We've Got Haunted Stuff Here in Portland!

Indeed.

Welcome to our Unique Travel Destination Segments!

Well, after Jersey, and Hawaii, why not return back to my hometown, Portland?

Today we'll be talking about the INFAMOUS Haunted Shanghai Tunnel TOUR!

Background of this tour:

These are educational tours of the infamous "Portland Underground" that focuses on the shanghai trade in the City of Portland that survived from 1850-1941, as well as "white slavery", prohibition, and even the turn-of-the-century history of the Industrial Workers of the World (I.W.W.) labor movement in the Northwest. In addition, the early history of the Chinese is covered, along with the Japanese and the Gypsies. These tours are operated by the Cascade Geographic Society (CGS) and provide a unique glimpse back into the hidden (or buried) past of the "City of Roses". The "Shanghaiing Trade" began in Portland in 1850 and steadily grew to make the "City of Roses" the most infamous port in the world by 1870. This shocking abuse where men were kidnapped, taken through secret tunnels that ran beneath the city, and then sold to sea captains where they were forced to work for free the remainder of the voyage, was a notoriety that this seemingly quaint Victorian Village along the Willamette River would never be able to forget, even to this very day. Unfortunately, this practice continued until 1941, when World War II began.

For the 91 years that "Shanghaiing" existed in Portland, reports of "ghosts" or "forlorn spirits" surfaced from the "Portland Underground". Some believe that these are "lost souls" who died during the course of being "Shanghaied", either being knocked on the head too hard, given too heavy of a dose of "knock-out" drops, or suffocated to death in the small holding cells where the victims were held before being taken through the tunnels.

The tour takes approximately an hour and a half, and participants are with a guide at all times. The tour-goers receive an above-ground orientation, and then the guide will lead participants into the "Portland Underground", where they will receive the majority of the historical and oral history about this infamous maritime practice that gave Portland a notorious reputation throughout the world. Tour participants must be able to handle stairs that lead to and from this hidden world. In addition, there will be dust, dirt, musty smells, and anything else that would be associated with this type of environment, so if you need a dust mask, please bring one. Also, at each station people will be required to stand for at least 15 minutes at a time in order to receive the necessary information. Also, the "Portland Underground" is constantly in transition as more and more sections are opened or restored, which is why some people have taken this tour several times.

Cost: $16/aduts, $11 children under 12!

So how do we get to this tour?

Hobo's Restaurant, 120 N.W. Third Avenue, Portland, Oregon.

If you patronize the restaurant as a customer prior to your tour, let the waiter know and we will find you in the restaurant.
If you're not a restaurant customer, please meet ten minutes prior to your tour outside Hobo's on the sidewalk.
[DIRECTIONS: Located two and a half blocks north of West Burnside, between N.W. Couch & N.W. Davis Streets.]

The restaurant staff does not schedule or lead the tours; pre-arranged tours are available only through tour guides who can be contacted at 503-622-4798.


Good luck and don't get shanghaiied!