The Benson Hotel, a late Edwardian masterpiece that became another sparkling jewel in the
collection of Simon Benson’s achievements. It’s elegant, regal, and tastefully luxurious.
Starting off as the dream of a humble lumber baron, the Benson Hotel exists today as a
wonder of early 20th century art and style. Here now is the history of this fascinating marvel.
Simon Benson was born October 2nd, 1851 in Norway and immigrated to the United States
with his family at the age of 16. He began working in the logging industry in Wisconsin,
and eventually moving his wife and children to the state of Oregon,
he worked his way up through the ranks and started up the Benson Logging and Lumber Company.
In 1891 his wife died after a long battle with Tuberculosis, leaving the grieving Simon as a
single father. He was a man devoted to his children. And he was more driven than ever,
to make his business a success. His business pioneered the use of logging railroads,
instead of using oxen like his competitors. And to save on shipping costs, his company
employed the use of logging rafts that floated his timber down to his sawmill in San Diego,
supplying Southern California with it’s desperately needed lumber.
Between the period of 1905 and 1929, the city of Portland, Oregon experienced a surge of growth,
becoming much more than just a logging town, it quickly grew into a cultured
city complete with annual parades and rose festivals and new construction introduced
modern architecture and design to the city. Being somewhat of a visionary himself, Simon
Benson dreamed of a world-class hotel for the city of Portland, and in 1912 he commissioned the
city’s most prominent architectural firm Doyle and Patterson to help bring his dream to a reality.
The exterior of the hotel was designed in the French Second Empire style, complete with glazed
terra cotta and red brick. The lobby had arched windows, and the top of the building was capped
with a French mansard roof with dormers. The hotel even had the grandest marquee out front,
standing over 50 feet tall and made of glass and steel. The marquee would later collapse
under the weight of heavy snow in 1937. The fabulous interiors of the hotel are a
true testament to the elegance and grandeur that Simon pursued. He had bought the best Paonazzo
marble to line the baseboards of the walls and pillars. The wood panneling above the marble was
done in the now extinct Circassian walnut, which was imported from the forests of Imperial Russia.
A story goes that Simon Benson, who was quite used to spending large sums of money,
had nearly fainted when he received the bill from the Czar for the rare wood!
That exotic panneling still remains the breathtaking focal point of the main lobby.
Adorning this grandios space, are the hanging Austrian crystal chandeliers,
the grand fireplace with matching Paonazzo marble hearth,
and of course, who can miss the classical coffered ceiling with hand-carved plaster moulding?
The lobby alone set Benson’s hotel apart from all others in the city.
During the construction on the hotel, Simon had been spending a lot more time in the city,
and noticed that there were few places for the general public to get a drink of water.
During an independence parade he noted the cries from a thirsty child. And one day, he walked into
one of the city’s various saloons to ask for a glass of water, when told he could only get
water if he ordered a drink, he then asked for a glass of beer and a glass of water. He drank only
the water and left the beer behind. It occurred to him that the loggers and working-class men of the
city had no access to drinking water, and it was much easier to quench their thirst with alcohol,
which no doubt negatively affected their health and productivity at work.
Simon then donated $10,000 towards the installation of 20 bronze drinking fountains
around the downtown area, equivalent to around $292,000 in today’s money. These beautifully
ornate fountains constantly gushed water day and night, and have provided Portland’s citizens
with a healthier way to hydrate themselves for over 110 years. The fountains were given the
endearing nickname the Benson Bubblers, and Simon even had one installed right outside his hotel.
On March 5th, 1913, the hotel opened with the name the New Oregon Hotel, since it
was technically annexed as part of the original Oregon Hotel next door. Standing 12 stories tall,
and containing 200 guest rooms, it was the most lavish hotel in the city, featuring modern
innovations such as electric lighting and even the hotel closets were equipped with door switches
that automatically activated the electric lamp when you opened it. Not to mention there was
circulating ice water and the guests were greeted each morning with a delivery of hot Clam Nectar,
which is the clam juice left over from boiling clams…yes…that was once a desirable beverage.
The Clam Nectar tradition eventually switched to a morning delivery of hot coffee.
Despite the hotel’s luxurious and ornate style and atmosphere, it hemorrhaged money in its first 16
months. Simon Benson was not about to let his name be tarnished. He took over management of
the hotel and named it after himself in order to distance its poor reputation from his management.
He cut costs where necessary and turned the hotel into a profitable business,
eventually selling it to William Boyd and Robert Keller.
The hotel has enjoyed success ever since, being sold off occasionally to new owners.
Most recently, it was purchased by Hilton and now runs under their management.
In the midst of booming growth in the city of Portland,
Simon Benson dreamed of delivering the city a jewel they could take pride in.
While the Benson Hotel was only affordable to the wealthy, it did provide the city and
its people with a much-needed status symbol that planted them firmly on the nation’s maps.
In his desire to better the lives of his fellow citizens, he provided them free of charge the
world’s most precious commodity, drinking water. Simon eventually retired from his logging
company in his older years, continuing his philanthropy. He funded the construction of
the Benson Polytechnic High School to help young working-class children achieve a better future
outside of the dangerous sweatshops their peers were destined for. He also established
essential vehicle thoroughfares throughout the state of Oregon in order to encourage tourism.
The Columbia River Highway owes much of its existence to him. He also purchased 1,000
acres around Multnomah and Wahkeena falls, which he donated to the City of Portland.
The Benson wasn’t his only achievement in hospitality, in 1927 he built the Columbia
Gorge Hotel, which was built in a classic mission style. Despite his immense wealth, he never lost
sight of his humanity or sense of giving. Simon Benson died on August 5th, 1942 at the age of 90,
having lived a fulfilling life, and leaving behind a legacy that will not be soon forgotten.
In 1986 The Benson Hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
It remains in operation today, a beautiful
and shining example of the restrained architectural styles and extravagance of
the late Edwardian age. A testament to one man’s well-deserved achievement of the American Dream.
This was actually one of my favorite stories, I was looking for historic places in Portland and
found the Benson Hotel. Today it's mostly known as one of Portland's top "haunted places". I often
find that "haunted places" tend to have a history much more interesting than the ghosts that occupy it.
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