Venue and Amenities

History, Venue, Parking and Accessibility

Venue and Amenities

The Victorian Belle Mansion

The historic Victorian Belle mansion was built in 1885 by local merchant David C. Cole for his wife, Amanda. Ornate woodwork, curated furnishings, and an extensive collection of Povey Brothers stained glass windows make this restored landmark an opulent venue for your event.

This charming piece of history offers the warmth of a private estate in a complete package with historic décor indoors and lush, expansive gardens outdoors.

Located in the Kenton Neighborhood of North Portland, the Victorian Belle is just 10 minutes from downtown and 20 minutes from PDX.

The house is truly a time capsule, full of beautiful details that enhanced our wedding. The staff were amazing and the food was delicious.
--Jenifer V.

Contact us to start planning your event!

Rebecca Rizzo Photographics

The Venue

The David C. Cole House

Featuring three floors of beautifully furnished rooms, the Victorian Belle Mansion (known on the National Register of Historic Places as the David C. Cole House) offers you vintage elegance like nowhere else in the city.

The ground floor features the North Parlor and Fireside rooms where you can sign your marriage cerificate surrounded by rainbows dancing through Povey Brothers stained glass windows, or sip sparkling wine with your guests on velvet sofas.

At the top of the grand staircase, the second floor offers you a suite of comfortable rooms to prepare for your grand ceremony entrance. The Amanda Cole suite features a 180 degree view of the estate gardens through the turret windows and adjoining balcony. The Eliza Barchus and Winnie Holgate rooms provide additional luxury for you and your party during the day.

The third floor Aviary opens into a broad room with rustic exposed beams and a dramatic view of the city from the turret. A vintage pool table sets the stage for a fun day ahead.

With two floors to get ready and five restrooms, the mansion provides you with all the seclusion (or togetherness!) you choose for your wedding day.

The North Lawn

The North Lawn is a stunning location for your wedding! The front facade of the mansion provides a glamorous scene for your ceremony with options for asymmetrical, rectangular, or curved seating for up to 200 depending on your desired ceremony entry and backdrop.

The Fountain Courtyard

Sip sparkling wine near the secluded 1890's French Baroque style fountain or stage your ceremony on the East Porch. The courtyard is a lovely and intimate location for ceremonies of up to 50 guests.

The Gazebo & Courtyard

The enclosed gazebo is the perfect space for your ceremony, small dinner or dancing under romantic Edison light bulbs. With clear sidewalls and heaters for the cooler months or breezy open air shade for the warmer seasons, the gazebo is a versatile location for your event. The gazebo seats up to 150 for a ceremony with room for the wedding party or up to 80 for dining.

The East Lawn Tent

Offering 1800 square feet of elegant shelter, the East Lawn Tent is a great space for your reception, ceremony, or dance party! Windowed sidewalls, permanent tile floor and heaters for the cooler months make this the perfect indoor-outdoor space. Chandeliers and sweeping interior white drapes give dramatic overhead flair.

Parking, Pathways and Accessibility

The Victorian Belle has paved pathways throughout the property, smooth brick courtyards, and both the Gazebo and East Lawn Tent have finished flooring.

For guests who are unable to climb stairs, we have a driveway gate on the corner of Interstate Place and N McClellan where they may be dropped off at the property entrance. We have a lift to carry guests to the first floor of the mansion to the accessible restroom.

We have free street parking along N McClellan St and Interstate Place during all business hours. There are also two parking lots adjacent to the property on N McClellan St that are available to our guests all day on Saturdays and Sundays and after 5:00 PM Mon-Fri.

The History

The historic Victorian Belle Mansion was built in 1885 as a gift from David Cole to his wife, Amanda. Constructed of lumber milled entirely on the property, the original building cost came to $8,000, a large sum in those days.

Cole owned a chain of local hardware and lumber stores. The house is said to be one of the first in Portland to have running hot and cold water, central heating, interior electricity, and a windmill-powered water pump.

The house now holds historical artifacts from the 19th and early 20th centuries: antique furniture, art, vintage photographs, lithographs, and much more.

Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, the mansion has much of its original interiors, along with numerous Povey Brothers stained glass windows.

The Victorian Belle was a private home until the 1990’s, when it was converted into an event venue.

The Victorian Belle Mansion was featured in The Oregonian. This lovely piece perfectly illustrates the storied past of the Victorian Belle Mansion. From the article: "Historians believe the Cole House was the first Portland-area residence to have indoor electricity and hot-and-cold running water supplied by a windmill-powered water pump." Another first: Rooms were vented to a wood-burning stove to provide central heating. A voice-powered intercom, similar to tube systems found on ships, summoned servants.