Made Here. For Here.

Manufactured in Portland since 1890, Miller Paint is an employee-owned company that formulates premium paints specifically for the PNW climate. Krowdsourced dug into the history of Miller's PNW footprint so that our design community could learn about one of their local options.

PDX 1890: A PAINT COMPANY IS BORN

In 1885, Ernest Miller arrived to Portland from Germany. Ernest was a muralist and scenic artist who painted houses on the side, and he was unhappy with the paints that were available at the time. 

He believed the quality did not stand up to the demands of the Northwest weather, and like many other enterprising immigrants of the time he built a solution. 

In 1890, Miller purchased a stone mill in a barn on Northeast San Raphael Street and began manufacturing his own paints. His products were of such good quality that other paint contractors came to him to ask if they could use “Ernest Miller Paint”. Just like that, the Miller Paint Co. was born. 

Miller had three sons––Ernest Jr., Herb, and Walt––who were all involved in the business. The two oldest left Portland to fight in World War I, leaving Walt to quit high school in 1916 to work full-time in the family business. Herb is credited with designing the current Miller Paint windmill logo, while Walt developed the very first company slogan, “Things are Looking Better with Miller Paint.” 

The older Miller sons rejoined the company after the war, but only Walt stayed with the company, serving as company manager until his death at the age of 90 in 1990.

In 1926, the current Grand Ave. location was built on the Central Eastside of Portland to house a new Miller Paint store, along with the manufacturing plant, and the corporate office. During World War II, the company manufactured paint for the U.S. Navy and the Merchant Marine.

Miller Paint grew and flourished into the 1970s with three expansion stores in OR and WA.

In 1978, manufacturing operations were relocated near the PDX airport where they currently remain.  

The 1980s and 1990s saw seven new stores open in Oregon and Washington. By 2000, Miller had opened its 13th store.

Steve Dearborn arrived in 2000 as only the third CEO in the company’s history. Miller Paint went on to open or acquire 43 additional new Miller Paint stores, including an expansion into Idaho, for a total of 57 company stores and a network of independent retailers in OR, WA, and ID today.

It was always Walt’s dream that the company remain independent and an employee-owned company. To this day, Miller Paint is an employee-owned company that directly benefits its PNW community. 

Thanks to Miller Paint for sponsoring this post!