Two thousand people attended its dedication, which was broadcast live nationally from the square by Today weatherman Willard Scott.

[5] The sculpture was inspired by Portland-born-and-based writer Terence O'Donnell, who suffered from osteomyelitis during his childhood,[8] and his "funny Irish jig".

This prompted the executive director of Pioneer Courthouse Square to consider altering the machine's schedule so that the public would have a chance to see all three symbols.

[18] The sculpture maintained good operation until winter 1995, when its mechanical performance temporarily began deviating away from noon and the temperature gauge had difficulties working properly.

[13] In the weeks following Weather Machine's dedication, an estimated 300 to 400 people gathered at the square daily to witness the noon sequence.

[18] Following the dedication, The Oregonian wrote: "It takes nothing from its fascination to know that a human on the staff of the square will be making the daily phone calls to the Weather Service and the Department of Environmental Quality, and pushing the necessary buttons to cue the pillar's performance ...

It has bells and whistles and other mechanized wonders that confirm rain sometime after the downpour and proudly announce sunshine in the bright light of day.

"[9] In 1994, The Oregonian reported that O'Donnell regarded Weather Machine with a "mixture of wonder and embarrassment" and stated that he "[didn't] think it [was] all that attractive".

"[6] Grant Butler of The Oregonian gave the machine's trumpet fanfare as one of three examples of ways in which people could be certain it was noon in Portland.

[34] One travel contributor recommended a visit to the sculpture for people with children seeking a "perfect family day".

[35] Weather Machine has been compared to a giant scepter[21][5] and has been called "bizarre",[29] "eccentric",[14] "playful",[21] "unique",[36] "wacky",[8] "whimsical",[23] "zany",[30] and a "piece of wizardry".