Downtown Portland's basements were once connected by tunnels running beneath the streets and down to riverside docks. While they were built for shipping and flood control, rumors persist that they were also used to transport unconscious men to be sold to unscrupulous ship's captains. Most of the tunnels have long been sealed, but remnants can be visited by tour.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Lan Su Chinese Garden

0.08 MILES

This classical Chinese garden is a one-block haven of tranquility, with a traditional teahouse, reflecting ponds and manicured greenery. Guided tours are…

2. Chinatown Gateway

0.09 MILES

Though it was once the second-largest Chinatown in the US, don't expect flashbacks of Shanghai in Portland's Chinese quarter these days – most of its…

3. New Market Theater

0.15 MILES

This landmark was built in 1872 and is notable for the cast iron arches facing SW 1st Ave, all that are left of its northern wing.

4. Japanese American Historical Plaza

0.17 MILES

North of the Burnside Bridge, the Japanese American Historical Plaza is a memorial to Japanese Americans who were sent to internment camps by the US…

5. Skidmore Fountain

0.18 MILES

Victorian-era architecture and the attractive Skidmore Fountain give the area beneath the Burnside Bridge some nostalgic flair. Dedicated in 1888, the…

6. Saturday Market

0.19 MILES

The best time to walk along the Portland Waterfront is on a weekend, when you can catch this famous market showcasing arts and crafts, street entertainers…

7. Center for Contemporary Art & Culture

0.3 MILES

Home to the 1300-item collection of the former Museum of Contemporary Craft, this exhibition space at PNCA (Pacific Northwest College of Art) focuses on…

8. Pioneer Courthouse

0.46 MILES

Across 6th Ave from Pioneer Courthouse Square is the Pioneer Courthouse. Built in 1875, this was the legal center of 19th-century Portland. The courthouse…