Portland ยท Old Town Chinatown
The Society Hotel
The Mariners Building, which the hotel says the Seaman's Friend Society built in 1881 as a refuge for sailors; private rooms and bunk rooms.
- Built
- 1881The hotel says the Seaman's Friend Society built the Mariners Building in 1881; the city/SHPO record gives 1880 (primary) and 1882.
- Architect
- Justus Krumbein (attributed)
- Type
- Boutique hotel
- Area
- Old Town Chinatown
- Credentials
- Inside a National Register historic district
The story
The Seaman’s Friend Society built the Mariners Building in 1881 as a safe refuge for sailors arriving in Portland, who were often exploited ashore. From the early 1900s until Pearl Harbor it was the California Hotel, a Japanese-owned hotel serving Japanese immigrants. After its owners were interned it was sold to a Chinese fraternal association and long served as a meeting place for the Chinese American Citizens Alliance. Today it is a boutique hotel with private rooms, bunk rooms and a rooftop deck.
Good to know
- Address: 203 NW 3rd Avenue, Portland, OR 97209
Things to do
Tours in Portland
Tours are sold by GetYourGuide and run by local operators. If you book one through these links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Ratings and prices are GetYourGuide’s.
Sources (3)
Last verified October 2026. Details change; confirm with the inn before you book.