The Fort Sumter War memorial in the center of Lownsdale Plaza in downtown Portland was the location for the noontime event commemorating the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the American Civil War on April 12, 1861 with the shelling of Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. F.W.Krone, founder of NW Historical Perspectives led the opening benediction and a moment of silence held to honor the soldiers and civilians who died in the Civil War.

It was followed by a reading of the names of Civil War veterans who later moved to Oregon to raise families and live out their lives in peace. Lunch time office visitors to the plaza and those who came specifically to look at the Fort Sumter Memorial had their Civil War and Oregon-related questions answered by volunteers from Northwest Historical Perspectives and Events.

The Fort Sumter Memorial was a 1906 gift of two decommissioned field howitzers to the City of Portland from leading citizen and Civil War veteran, Colonel Henry Dosch. NW Historical Perspectives and Events conducts historical research on all things related to Oregon, works to preserve endangered heritage sites including pioneer cemeteries and stages commemorative educational programs to mark events specific to Oregon and to spotlight our connections to the Civil War and the Lincoln Administration. In the decades following the war's end, Oregon became home to over 15,000 Civil War Veterans who helped to make our state grow and prosper. Commemorative Civil War dates with an Oregon connection hold great significance to us all, and are opportunities to learn more about the unique and rich history of our state.