The Juniper House is among Oregon's latest entries in the National Register of Historic Places. Oregon's State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation (SACHP) recommended the nomination at their October 2024 meeting for its statewide significance as Oregon's first end-of-life care home dedicated exclusively to residents with HIV/AIDS and for its substantial impact on statewide healthcare and LGBTQ+ history. The National Park Service, which maintains the National Register of Historic Places, accepted this nomination on February 10, 2025.
Located on a corner lot in southeast Portland's Buckman neighborhood, Juniper House was constructed as a single-family residence around 1902. Co-founders John Trevitts, Doug Foland, and Jan Weyeneth converted the building into an HIV/AIDS end-of-life care home in 1987. In the process, the co-founders made several interior renovations but retained the building's exterior appearance to ensure the safety and discretion of residents during a period marked by widespread stigma and systemic discrimination of people with HIV/AIDS. From May 1987 to September 1989, Juniper House filled a critical void in Oregon's healthcare system by offering medical care as well as emotional support and a sense of peace, community, and normalcy for residents. Its influence extended well beyond Portland, as it inspired the establishment of several similar end-of-life care facilities around the state. Over its period of operation, about 90 individuals with HIV/AIDS received care in the house.
In addition to caring for residents, the work of Juniper House included advocacy and educational efforts that were crucial in shaping public opinion and responses to HIV/AIDS. Through their efforts, the co-founders demonstrated that Juniper House residents and all individuals with HIV/AIDS deserved to be treated with dignity and compassion. Press and local news outlets were invited to Juniper House and produced documentary features for both KGW-TV and Oregon Public Broadcasting in the late 1980s. Juniper House also contributed a panel featuring the names of several residents to the AIDS Memorial Quilt, which was displayed on the National Mall in October 1996.
Recognition of Juniper House in the National Register of Historic Places aligns with the goals of the 2024-2033 Oregon Preservation Plan, which calls for diversification of Oregon resources listed in the National Register and continued efforts to uplift the voices of historically marginalized individuals and communities. By including more perspectives in the stories told of Oregon's past, Oregonians can think critically about history and work to accurately depict a more complete historical narrative of Oregon. The nomination for the Juniper House was completed as a component of the City of Portland's LGBTQ+ Historic Sites Project, which was funded by an Underrepresented Communities Grant from the National Park Service, an Oregon State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) Heritage Grant, and general fund dollars allocated by the Portland City Council.
The National Register is maintained by the National Park Service under the authority of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Properties listed in the National Register are:
- Recognized as significant to the nation, state, or community;
- Considered in the planning of federal or federally-assisted projects;
- Eligible for federal tax benefits;
- Qualify for historic preservation grants when funds are available;
- Eligible for leniency in meeting certain building code requirements;
- Subject to local laws pertaining to the conservation and protection of historic resources.
State law in Oregon requires local governments to offer a minimal level of protection for properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places; the decisions about how to accomplish that goal reside with local governments, which also have the authority to create and regulate local historic districts and landmarks.
More information about the National Register and recent Oregon listings are online at oregonheritage.org (under the heading "Designate").
Source: Oregon Parks and Recreation Department