Navy ships arrive on the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon
in 1939.

Since 1907, visiting ships have made their way to Portland’s waterfront.

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the coastal defense,
search and rescue, and maritime law enforcement branch of
the United States Armed Forces and one of the country’s eight
uniformed services. Created by the U.S. Congress on 4 August
1790 at the request of Alexander Hamilton as the Revenue-
Marine, it is the oldest continuous seagoing service of the
United States.