Shanghai Tunnels – Haunted Underground Network in Portland, Oregon

Beneath the bustling streets of downtown Portland lies a dark labyrinth of tunnels and passages. These underground corridors once served as a gateway to unspeakable horrors during the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Shanghai Tunnels, also known as the Portland Underground, stretch for miles beneath the city’s historic Old Town district. This network of basements, passages, and holding cells witnessed countless tragedies that still echo through its damp corridors today.

The tunnels earned their sinister name from the practice of “shanghaiing” or forced conscription of men onto ships. Victims were drugged, kidnapped, and held captive in these underground chambers before being sold to sea captains. Today, these passages are considered among the most haunted locations in the Pacific Northwest. Visitors and paranormal investigators report overwhelming feelings of dread, phantom voices, and apparitions of former captives.

The energy down in these tunnels feels different from typical haunted locations. Many people report sudden temperature drops of 20 to 30 degrees in specific corridors. The spirits here seem angry, confused, and desperate to tell their stories. Some psychics refuse to enter certain sections due to the overwhelming negative energy they sense.

Historical Background

Portland’s underground tunnel system was constructed beginning in 1850 as the city rapidly expanded. The original purpose was practical: connecting waterfront hotels, taverns, and businesses to the docks along the Willamette River. These passages allowed goods to be transported without navigating muddy streets that became impassable during Portland’s rainy seasons. Business owners could receive deliveries directly into their basement storage areas through this convenient network.

However, the tunnels soon became infamous for a much darker purpose starting in the 1870s. Unscrupulous men known as “crimps” operated shanghai operations throughout the underground passageways until approximately 1941. These criminals would drug unsuspecting patrons in taverns with opium-laced alcohol or laudanum-spiked drinks. The unconscious victims would then fall through trapdoors hidden beneath bar stools or be dragged into the tunnels.

The kidnapped men were held in small cells with iron rings embedded in the walls. These rings, still visible today, were used to chain victims by their ankles or wrists. Some men remained imprisoned underground for days or weeks while crimps negotiated prices with ship captains. The going rate for an able-bodied sailor ranged from $50 to $300 depending on the ship’s destination.

Women weren’t spared from the tunnels’ horrors either during this dark period. Female victims were kidnapped and forced into prostitution or sold to brothels throughout the West Coast. Separate holding areas existed for women, with different tunnel sections designated for this horrific human trafficking operation. Historical records suggest thousands of people disappeared through Portland’s underground between 1850 and 1941.

The tunnels also witnessed deaths from various causes over their operational years. Some captives died from overdoses of the drugs used to subdue them. Others perished from injuries sustained during their kidnapping or from diseases that spread rapidly in the damp conditions. Several documented fires in buildings above the tunnels trapped and killed people in the underground passages. These tragic deaths left an indelible mark on the spiritual energy of the location.

Paranormal Activity Summary

The Shanghai Tunnels experience consistent paranormal activity across multiple sections of the underground network. Visitors most commonly report hearing disembodied voices echoing through the brick corridors. These voices include men shouting, women crying, and the sounds of chains dragging across stone floors. The auditory phenomena occur even when no one else is present in the tunnels.

Shadow figures are the second most frequently reported paranormal occurrence in these passages. Witnesses describe seeing dark, human-shaped masses moving quickly between rooms or standing motionlessly in corners. These shadows appear solid rather than translucent and often seem to be observing living visitors. Many people report feeling watched by unseen eyes throughout their time underground.

Physical manifestations happen regularly in certain tunnel sections known for intense spiritual activity. Visitors report being touched, pushed, or having their clothing tugged by invisible hands. Some people experience sudden scratches appearing on their arms or backs while touring the tunnels. These physical interactions often leave witnesses shaken and reluctant to return to certain areas.

Electronic equipment malfunctions plague visitors attempting to document the tunnels with modern technology. Cameras drain completely within minutes despite having full batteries upon entering the underground passages. Digital recorders capture strange static, whispers, and voices that weren’t heard during the recording session. Cell phones often lose signal completely or display incorrect times while underground.

Cold spots appear and disappear without explanation in various tunnel locations throughout the year. These areas of intense cold measure 15 to 30 degrees lower than surrounding spaces. The cold often seems to move, following tour groups or focusing on specific individuals. Some witnesses report seeing their breath fog in these cold zones despite mild temperatures elsewhere.

Ghost Stories & Reports

The spirit of Nina, a young woman shanghaied in 1897, is one of the most active entities. She was kidnapped from the Merchant Hotel at age 23 and held in the tunnels for three weeks. Nina reportedly died from pneumonia before being sold to a brothel. Her ghost appears as a woman in a long Victorian dress with dark hair pinned up.

