Iconic Portland elk statue set to return with upgrades; construction will disrupt traffic in downtown

City officials are now prepared to begin building on the project after making pledges for years to move Portland’s famous elk statue back to its location on Southwest Main Street in the city center.

According to the city’s water department, crews will start repairs on Monday, blocking Main Street between Southwest Third and Fourth Avenues. After weeks of protests and riots in 2020 severely damaged the public sculpture, the city will be working until winter to repair it and update the fountain.

After initially pledging to repair the Thompson Elk Fountain by the end of 2022, officials have postponed its return multiple times. In 2023, the city authorized spending $1.5 million to restore the sculpture. According to officials, improvements will be made during construction to increase the fountain’s efficiency and the statue’s resistance to earthquakes.

Former Mayor David P. Thompson honored the magnificent animal that previously roamed the Willamette Valley by donating the monument and its original fountain to the city in 1900. For the following 120 years, the elk stayed between Chapman and Lownsdale squares, evolving into a beloved public monument, popular tourist attraction, and occasionally used as a prop in films.

According to the water bureau, the original granite pedestal that was torched and spray-painted in 2020 will be restored to its original dimensions. Details of the sculpture’s return have been worked out by a group of nonprofit organizations and city agencies, including the Regional Arts and Culture Council.

After work begins, workers will excavate a trench for a subterranean fountain water reservoir. According to the Water Bureau, the stainless steel vault will be installed by the city this summer. A new water recirculating pump that will save up to 6.8 million gallons of water annually will also be installed by the crews.

Road closures and traffic detour patterns will alter as construction progresses, officials said.

Austin De Dios reports on programs, politics, and other topics in Multnomah County. You can reach him at @AustinDeDios, adedios@oregonian.com, or 503-319-9744.

Correction: This story’s original version claimed that the statue’s base would be smaller. According to officials, the base of the statue will now be the same size.

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