The Heart-Shaped Center
After the (Des)chutes River roars and “falls” through shoots of columnar basalt, carving through lava flows and ancient volcanic ash deposits lined with a diverse coniferous forest, transitioning from wetland firs to dryland pines on its journey north, the river slows and bends in a gentle s-shaped curve, past the Old Mill District and hugs the heart of Downtown Bend. The heart-shaped center of town comprises Old Bend Neighborhood.
Historical Riverside Walk
One of the best ways to experience the colonial history of Old Bend is to take a riverside walk. stroll or roll through Old Bend’s Drake Park, pausing to take in the various placards and memorialized relics of Bend’s Timber Town days, the historic homes, the massive old-growth Ponderosas, and the charming livable streets.
An Important Place, Then and Now
Standing at Mirror Pond Plaza and looking west across the river at the snow-capped Cascade Mountains, one can see why this place is important ancestral land to the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs; why French-Canadian and American explorers and fur trappers paused at this gentle bend to set up an outpost; why this became the historic center of a timber town; why railroads raced southward to connect to this rich timber hub at the edge of the Cascades; why Alexander Drake chose this particular spot to put his historic house in the year 1900; and why the City of Bend continues to grow out and up around it.
The Original City Center
The Old Bend Neighborhood Association (OBNA) contains some of Bend’s most cherished historical homes built in the 20th century. Old Bend is the origin of our modern-day town. As a neighborhood association, OBNA wishes to cultivate respect for the history of our neighborhood and share our values for preservation. To that end, we’ve shared some historical resources, curated by our own Old Bend residents. Enjoy!
Deep Dive into City of Bend’s History
The following resources were produced in 2015 by the Central Westside Plan History Team, with support from the Deschutes Historical Museum, Deschutes County Historical Society, Bend Historic Landmarks Commission, and various Bend historians.
Timber Town Legacies & Challenges (1813-2015) – Historical Images
Timber Town Legacies & Challenges (1813-2015) – Textual History
Additional Resources
We encourage all residents and visitors to learn more about the history of area known as Central Oregon from additional resources like these: