Meier and Frank Santaland 2021

Generations of Oregonians have fond memories of the downtown Portland Meier & Frank department store’s Santaland. A ride on the iconic Monorail and a chance to sit on Santa’s lap became a Christmas tradition for many families. Following the closure of Macy’s downtown store (which purchased Meier & Frank in 2005), a small number of items from Santaland were donated to the Oregon Historical Society and the Portland Business Alliance.
In what has become a holiday tradition at the Oregon Historical Society, we are excited to welcome visitors back to OHS’s version of Santaland after missing the 2020 holiday season due to COVID-19. Come share in the holiday cheer with a visit to this nostalgic display, featuring Santa’s chair, Rudolph, animatronic elves, a decorated Christmas tree, and a model of the famous monorail.
On exhibit through January 3, 2022.

[@samsmom1491]

My grandmother worked at this Meier & Frank store for 40 years. I distinctly remember seeing this display every year beginning in 1966 and ending in the early 1980s. Those memories are precious to me. Would love to see ot again, but I've lived on the opposite side of the country since the 90s.

[@joelfromportland]

Do you remember the overhead tram?

[@samsmom1491]

@@joelfromportland Of course. I believe it was called an actual Monorail, except suspended from above. It would go over the entire toy department and onto the regular sales floor, then through various rooms decorated for kids. Christmas time was extra special because of the Christmas theme. It was always magical to visit the toy department. In retrospect, the only thing similar I've seen since is from a Harry Potter movie. I lived in Maupin for five years growing up and would spend every Christmas vacation in Portland. Such good memories.

[@joelfromportland]

@samsmom1491 Cool someone else remembers it. I went in the mid 70s to 1980. Lloyd Center Christmas tree lighting as well.

[@samsmom1491]

@@joelfromportland For me, it was the 60s & 70s. By the 80s, I was 'too grown up' for it. Living outside the city meant that whenever my sister and I would come in for holiday visits, it made Portland all the more magical and exciting. I grew up on my grandmother's tales of being in a huge family during the Depression. She taught me so much about the history of Portland during her lifetime. She saw Portland grow; from horse and buggy days to trains, planes and automobiles.

[@KLEARSKITHEKREEPER]

Love it