PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — About five years after it was vandalized during the 2020 protests and moved to a storage facility, the famed Thompson Elk Statue will return to downtown Portland.
Construction begins Monday at the long-time location for the iconic statue, Main Street between SW 3rd and 4th. Crews will begin to install the new fountain that surrounded the statue.
During construction, road closures will be in effect.
The upgraded replacement will also increase the seismic stability of the statue.
Previous KOIN Coverage: The Thompson Elk Statue
As recently as February, city officials did not expect to be able to restore the statue and fountain to its original spot until the end of 2025.
Portland City Council members had previously planned to return the fountain to its pedestal in time for Christmas 2024. While the repairs to the elk statue are complete, Portland Water Bureau spokesperson Brandon Zero told KOIN 6 News in February, the restoration of the fountain is ongoing.
“The Portland Water Bureau continues to work with vendors to restore the Thompson Elk Fountain to its historic location,” Zero said at that time.. “We expect the elk to return by the end of the year.”
The City of Portland removed the statue and the remains of the stone fountain for safekeeping after they were severely damaged during the summer protests of 2020. The city council then approved $1.5 million for the restoration of the fountain in 2022.
The city also received $700,000 from an insurance claim on the damaged statue and thousands more from public donations.
