Powell's City of Books, Portland (must see)

Powell’s City of Books is the flagship of a family-owned bookseller founded in 1971. Its roots began one year earlier, when Michael Powell opened a small bookshop while studying in Chicago. His father, Walter Powell, later established the family business, which gradually expanded into a large independent bookstore occupying an entire block.

Inside, visitors navigate nine colour-coded rooms and more than 3,500 subject sections. New and used copies are placed together on the shelves, making it easy to compare editions, prices and condition. The selection covers fiction, children’s literature, travel, art, history, science, comics, cooking and specialist academic subjects, as well as gifts and locally themed books.

One of the most distinctive areas is the Rare Book Room, a climate-controlled space measuring about 1,000 square feet. It contains signed works, first editions, fine bindings and other collectible volumes. Changing displays elsewhere present staff recommendations and recent releases, while colour signs, aisle numbers and store maps help visitors navigate the multi-level layout.

Author talks, literary conversations and weekly children’s storytimes connect the shop with the region’s reading culture. An in-store café provides a place to pause, and the nine-foot “Pillar of Books” near one entrance is carved from sandstone to resemble a stack of notable volumes. Visitors searching for a particular title can consult the catalogue or ask a bookseller, though exploring the long aisles without a fixed plan is a central part of the experience.