Vietnam Veterans of Oregon Memorial
Know Before You Go
- 4000 SW Canyon Road, Portland, OR 97210
- Hours: Open [[park_hours]]
- Cost: Always free
- portland.gov/parks/vietnam-veterans-oregon-memorial
Visit the Construction & Closures Page for updates or closures related to events or maintenance.
The Oregon Vietnam Veterans Living Memorial in Washington Park is a serene and contemplative space honoring Oregonians who served in the Vietnam War. Established in 1987, this memorial is unique in its design, featuring a curved black granite wall engraved with the names of more than 800 Oregonians who lost their lives or went missing in action.
Nestled within a peaceful, tree-lined setting, the site includes winding pathways, benches for reflection, and informational plaques that provide historical context. Unlike traditional war memorials, this living tribute is designed to grow and evolve with time, symbolizing remembrance and healing.
Plan Your Visit
The memorial is designed as a walking experience rather than a single viewpoint. A looping path leads you through stone walls engraved with names, interpretive elements, and natural landscaping that intentionally blends remembrance with the surrounding forest.
Plan to spend 20–30 minutes here if you’re exploring the full loop and taking time to read inscriptions. Many visitors pair this stop with a visit to the nearby World Forestry Center Discovery Museum or a walk through Hoyt Arboretum.
Did You Know?
The Vietnam Veterans of Oregon Memorial History and Directory of Names (PDF) features the chronology of the memorial from conception to completion, a directory of names and stories carved into the granite walls, and instructions for locating a name in the garden.
Getting Here
Skip the parking stress and take transit. Parking fills fast on busy days and during events, and payment is required at all lots. The Washington Park Free Shuttle Loop stops at all major attractions throughout the Park, making it easy to get around without a car.
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Take the Red Line or Blue Line to Washington Park Station. Take the elevator to the station plaza on the street level. From here, board the Washington Park Free Shuttle and ride 1 stop to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial of Oregon stop.
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Take TriMet Bus 63 from downtown to the SW Rose Garden Way & Sherwood stop near the International Rose Test Garden and Portland Japanese Garden. From here, board the Washington Park Free Shuttle and ride 3 stops to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial stop.
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Take TriMet Bus 20 to the W Burnside & NW 24th Pl stop. From here, use the Stearns Canyon Trail to enter the Park. This paved, car-free trail gradually climbs approximately 0.3 miles through a shady canyon towards the Oregon Holocaust Memorial, where you can board the Washington Park Free Shuttle and ride 3 stops to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial stop.
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Take TriMet Bus 15 to the W Burnside & NW 23rd stop. From here, cross Burnside and walk approximately 0.2 miles, where you can use the Stearns Canyon Trail to enter the Park. This paved, car-free trail gradually climbs approximately 0.3 miles through a shady canyon towards the Oregon Holocaust Memorial, where you can board the Washington Park Free Shuttle and ride 3 stops to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial stop.
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From Washington Park Station, walk 0.2 miles along SW Knights Blvd to reach the memorial. From the Oregon Zoo and World Forestry Center, paved paths and park walkways connect to the memorial. Terrain is generally manageable, with gentle slopes rather than steep climbs.
From the Hoyt Arboretum Visitor Center: Walk 0.4 miles via the Wildwood Trail and Marquam Trail. Follow trail signs to the memorial.
Learn more about getting here on foot or see a digital map of the park.
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From downtown or Goose Hollow, pedal up SW Park Avenue or SW Kingston Avenue, both of which connect directly into the Park’s internal road network. From Northwest Portland, you can enter at Burnside and follow the car-free Stearns Canyon Trail uphill until it meets the main park roads. Once inside the Park, the Memorial is located off of SW Knights Blvd and is accessible via surrounding roads serving the Oregon Zoo and World Forestry Center area.
Bike racks are available near the entrance.
Learn more about getting here by bike or see a digital map of the park.
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A small paid parking lot is located near the Memorial. Additional paid parking is also available in the nearby Washington Park Lots A, B, and C. There are designated rideshare zones located near the entrance to the World Forestry Center and at the Zoo Education Center entrance.
Transit Tip
From the Washington Park MAX station, the Vietnam Veterans of Oregon Memorial is just a 0.2-mile flat walk or a 3-minute ride on the ADA-accessible Free Shuttle.
Getting Around
The Washington Park Free Shuttle connects every major attraction on a continuous loop - hop on and off as many times as you like, no parking or navigation required. Pair your visit to the Vietnam Veterans of Oregon Memorial with another nearby attraction for a car-free day in the Park.
Oregon Vietnam Veterans Memorial Shuttle Stop
[[next-arrival:vietnam]]
Accessibility
The memorial includes paved pathways with moderate slopes, designed to be navigable for many visitors using mobility devices. Some sections involve gradual elevation changes. While the entire loop may feel challenging for some visitors, partial access to the memorial experience is possible from multiple entry points. Benches near the path provide resting spots for those who need them, and interpretive signage is placed at a readable height.
The nearby parking area includes designated accessible parking spaces, and the route from the parking lot to the memorial is barrier-free.
The ADA-accessible Washington Park Free Shuttle stops at the memorial.
Trip Tips
Vietnam Veterans of Oregon Memorial History
Inspired by the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, in 1982, a group of Oregon Vietnam veterans began imagining a place closer to home where the service and sacrifice of Oregonians could be honored. Through years of advocacy and volunteer effort by the Vietnam Veterans of Oregon Memorial Fund, that vision became reality in 1987, when the Oregon Vietnam Veterans Living Memorial was dedicated. From the beginning, the goal was not only remembrance, but education and reflection, creating a space that tells a fuller story of the time.
Designed by Portland landscape architecture firm Walker Macy, the memorial centers on a curved black granite wall etched with the names of Oregon residents who died in Vietnam or remain missing in action. Interwoven among the names are inscriptions that mark three years of the war alongside events happening simultaneously in Oregon, offering a powerful and often sobering contrast between life at home and the realities of the conflict abroad.
The memorial’s setting within Hoyt Arboretum was intentionally chosen for its quiet, forested character. Symbolic elements throughout the site reinforce themes of life, loss, and renewal: a bosque of pear trees at the entrance represents sacredness and continuity, while water features in the Garden of Solace reflect life, purity, and hope. Together, the landscape and storytelling invite visitors to slow down, reflect, and engage with both personal and collective history in a deeply human way.
