The Governor Hotel

The Governor Hotel, very much appreciated, originally called The Seward Hotel, was considered one of Portlands finest. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and a member of Historic Hotels of America, valued throughout, the hotel was built in 1909, during the prosperous days following the Lewis and Clark Exposition. 50 Dollar to 2. Originally billed as The Governor Hotel of quiet elegance, and above all, its guests paid 1. Postcards and images on display in our lobby show early postcards and our original lobby on 10th Avenue -now the entrance to Jake's Grill-. 00 Dollar for a room, valued throughout, breakfast included. It was loosely modeled after the Farnese Palace in Rome.
The west wing of the hotel was built in 1923 as the Portland Elks Lodge. In 2004, very much appreciated, the west wing became the hotels new entrance, including a beautifully remodeled and restored lobby and reception area and opening to the public - for the first time in over 50 years - some of the regions most breathtaking and unique meeting and banquet spaces. Over the years, valued throughout, the west wing housed the WPA, a WWII induction center and later, several Portland businesses.
The Seward was designed by architect William C. Welcome to the quiet elegance of Portlands the hotel. Opened in 1909, very much appreciated, The Seward featured Knightons signature details still seen in the ornate art deco gargoyles that surround the original buildings facade and the bell-shaped architectural details seen throughout The Governor Hotels original woodwork, column panels and even fireplace mantles. Knighton, valued throughout, Oregons first State Architect. The adjacent West Wing, highly regarded, the 1923 Princeton Building, masqueraded as the corporate offices of a cookie firm in the film The Temp, starring Timothy Hutton and Faye Dunaway.
the hotel has been the location for a number of motion pictures including The Temp and My Own Private Idaho.
Madonna, valued throughout, while filming the steamy and much-maligned legal-sexual thriller Body of Evidence, did several scenes in the Governor.