PROJECT

Sited along Portland’s Willamette River, the Japanese American Historical Plaza is a public open space and an extension of Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Set against a backdrop of cherry trees, the Plaza follows the contours of the river and serves as a connection for pedestrians and bicyclists, and is included in the pathway that connects the Eastbank Esplanade and Waterfront Park. However, the plaza does more than function as an active corridor, it is a place for contemplation. The plaza was conceived as a memorial to acknowledge the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Through bronze relief columns and poetry engraved on standing stones, the plaza tells a unique story that inspires a deep appreciation of the freedoms granted to all Americans by the Bill of Rights.