PDX Carpet Memorial

On the side of the Hampton Inn, in downtown Portland, Oregon, there is a sign commemorating the carpet of PDX airport. Beloved for its ugliness, the carpet was widely recognizable to travelers throughout the world.

The carpet, designed by SRG Partnerships in 1987, had a retro-geometric shape on a green background. The distinctive pattern was inspired by intersecting runways and taxiways that one would find at an airport. The unique design quickly became a symbol for the town. And with the rise in airport selfies, travelers posting pictures of the carpet grew. The carpet would become a symbol for Portland, branching out into socks, hats, beer labels, t-shirts, and even tattoos. 

In 2013, it was announced that the carpet, all 13 acres of it, would be removed starting in 2015, and replaced with a new updated version. Remnants of the carpet were available at local furniture stores; a Portland themed bar in Tokyo has framed rectangles of the carpet on its walls.