Explore the real-world places that appear in The Girls Before by Kate Alice Marshall. Each location on the map shows what happens there in the novel, the real history of the place, and what's there today. Featured locations include Portland Police Bureau Headquarters, Riverside High School, Powell's City of Books, Forest Park, The Pearl District and 9 more.
1111 SW 2nd Avenue — Detective's Office
Detective Morrison works from this downtown station investigating the disappearances of the missing girls. The detective becomes increasingly obsessed with connecting the cases as new evidence emerges. The precinct serves as the anchor point for the police investigation into what appears to be a serial pattern.
The Portland Police Bureau has occupied various downtown locations since its founding in 1858. The current Central Precinct building on SW 2nd Avenue has been a fixture of Portland's downtown law enforcement presence for decades.
The Portland Police Bureau Central Precinct continues to operate at this location as the primary downtown police station, serving as headquarters for detectives and administrative staff.
SE Riverside — Where the girls attended
Multiple missing girls attended or were connected to Riverside High School, making it a crucial location in understanding the victims' lives and connections. The school becomes ground zero for police interviews and community concern as the disappearances mount. Flashbacks reveal the social dynamics and relationships that may have put the girls in danger.
Riverside High School is part of Portland's public school system, serving the southeast Portland community since the mid-20th century. Like many urban Portland schools, it has evolved with changing demographics and community needs.
Riverside High School continues to serve southeast Portland students as part of the Portland Public Schools system, remaining an active educational institution in the community.
1005 W Burnside Street — Searching for Answers
One of the missing girls was last seen near this iconic Portland landmark. The massive bookstore serves as a gathering place in the narrative where characters discuss the disappearances and comb through true crime literature searching for patterns or answers about what might have happened.
Powell's City of Books opened in 1971 and has become one of Portland's most famous landmarks, occupying an entire city block in the Pearl District. It has been called one of the world's largest independent bookstores.
Powell's City of Books remains one of Portland's premier tourist and local attractions, operating as an independent bookstore with an extensive new and used book collection across multiple colors of storefronts.
Visit: Powell's City of Books (restaurant)
NW Portland — Wooded Trails & Investigation
The dense forest and extensive trail system become critical to the investigation as police search for evidence and missing girls. The isolation and accessibility of Forest Park make it a hunting ground in the killer's pattern. Search parties comb the woods looking for any trace of the missing victims.
Forest Park was established in 1948 and encompasses 5,200 acres of urban forest, making it one of the largest urban forests in the United States. It has long been a refuge for Portlanders seeking nature within the city.
Forest Park remains a major recreational destination with over 80 miles of trails, managed by Portland Parks & Recreation, attracting hikers, runners, and nature enthusiasts year-round.
Visit: Forest Park (park)
NW 10th-13th Avenues — Urban Trendy Setting
The Pearl District's upscale galleries, cafes, and lofts serve as the backdrop for the young women's lives and social scenes. Several victims frequented the district's bars and restaurants before disappearing. The contrast between the trendy neighborhood and the dark crimes creates a sense of violation in a supposedly safe, vibrant area.
The Pearl District was Portland's historic Chinese and Japanese neighborhood before its transformation in the 1990s into a trendy arts and mixed-use district with galleries, restaurants, and residential lofts.
The Pearl District is one of Portland's most desirable neighborhoods, featuring upscale restaurants, galleries, boutique shops, and expensive condominiums, continuing its transformation into a premium urban destination.
Visit: The Pearl District (landmark)
SE 39th Avenue — Public Green Space
A body or crucial evidence is discovered in or near this southeast Portland park, advancing the investigation. The discovery shocks the community as the reality of the danger becomes undeniable. The park becomes a crime scene, cordoned off and searched by police forensics teams.
Laurelhurst Park was established in the early 1900s as part of Portland's Park System designed by the Olmsted Brothers landscape firm, featuring classical landscaping with open meadows, tree-lined paths, and water features.
Laurelhurst Park remains a beloved southeast Portland park with 30 acres of maintained grounds, offering walking paths, open spaces, and recreational facilities for the surrounding neighborhood.
Visit: Laurelhurst Park (park)
SW Park Avenue & SW Mill Street — Urban Campus
Some of the missing girls attended or had connections to Portland State University, making the campus crucial to understanding their movements and social circles. Police conduct interviews with classmates and professors as they try to establish timelines. The university setting adds vulnerability as young women navigate the city.
Portland State University was founded in 1946 as a community college and evolved into a comprehensive urban university. The downtown campus has grown substantially since the 1970s.
