in a bowler hat and a house in the back ground
Portland podiatrist William DeVeny was a Buffalo Bill impersonator. Image Photo of Buffalo Bill and DeVeny in Portland 1914 courtesy OR State Archives
Portland two days only Monday and Tuesday Aug. 21-22 On Goldschmit's Addition, 25th and Quimby Sts. The Worlds Largest Grandest Best Amusement Institution Americas only representative Show 3 circuses 3 stages truthfully advertized Barnum and Baily Greatest Show on Earth 88 cars 5 trains 500 horses worth 175,000, 100 cages and chariots, 1200 people honorably presents 1,000 wonders 2 menageries, the real source of all the best amusment ideas, Conducted on sound business principles Main business office 2327 W 34th New York City, the only Curcus Exhibiting in New York coming here just as it gladdened the Naton's Metropolis Six sublime, surpassing, superb, sensational Surprises
Credit: The Oregonian August 21, 1905 p 7

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