Pioneer Courthouse Square 'Weather Machine' ritual

Pioneer Courthouse Square is home to the Weather Machine, a kinetic sculpture installed in 1988 that presents a daily noon-time ceremony announcing the day's forecast with a rising brass orb, signage, and occasional confetti. The Weather Machine and the square's use as a civic gathering place have become a well-known quirky tradition in Portland. Its performances and special-event variations are often mentioned in local lore about the city's public life.