Joseph Wood Hill Park - Portland, OR
N 45° 32.815 W 122° 33.964
10T E 533873 N 5043800
Joseph Wood Hill Park is located at the top of Rocky Butte in Portland, Oregon, USA.
Waymark Code: WM997H
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 07/17/2010
Views: 14
This lovely little park is located on the crest of Rocky Butte and the vistas are many. It was quite misty the morning we were there, but the views we could see were very nice. We can only imagine what it must be like on a clear day.
In 1935, the park site was given to Multnomah County by Joseph A. and B.W. Hill, and dedicated to the public in memory of their father, Dr. Joseph Wood Hill, an early educator. In 1937-1939, the park was improved as a WPA project, with stone walls, roadways, and a wide parking platform.
The following information is from a USGS website (
visit link) --
"In 1901, Joseph Wood Hill established Hill Military Academy in northwest Portland. He soon moved his school to the Rocky Butte area. In 1935, land on Rocky Butte was donated to the public. The following year, Joseph Wood Hill Park was completed and officially dedicated at a ceremony which paid tribute to the WPA workers whose craftsmanship was reflected in the approach drive and throughout the park. Almost 65 years later, thanks to the efforts of the Rocky Butte Preservation Society and the acquisition of 5.5 additional acres, the park has been refurbished and expanded and thus will continue to be enjoyed by future generations. The park was refurbished in partnership with the Rocky Butte Preservation Society and expanded with funds from Metro's 1995 open space bond measure. The site was regraded and lawn areas, irrigation, red cinder pathways, and trees were added. Four of the original plaques were recast and reinstalled."