Visitors report encountering Nina’s ghost primarily in the section beneath Northwest Couch Street. She appears sad and confused, often reaching out toward people before vanishing. Several witnesses claim she spoke to them, asking for help finding her way home. One tour guide named Michael Hendricks reported Nina touching his shoulder in 2012, leaving his shirt damp with water.

The spirit known only as “The Captain” haunts the northern sections near the old harbor tunnels. Witnesses describe a bearded man wearing a naval captain’s coat from the late 1800s. He appears angry and territorial, often standing with arms crossed blocking certain passages. Multiple visitors report feeling overwhelming hostility when encountering this entity.

The Captain’s ghost seems particularly aggressive toward men who fit the profile of shanghaied sailors. Young, physically fit male visitors report being pushed, having objects thrown at them, or experiencing intense headaches. Paranormal investigator Rebecca Morris documented equipment being knocked from her assistant’s hands by an invisible force in 2015. The incident occurred in a tunnel beneath Northwest Davis Street where The Captain is most active.

A group entity known as “The Captives” manifests as multiple voices speaking simultaneously in overlapping whispers. These voices create an unsettling chorus of pleas for help, prayers, and desperate screams. The phenomenon occurs most frequently in the holding cells where shanghai victims awaited their fate. Witnesses report hearing up to a dozen distinct voices speaking different languages including English, Chinese, and German.

The ghost of a young boy named Samuel has been reported since the 1990s. He appears to be between 8 and 10 years old wearing knickers and a cap. Samuel was likely the son of a tavern owner who fell into the tunnels through a trapdoor in 1892. Historical records from the Oregonian newspaper confirm a child matching his description died from a fall into the underground.

Samuel’s spirit seems curious rather than frightening to most witnesses who encounter him. He appears in the tunnel sections beneath the Skidmore Fountain area. Children on tours frequently report seeing Samuel or feeling a small hand holding theirs. Tour guide Patricia Chen documented 23 separate reports of Samuel’s ghost between 2018 and 2020.

A malevolent entity nicknamed “The Crimp” terrorizes visitors in the western tunnel branches. This spirit appears as a large man with a handlebar mustache wearing a bowler hat. He manifests with aggressive energy, often causing people to flee certain areas. The Crimp’s ghost reportedly mimics the crimps who once operated the shanghai operations.

Witnesses encountering The Crimp describe feeling suddenly dizzy, nauseous, or disoriented as if drugged. Some people report experiencing vivid hallucinations of being chained or dragged through the tunnels. These experiences mirror the trauma original shanghai victims endured. Paranormal psychologist Dr. James Whitmore documented 47 cases of people experiencing these traumatic visions between 2010 and 2019.

Most Haunted Spot

The Nina’s Cell area beneath Northwest Couch Street is considered the most actively haunted location. This small chamber features the original iron rings used to chain captives. Visitors consistently report overwhelming sadness, difficulty breathing, and the sensation of being watched. The temperature in this 10-by-12-foot cell remains perpetually cold regardless of season.

Paranormal activity in Nina’s Cell includes apparitions appearing within seconds of people entering the space. Electronic voice phenomena recordings capture women’s voices saying “help me” and “so cold” with remarkable clarity. Multiple psychics have independently identified this cell as a portal or area of concentrated spiritual energy. Tour guides report that approximately 60 percent of visitors experience unexplained phenomena in this specific location.

Can You Visit?

The Shanghai Tunnels are open to the public through organized tours offered by the Cascade Geographic Society. Standard heritage tours run Wednesday through Sunday at various times throughout the day. These tours cost $15 for adults and $10 for children under 12. Special ghost tours run Friday and Saturday evenings at 6:30 PM and 8:30 PM for $20 per person.

Photography is allowed throughout the tunnels for personal use but not commercial purposes. Flash photography is permitted though many cameras experience technical difficulties regardless of settings. Video recording is also allowed on tours. The tunnels remain privately owned, so visiting is only permitted through official tours.

Private group tours and paranormal investigation sessions can be arranged by contacting the Cascade Geographic Society directly. These private experiences cost between $200 and $500 depending on group size and duration. Investigation sessions run from 10 PM to 2 AM and include access to areas not shown on regular tours. Equipment such as EMF detectors and digital recorders can be brought by investigators.

Best Time to Visit

Paranormal activity remains consistent throughout the year in the Shanghai Tunnels. However, witnesses report increased phenomena during October through December. Many investigators theorize the anniversary dates of historical tragedies trigger heightened spiritual activity. Late evening tours between 8 PM and midnight generate the most paranormal reports.

