September 11, 1883: First Transcontinental Train Rolls into Portland

The first transcontinental Northern Pacific Railway trip reached the end of the line, in Portland, Oregon, on September 11, 1883. Northern Pacific president, Henry Villard spared no expense on the grand excursion (Morning Oregonian, 12 September 1883).

The trip from St. Paul to Portland, made by President Villard and his invited guests, some three hundred in number, is of a character such as has never before been equaled on this continent. From the moment of the arrival at St. Paul, on the morning of the 1st of September, to the landing at Portland yesterday morning, the trip has been one series of grand receptions, banquets, speech-making and pleasant surprises.