The Shanghai Tunnels in Portland get their name from the practice of kidnapping and selling men as workers on ships headed to East Asia.
Restless, agitated spirits of men who were drugged and trafficked in the city’s ports during the early 19th century are said to haunt the underground tunnels through which they were reportedly sold. Legend has it that the local saloons contained entrances to the tunnels, enabling swindlers to prey on unsuspecting patrons and bring them directly underground before they even knew what was going on.
Visitors can usually take walking tours to learn more about the dark history of the tunnels, but tours have been temporarily halted due to the coronavirus pandemic.
