image has hand drand frame discolored shows stores on each side of foster can read signs fooster looks super wide maybe fish eye or as if and there is a street car heading towards camera man

Foster: The Widest Road

Always led by an expert guide


Discover the Spirit of Foster Road

This isn’t just another Portland street; it’s a storied corridor with a character entirely its own. Guided by local historian Dr. March, our journey centers on the historic Mt. Scott trolley line—the very pulse that once transformed Foster Road from a farm route into a cultural magnet. While the trolley originally served as a vital commuter link to downtown, it also birthed a bustling entertainment hub, boasting the highest concentration of theaters found anywhere outside the city center. Today, that legacy of community and movement continues to shape the neighborhood’s vibrant identity.

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A circular drive in with rings of neon like Saturn's rings and a word BARTS in Block letters neon as well and a round tower with lines of neon. Te cars look antique picture is Black and white
Night view of Barts Drive-In, at 5006 SE Powell, corner of Foster. Listed at this location until 1948.
Two men behind a butcher block counter, two additional men on the right. A huge wooden barrel of pickles in the for ground. There are items of meat handing from the ceiling in the back ground. There is a layer of sawdust on the floor.
What is on the floor? Sawdust on the floor to absorb blood and melting ice.
The Bob White had a small foot print on Foster and a large marquee and neon sign to capture the focus of drivers cars in the image look like 1940s vintage
Bob White theater was named for the Bobwhite Quail.

Foster: The Widest Road Walking Tour

From Cinema Hub to Modern Main Street
On this tour, we peel back the layers of Southeast Portland’s evolution. We’ll explore how a road once famous for its silver screens and being the “widest street in the city” transitioned into a modern sanctuary for quality coffee culture and vegan innovation. Our route highlights the fascinating intersection of suburban fast-food history and grassroots preservation efforts. It is an authentic Portland adventure that honors the past—from the grand theater era to the trolley tracks—while celebrating the sustainable, friendly neighborhood Foster has become.

  • Start & End Location: Speedboat Coffee 5927 SE Foster Rd, Portland, OR 97206
  • Length of Tour: 100 minutes
  • Distance: 1.5 miles
  • Accessibility: Tour is wheelchair accessible, restroom access is a challenge
  • Schedule: Offered the Forth Saturday of each month at 3pm and by request

Adults: $22 | Youth: $12

Please note: booking platforms may add a small service fee at checkout.

Reservations required

How did Foster Road Get Its Name?

Foster Road in Portland is named after Philip Foster (1805–1884), an influential early Oregon settler, farmer, and businessman. Foster’s farm is not in the Foster Neighborhood. The farm is a historic site at 22725 SE Eagle Creek Road, Eagle Creek, Oregon. He was a prominent figure in the Oregon Territory who assisted new arrivals, helped build the Barlow Trail, and was the brother-in-law of Portland’s co-founder Francis W. Pettygrove.

Neighborhood Fun Facts

Fun Fact #pending

A cream program with the Words Bob White Theater in fancy lettering and a Sketch of a quail all in forest greemn
Program for one of seven historic theaters on Foster

Fun Fact # Pending

This is a daylight image of a three story brick building with a huge three story arch with a first story bank of doors that are reached by steps. There are two columns with round balls on top closer to the viewer than the building one on each side of the doors.
Historic Landmark Masonic Lodge Building on Foster.

Fun Fact #54

The small drive in dinner theSPEACK in neon with neon lights run up a tower with neon saying FOOD TO GO, Neao the SPECK famous hamburgers also in neon SHAKES, CocaCola - There is a sing over the door "Entrance". 1950s on Foster Road 100 of people are standing around most are facing to the right.
The Speck was KFC at the end but it was a drive in in the 1950s & 60s.

Lost Historic Highlights

  • The angle of Foster Road is a vestige of 100s of years when Native Americans traveled from from Johnson Creek to the Willamette River. The well worn trail was appropriated by local farms to transport goods from their farm to Portland.
  • Streetcar Development: Take a step back in time and learn about Foster Road’s history. The tour walks along a stretch of Foster where the historic Mount Scott streetcar line ran from 1892-1936. The revival of the area has focused on making it even more pedestrian-friendly and accessible.
  • Phoenix Pharmacy: Explore this meticulously restored 1922 landmark building. Phoenix Pharmacy embodies Foster Road’s transformation from industrial to a hub for small businesses proudly located in a streetcar era suburb with its beautiful architecture and current tenant focus on outfitting you for numerous outdoor adventures. 
  • Bob White Theater: A vibrant neighborhood cinema from 1924 to 1985.  This massive theater was the gem of the seven theaters cluster and it played a significant role in the community’s entertainment scene for over 60 years. After closing as a cinema, the Bob White structure went through various uses, including housing a pipe organ restoration shop, on the tour and your guide will present you with how numerous historic buildings are being recycled and adapted.
Claim Your Spot

Important Details

  • Wear comfortable walking shoes.
  • Use the restroom before the tour begins.
  • Bring water and rain gear, depending on the weather.
  • Free street parking is available nearby.
  • Public transit options include TriMet Bus 14. Link to plan your trip on public transportation.
  • Friendly, leashed dogs are welcome.
  • All guests must complete a digital waiver before the tour.