The hours between 11 PM and 1 AM appear most active based on documented experiences. This timeframe aligns with when shanghai operations historically conducted their kidnappings from late-night tavern patrons. Some tour guides refuse to enter certain tunnel sections after midnight due to consistently intense encounters. Full moon periods also correlate with increased reports of apparitions and physical manifestations.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

Tour guide Jennifer Walsh documented her experience in Nina’s Cell during a 2017 tour. She reported feeling someone grab her wrist with a cold, firm grip. When Jennifer looked down, she saw finger-shaped indentations on her skin that lasted for 20 minutes. Other tour participants witnessed the marks appearing on her wrist in real time.

Portland resident David Chen visited the tunnels in 2019 with his wife. Both reported seeing a full-bodied apparition of a man in chains standing near the old holding cells. The figure remained visible for approximately 15 seconds before fading away. David captured a photograph showing an unexplained mist in the shape of a human figure.

Paranormal investigator Marcus Rodriguez conducted an overnight investigation in 2016 with his team. They recorded 17 distinct EVP responses to their questions over six hours. One recording captures a male voice clearly stating “let me out” followed by the sound of chains. Another recording features multiple voices speaking simultaneously in what sounds like Chinese and English.

In 2018, psychology student Amanda Torres experienced a violent push while standing near a trapdoor entrance. She fell forward onto her hands and knees with witnesses confirming no one stood near her. Amanda reported feeling intense anger directed at her moments before being pushed. She left the tour early due to the frightening experience.

Local historian Timothy Fletcher spent three months researching the tunnels in 2014. He documented 134 separate paranormal reports from tour guides and visitors. Timothy’s research revealed consistent patterns including specific entities appearing in the same locations repeatedly. His findings were published in the Portland Historical Quarterly in 2015.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

Ghost Adventures filmed an episode in the Shanghai Tunnels that aired in October 2012. The crew documented multiple instances of unexplained activity including shadow figures and disembodied voices. Zak Bagans reported being scratched by an unseen entity while exploring Nina’s Cell. The episode featured thermal imaging showing cold spots moving through corridors.

The Atlantic Paranormal Society investigated the tunnels in 2009 for their show Ghost Hunters. They captured audio recordings of what sounds like a woman crying and chains rattling. The team also documented their equipment malfunctioning repeatedly in specific tunnel sections. TAPS declared the location “actively haunted” based on their findings.

Pacific Northwest Paranormal Investigation conducted a comprehensive study in 2016 spanning three months. They installed stationary cameras and recording equipment throughout the tunnels. The team documented 43 anomalies including orbs, shadow figures, and unexplained temperature fluctuations. Their final report concluded at least seven distinct entities regularly manifest in the tunnels.

University of Oregon parapsychology researchers studied the tunnels in 2013 for six weeks. Their research focused on measuring electromagnetic fields and temperature variations. The study found consistent EMF spikes in areas where paranormal activity is most frequently reported. Lead researcher Dr. Sarah Martinez published findings suggesting “environmental factors consistent with reported haunted locations.”

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

Visitors must stay with official tour groups at all times while in the tunnels. Wandering off alone is strictly prohibited due to both safety and property rights concerns. The tunnel system is extensive with many unmapped or unstable sections that pose serious danger. Several passages have collapsed over the years creating hazardous conditions.

People with claustrophobia, heart conditions, or respiratory issues should carefully consider before entering the tunnels. Some passages are narrow with low ceilings requiring visitors to duck or squeeze through. The air quality can be poor in certain sections with increased dust and mold. Anyone experiencing panic or distress during a tour should immediately inform their guide.

The tunnels are private property, and unauthorized entry constitutes criminal trespassing. Several entrances throughout downtown Portland remain sealed with many forgotten or hidden behind businesses. Police actively enforce trespassing laws with violators facing fines up to $500. Security systems monitor some tunnel entrances to prevent unauthorized access.

Local Legends & Myths

One persistent legend involves a crimp named Joseph “Bunco” Kelly who operated in the tunnels during the 1890s. According to the story, Kelly once sold the bodies of deceased smallpox victims to a desperate sea captain. The captain discovered his “crew” was actually corpses when he went below deck. Kelly allegedly earned $50 per body for 22 corpses before being caught.

Another legend tells of a woman who escaped from the tunnels in 1903. She allegedly clawed her way through a wooden door leaving deep scratch marks. These marks were supposedly preserved when the building was renovated in the 1970s. Some tour guides claim the scratches reappear on the door even after being painted over multiple times.

A darker legend involves a crimp known as “The Undertaker” who supposedly murdered victims rather than shanghai them. He allegedly buried bodies beneath the tunnel floors in unmarked graves. No historical evidence confirms this legend, but some psychics claim to sense bodies buried in certain tunnel sections. Ground-penetrating radar surveys have never been conducted to investigate these claims.