Architectural Heritage Center Opens New LGBTQ+ Exhibition on July 10
In celebration of Pride Month in Oregon, the Architectural Heritage Center (AHC) is launching a new exhibition honoring the LGBTQ+ community members who integrated preservation into queer spaces across Portland.
When Doors Open: Places of Pride invites visitors to explore the places and spaces inhabited by Portland’s LGBTQ+ communities. These sites served as more than homes and gathering spots, but also as safe havens for belonging, support, and growth. The stories of early LGBTQ+ activists for historic preservation are also amplified throughout the exhibit, and are being given greater recognition locally and nationally, including recent National Register designated buildings and research by the City of Portland. The activists highlighted include Jerry Bosco and Ben Milligan, founders of the Architectural Heritage Center. Their efforts to preserve Portland’s architectural artifacts ended in the late 1980’s due to the HIV epidemic. The Bosco-Milligan Foundation (BMF) was formed to carry on their work through education, advocacy, and stewardship of their architectural collection for the benefit of all. Today, the AHC and BMF are stewards of one of the largest architectural artifact collections in the nation because of Bosco’s and Milligan’s commitment to historical preservation.
“At a time when queer communities face diminishing civil rights and increasing erasure, this exhibition powerfully reminds us of LGBTQ+ Portlanders’ resilience and joy,” says Cayla McGrail, Guest Curator.
The exhibition features residential and commercial buildings, places of gathering, worship and support, and includes an interactive “stories wall,” where visitors are encouraged to share their own memories of and visions for LGBTQ+ spaces. “We hope ‘ When Doors Open’ elevates the places that shaped Portland’s LGBTQ+ past and those that were influential in preservation, along with visitors’ voices about how our community can forge a more inclusive future,” says Heather Flint Chatto, Executive Director of the Bosco-Milligan Foundation and the AHC.
Members of the public are invited to the AHC for an opening reception of When Doors Open: Places of Pride on Jul 10, 2025 at 6 p.m., or can view the exhibition when AHC is regularly open on Thursdays - Saturdays 11a.m. until 5p.m. Doors Wide Open: Places of Pride is made possible through donations from local community members and generous supporters, including grants from the Oregon Cultural Trust and the Ed Cauduro Fund of Oregon Community Foundation.
The Architectural Heritage Center and the Bosco-Milligan Foundation are CEIC Members
About the Bosco-Milligan Foundation/AHC: www.VisitAHC.org
Museum Hours: Thursday-Friday 11am-5 pm
Our mission of the Architectural Heritage Center is to empower people to discover and preserve Portland’s historic and culturally significant places. Through our programs, people across Portland will embrace preservation and reuse as a key component in creating equitable, livable, and sustainable communities.
AHC Contact:
Heather Flint Chatto, AHC Executive Director
(503) 789-4878 or Heather@VisitAHC.org