Pictured: the W.L. Williams Photo by: Kyle Stubbs

The Port of Portland was created by the Oregon Legislature in 1891 in order to maintain the dredged waterways that led to the city's piers. The organization was eventually combined with the Commission of Public Docks to oversee all waterfront operations.

Today, the Port continues to provide dredging services on the Columbia and Willamette rivers via the dredge Oregon , while also operating four cargo terminals, three airports, and a number of industrial and business parks.