The Mansion and the Dome with Marcel Brouss

In 1965, the same year the restored Pittock Mansion opened to the public in Portland, Harris County Domed Stadium—popularly known as the Astrodome—opened in Houston, Texas. Although the two buildings seem to have little in common in architectural style and social purpose, their lives and afterlives can be compared to build a broader understanding of popular investment in historic resources. Although the Astrodome came into existence as an archetype of the future, the same year that the Pittock was preserved as an emblem of the past, the dome now shares the same fate as the mansion: it owes its existence to the public’s belief in its historic significance. The public embrace of both structures depends not only on their past importance, but on their ability to serve diverse public needs in the present. In this regard, Pittock’s ongoing success as a house museum can serve as a valuable lesson for the Astrodome.

Marcel Brousseau is a master’s candidate in Historic Preservation at the University of Oregon. He also has a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature and has worked as a professor at both the University of Oregon and Portland State University. He is currently working as Pittock Mansion’s first Preservation Intern, helping to organize preservation-related documentation while supporting the Preservation Committee in addressing the short- and long-term preservation needs of the historic buildings.

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