Powell's City of Books

Powell's City of Books is the bookstore against which all other bookstores are measured, a behemoth occupying an entire city block in Portland's Pearl District that houses over a million new, used, and rare books in nine color-coded rooms connected by a labyrinth of aisles that can swallow an entire day and leave you wanting more. Founded in 1971, Powell's has grown into not just Portland's most famous cultural institution but a global symbol of the enduring power of the physical bookstore. The genius of Powell's lies in its integration of new and used books on the same shelves, organized by subject, so that a brand-new bestseller sits next to a dog-eared classic, creating the kind of serendipitous discoveries that are the soul of great bookselling. The rare books room is a treasure house, with first editions, signed copies, and antiquarian volumes that draw collectors from around the world. The Pacific Northwest section is comprehensive beyond belief, and the science fiction room alone is larger than most entire bookstores. The in-store cafe provides fuel for the marathon browsing sessions that Powell's demands and rewards. To visit Portland without visiting Powell's is to miss the city's beating literary heart.