Historic downtown and the arts festival in Gresham
History
The City of Gresham says the area sits on the traditional territory of the Chinookan peoples, who hunted and fished along Johnson Creek. Settlers called it Camp Ground and Powell's Valley. Gresham elected its first mayor and council in 1904 and the state granted permission to incorporate on February 11, 1905. Logging, gravel and berries shaped the early economy, and the City notes that Gresham became known as the "Raspberry Capital of the World." Read more on the City's history page.
Downtown
The City describes historic downtown Gresham as home to the Gresham History Museum, which the Gresham Historical Society runs and the City calls "a grand fixture on Main Avenue." The nonprofit Gresham Outdoor Public Art brought bronze statues to Main Avenue. The City also says the new East County Library, run by Multnomah County, is in downtown Gresham. The City lists the Gresham Farmers' Market at the Arts Plaza, NE Third Street and NE Hood Avenue, on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., May through October. See the City's farmers market page.
Festival of Arts
The City's page calls the Festival of Arts in Gresham, formerly the Gresham Arts Festival, "a free, family-friendly event on the third Saturday in July" in downtown Gresham, organized by the Center for the Arts Foundation. See the City's festival page for this year's details.