Portland State University continues as a major urban research university with nearly 30,000 students, maintaining its downtown Portland campus as a thriving academic community.
SW Naito Parkway — Along the Willamette River
The riverfront becomes a location tied to the investigation and the killer's patterns. The isolation of certain areas along the Willamette River provides cover for the predator. Police monitor the waterfront as part of their search and prevention efforts.
Portland's Waterfront Park was developed in the 1970s as an urban renewal project along the Willamette River, replacing the old Harbor Drive. It has become one of Portland's most visited parks.
Tom McCall Waterfront Park stretches for 30 blocks along the Willamette River, featuring green spaces, pathways, fountains, and hosting numerous community events and festivals throughout the year.
Visit: Tom McCall Waterfront Park (park)
SW Bridgeport Road — Shopping & Surveillance
Security footage from this shopping center provides crucial evidence in the investigation as police track the movements of missing girls or the suspect. The mundane setting of the mall becomes sinister as detectives analyze every frame for clues. Multiple sightings place victims here before their disappearances.
Bridgeport Village has been a major retail destination in southwest Portland since its development in the 1980s, serving as a regional shopping center.
Bridgeport Village continues to operate as a major shopping center in southwest Portland, featuring department stores, specialty retailers, and restaurants.
Visit: Bridgeport Village Shopping Center (landmark)
4000 SW Fairview Boulevard — Isolated Trails
This extensive arboretum and its isolated trails make it a dangerous location in the pattern of disappearances. The vast network of pathways and relative isolation from populated areas creates an ideal hunting ground. Search and rescue teams explore the arboretum's perimeter as they hunt for missing girls.
The Hoyt Arboretum was established in 1928 and encompasses 86 acres featuring thousands of plant species and an extensive trail system managed by the city.
The Hoyt Arboretum remains one of Portland's premier botanical attractions, open to the public with over 12 miles of trails, managed by the City of Portland Parks Department.
Visit: Hoyt Arboretum (park)
NE Hollywood Boulevard — Gritty Urban Neighborhood
The Hollywood District, a grittier part of Portland, becomes associated with the darker elements of the investigation. Missing girls may have been lured or transported through this area. The neighborhood's transient character and less-monitored streets make it a dangerous zone in the killer's pattern.
The Hollywood District developed in the early 20th century as a neighborhood adjacent to the historic Hollywood Theatre, becoming a mixed commercial and residential area.
The Hollywood District remains a working-class neighborhood with a mix of commercial and residential properties, undergoing gradual revitalization while maintaining its historic character.
3229 NW Pittock Drive — Overlook & Isolation
This remote mansion and estate overlooks Portland from the west hills, creating an isolated location relevant to the crime. The grounds and surrounding forest provide secluded areas away from public view. The mansion's history and remoteness make it a metaphor for the hidden nature of the crimes.
Pittock Mansion was built in 1914 by newspaper magnate Henry Pittock and has been a historic house museum since 1964, featured on the National Register of Historic Places.
Pittock Mansion is now operated as a museum by the City of Portland Parks Department, offering historic tours and commanding views of Portland and the surrounding landscape.
Visit: Pittock Mansion (museum)
SE 82nd Avenue — Warehouse District
The industrial east side of Portland provides an abandoned warehouse or factory setting tied to the investigation. Detectives suspect that missing girls may have been held in one of the area's vacant buildings. The sparse, desolate warehouses offer perfect cover for criminal activity away from witnesses.
Southeast 82nd Avenue developed as Portland's industrial corridor in the mid-20th century, featuring warehouses, factories, and commercial operations that served the city's economic needs.
The area remains primarily industrial and commercial, with a mix of active businesses, storage facilities, and residential pockets, serving as Portland's industrial heartland.
30 miles east of Portland — Remote Search Areas
The remote Gorge becomes a focus of investigation as police expand their search beyond the Portland city limits. The vast, isolated landscape provides countless places for a predator to hide victims. Search teams venture into the Gorge as they pursue leads about where missing girls may have been taken.
The Columbia River Gorge has been a major natural landmark and transportation corridor for thousands of years, with Interstate 84 now running through it alongside the historic scenic highway.
The Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area attracts thousands of visitors annually for hiking, windsurfing, and scenic drives, with numerous recreational areas and scenic overlooks.
Visit: Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area (park)
More by Kate Alice Marshall: All Kate Alice Marshall books
Other nearby maps: In Her Defense by Kate Wilhelm locations map · Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner locations map