MAHON & OLYMPIC BATHS (Downtown)

359 SW Morrison/4th Ave [on the east side of 4th]

NOTE: First location: 359 SW Morrison 1971-1977

Second Location: 509 S.W. Fourth/SW Washington 1977 - 1995 (?)

The photo to the Left shows the entrance at 509 SW Fourth original location of MaMahon’s Steam Baths. The bath was located in the basement of the building. To enter the facility, you entered from the street on Fourth, down some stairs into the basement where you were greeted by not only someone to tell you the amenities, but also by the large pool in the middle of the room.

The entrance was part of businesses on the west side of 4th between Washington and Alder which included an art gallery, This Speck of Earth [315 S.W. Morrison], and an adult bookstore.

Ad in both the 1957 and 1967 Portland phone book

citations & references:

For MaMahn’s Steam Bath

  • Polk’s Business Directory, page 1641, 1920 – the address was 121 4th

  • Polk’s Business Directory, page 1728, 1928 – the address was 121 4th

  • Polk’s Business Directory, page 2277, 1940 – the address was 905 SW 4th

  • History of MaMahon’s: Considered to be oldest public steam/bathhouses in Portland opening around 1903. [per phone book ad it states 1906] Note, it was not considered the oldest GAY, but just the oldest in existence as a public steam/bathhouse. Some have stated and is not documented, that McMahon’s was related to male sexual activity going as far back as the 1950s due to the fact it was across the street from the notorious Circle Theater which was located at 516 SW 4th Ave (east side of SW 4th and Washington). [see Movie Houses – Theatres]

Ad to the right in the Northwest Gay Review June 1977 there is an ad that states: New Temporary Location!

Below is an article from The Oregonian, The Olympic HAD to move as the Blue Mouse “block” was being torn down to build a 483-space parking garage along with Grand Oasis Tavern and The Blue Mouse Theatre.  See Oregonian article below.

Above Left: Columns Newspaper (Seattle WA) July 1, 1971 - Grand Opening August 31, 1971. Above Middle: Ad from The Fountain newspaper for the 1st location at 359 SW Morrison; Above Right: The First Anniversay ad in The Fountain Newspaper, September 1972.

citations & references:

  • Per the GLAPN - A Walking Tour of Downtown Portland: A Century of Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Historic Sites June 1999: One of the older steam baths in the city which closed down just in the past few years, This was a popular pickup location, being as it was located directly across the street from the notorious Circle Theater. Had a gay history documented well back into the 1950’s, and no doubt much earlier still.

  • Per the GLAPN - A Walking Tour of Downtown Portland: A Century of Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Historic Sites June 1999: In the same block of storefronts with the art gallery of Walter Rinder and an adult bookstore was this bathhouse.  They also noted back in 1999 that the archives are interested in obtaining more information about this location.

  • Not listed in GAY PLACES 1971 International Guild Guide

  • Opened in September 1971 per reference for their “1st Notice the “1st Anniversary” Sept 1972 in ad in The Fountain newspaper

  • Listed in Guide to the Portland Area Gay Scene page 17, September 1972 The Fountain with a phone number of 227-4114

  • Listed in Guild Guide 1973 USA & International – telephone number: 503-227-8744 with the connotations of B, G, H– Beer, Gay, Hustlers.

  • Listed in The Fountain business listings 1973.

  • Cited in Darcelle XV Green Book of 1973

  • Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1973 under Baths -name Olympic Sauna Baths

  • Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1974 under Baths -name Olympic Sauna Baths

  • There is one reference in the local newspaper, The Oregonian May 16, 1974, page 1.

  • Cited in Jeff Taylor’s Gay Guide for the Pacific Northwest – Summer 1975 edition, page 15 “Steambaths Open 10 am – 2 am weekdays. 24 hours on weekends. Will be moving soon to a new location.

  • Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1975 - name Olympic Sauna Baths

  • Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1976 -name Olympic Sauna Baths

  • Listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1977 -name Olympic Sauna Baths with a note: (Looks more promising)

  • Not listed in Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1978

  • Listed in the Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1979 under Baths UNDER OLYMPIC BATHS – same address with connotation WE – Weekends and note: (11 a.m. to 11 p.m., 24 hours)

  • Listed in the Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1980 under Baths only at 531 SW 12th Ave. with note: Uptown (Open 24 hours.) (Massages)

  • NOTE: Listed in the Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1980 under Baths but it’s called Vapors at 509 SW 4th – I think someone goofed!

  • Cited in Counseling Center for Sexual Minorities Referral and Resources Book Revised April 1, 1980, under Men’s Baths – noted as The Olympic Downtown with notation: Pool, steam, shower, weight room, TV Lounge, closed Sunday, OLDER MEN – 30 years and up.

  • Possibly 1980/81 Listed on Darcelle’s “PATRONS – Round Trip to Lake Tahoe – Courtesy of ‘HELLO RENO” Miss Terri, Darcelle XV and Directors Furniture] it had two locations listed 509 SW 4th and 531 SW 11th.

    NOTE: NOW HAS TWO LOCATIONS – PLEASE SEE UPTOWN LOCATION FOR DETAILS FOR “UPTOWN”

  • Listed in the Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1981 UNDER OLYMPIC STEAM BATH [cited both Uptown and Downtown] with connotation (10 a.m. to 11 p.m.)

  • Listed in the Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1982 UNDER OLYMPIC STEAM BATH [cited both Uptown and Downtown] with connotation (10 a.m. to 11 p.m.)

  • Listed in the Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1983 UNDER OLYMPIC STEAM BATH [cited both Uptown and Downtown] with connotation (10 a.m. to 11 p.m.)

  • Cited in handout Majestic Hotel and Club Baths of Portland presents PORTLAND 1983 cites TWO locations: Olympic Downtown Baths – 509 SW 4th 227-5718 and Olympic Uptown Baths 531 SW 12th phone number: 228-2284 both have connotations: B & M – Baths and Men only [UPTOWN – looks like it took over the Workout Baths!]

  • Listed in Orange folder FALL 1983 and revised in 1987– Answering Service – possibly like the resource directory developed by the Counseling Center for Sexual Minorities Referral and Resources Book and what has been used with their revised April 1, 1980, edition. This place was cited under Baths – with notes: Steam room, showers, weight room, TV Lounge – older crowd 40-up.

  • Listed in the Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1984 UNDER OLYMPIC STEAM BATH [cited both Uptown and Downtown] with connotation (10 a.m. to 11 p.m.)

  • Listed in the Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1985 UNDER OLYMPIC STEAM BATH [cited both Uptown and Downtown] with connotation (10 a.m. to 11 p.m.)

  • Listed in the Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1986 UNDER OLYMPIC STEAM BATH [cited both Uptown and Downtown] with connotation (10 a.m. to 11 p.m.)

  • Listed in the Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1987 UNDER OLYMPIC STEAM BATH [cited both Uptown and Downtown] with connotation (10 a.m. to 11 p.m.)

  • Listed in the Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1988 UNDER OLYMPIC STEAM BATH [cited both Uptown and Downtown] with connotation (10 a.m. to 11 p.m.)

  • Listed in the Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1989 UNDER OLYMPIC STEAM BATH [cited both Uptown and Downtown] with connotation (10 a.m. to 11 p.m.)

  • Listed in Damron Road Atlas, 4th Edition 1994 Page 246 - Men’s Clubs under Olympic Steam Bath with connotations: (MO -men only) (V-videos) (PC – private club)

  • Listed in the Damron Address Book/Address Guide 1995 UNDER OLYMPIC STEAM BATH [cited only Downtown] with connotation (V – videos) (PC- private club) (Closed Sunday)

2021 photo of exterior of building - where man is standing, he is blocking the view of the entrance to the basement.