Grain Exporting Begins

Ace Century ship at grain elevator, 2001
Construction of a grain elevator leads to the port's first grain exports, 1934
Port grain elevator located at Terminal 2, mid-1940s

Railway proposes grain facility at the port

On January 29, 1934, the port approved the lease of property to the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway for a grain facility. Port improvements necessary for the proposed Pacific Continental Grain Company grain elevator included construction of a rail track from 16th Street, and dredging the river approaches to the new elevator site. Today, more than 16 percent of U.S. wheat is exported through the port’s grain facility, now operated by the United Grain Corporation.