Portland State University, Portland

What was once, in 1946, the Vanport Extension Center became Portland State College in 1955. It slowly accelerated from being a four-year school to a full-fledged university and an integral part of the Portland area. PSU is a highly recognized school around the country, not only for the academics, but also for the beauty and overall history of the campus. Performances at PSU draw quite a crowd and give visitors a chance to see plays, concerts, art exhibits and more. The Lincoln Performance Hall is located inside the aptly named Lincoln Hall (formerly the 1911 constructed Lincoln High School), and oftentimes is the setting for many of the aforementioned performances. Adjacent to the university is the PSU Bookstore, featuring literature for everyone.