Photographs of aircraft damage in Portland, Oregon, area after Columbus Day storm
Scope and Contents
The collection consists of 67 black-and-white photographic prints, most depicting the aftermath of the Columbus Day windstorm at airports in the Portland-Vancouver area in October 1962. The images primarily show Portland International Airport, Hillsboro Airport, Troutdale Airport, and Pearson Field in Vancouver, Washington. Most images depict damage to individual small planes, buildings, and cars. Seven images are aerial views and three were taken prior to the storm and developed in June 1962. The photographer is unknown.
Dates
- Creation: 1962 June-1962 October
- Creation: Majority of material found within 1962 October
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.
Historical Note
The Columbus Day storm struck the Pacific coast on October 12, 1962, extending from Northern California to British Columbia. Oregon received the brunt of the impact. With estimated winds of more than 170 mph it was the most destructive windstorm to hit the West Coast in recorded history, causing more than $200 million in damage and more than 50 fatalities. Approximately 175 aircraft were damaged in the Portland-Vancouver area, with damage to aircraft and airport facilities estimated at $800,000.
Sources: "Columbus Day Storm, 1962," by Jeff LaLande, Oregon Encyclopedia, https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/columbus_day_storm_1962_/; "Columbus Day Storm of 1962," Wikipedia (accessed June 5, 2025), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbus_Day_storm_of_1962; “175 Planes Casualties of Typhoon In One of Flying’s Darkest Days,” Sunday Oregonian, October 14, 1962, page 39.
Extent
0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder in shared document case)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Photographs by an unknown photographer, depicting damage to small planes, cars, and buidings at airfields in the Portland, Oregon area following the Columbus Day storm in October 1962. The images primarily show Portland International Airport, Hillsboro Airport, Troutdale Airport, and Pearson Field in Vancouver, Washington. Three photos were taken prior to the storm and were developed in June 1962.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of an anonymous donor, May 2012 (Lib. Acc. 27633).
Existence and Location of Copies
Photographs in this collection are viewable online in OHS Digital Collections.
Genre / Form
Topical
- Airplanes -- Oregon -- Photographs
- Airplanes -- Washington (State) -- Vancouver -- Photographs
- Airports -- Oregon -- Photographs
- Airports -- Washington (State) -- Vancouver -- Photographs
- Columbus Day Storm, 1962 -- Photographs
- Photographs
- Portland
- Severe storms -- Northwest, Pacific -- Photographs
- Vancouver (Wash.)
- Wind damage -- Photographs
- Windstorms -- Northwest, Pacific -- Photographs
- Title
- Guide to photographs of aircraft damage in Portland, Oregon, area after Columbus Day storm
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Jane Monson
- Date
- 2025
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is written in English.
Repository Details
Part of the Oregon Historical Society Research Library Repository
1200 SW Park Ave.
Portland OR 97205 United States
5033065204
5033065240
libreference@ohs.org