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Portland's Underground

Ever hear about construction equipment falling through sink holes around Portland?  They’re not sink holes, they’re the Portland Underground, also called the Shanghai Tunnels.  Long ago basements all over Portland were connected through a vast network of tunnels.  Allowing merchants to bring goods from the docks into the city, avoiding muddy unpaved streets.  Of course, where people go, crime goes.

Kidnapping, opium dens, brothels, boot-legging, it was everywhere.  As roads were paved it was used less but the crime remained, Shanghais continued until World War 2 began.  These days it is all but gone, between earthquake proofing, businesses closing it for security reasons, and people simply not knowing it’s there, it is slowly being destroyed.

For a long time I’ve wanted to go see it, there are tours.  Finally this last weekend I went with 9 friends, the tour was almost 40 people total.  Being close to Halloween, the tour-guide told us about all of the ghosts and paranormal activity.  For someone who grew up around Portland it was well worth my $17, but the normal tours cost less.  Check out www.shanghaitunnels.info if you want to see more about it.