Travel alerts straight to your inbox:

Tag: Oregon Travel View All Tags

Simpsons Travel: The Real Springfield Hides in Oregon

July 17, 2007 at 9:58 AM | 1 Comment

Somehow Springfield, Vermont managed to nab the title of The Real Springfield in a recent contest promoting The Simpsons movie. Personally, we don't think Mayor Quimby's town has a New England feel to it--despite his accent. For one thing, after watching thousands of episodes, we haven't spotted a single B&B.

Further, it's a known fact that Portland, Oregon-born Matt Groening didn't stray far from home to find his inspiration for the show (his parents are named Homer and Marge, after all). Since Portland has a neighboring town named Springfield, placing the Simpsons in Oregon is not a stretch.

The kicker? The above pictured statue, allegedly called the "Pioneer Father," on the sort-of-nearby University of Oregon campus, is obviously the inspiration for Jebediah Springfield.

So let's take a look at the unofficial Real Springfield. The Springfield Oregon Visitor's Center and Chamber of Commerce's "local events" listing names mainly new bank branch ribbon-cutting ceremonies, golf tournaments, and fundraisers. Funny, it sounds like the kind of ho-hum small-town happenings we recognize from watching Fox on Sunday nights...

Related Stories:
· Springfield, Ore. Chamber [Tourism Board]
· The Simpsons Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: drcorneilus]

Send us a tip