PORTLAND, Ore. -- A mythological lumberjack that resides in North Portland has been honored on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Paul Bunyan statue, in the Kenton neighborhood at the intersection of N. Denver Street and Interstate Avenue, became Oregon’s most recent landmark to receive this recognition.

Paul Bunyan watches over North Portland. (Photo courtesy: Wikipedia.org)

The statue was constructed to celebrate Oregon’s 100th birthday and was unveiled Feb. 14, 1959. The anchor event of the Oregon Centennial Exposition and International Trade Fair was held in North Portland for 100 days during the summer of 1959. Also: Oregon 150 Coverage

Bunyan welcomed visitors as a tribute to Oregon’s timber industry and lumberjacking heritage.

Oregon’s State Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation recommended the Bunyan statue for nomination in October 2008.

More than 500 Portland properties are now listed on the National Register, which is maintained by the National Park Service.