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.
Shanghai Tunnels
Old Town-Chinatown
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
0.49 MILES
This popular riverside park, which lines the west bank of the Willamette River, was finished in 1978 after four years of construction. It replaced an old…
3.17 MILES
Abutting the more manicured Washington Park to the south (to which it is linked by various trails) is the far wilder 5100-acre Forest Park, an urban…
1.74 MILES
Often called the most authentic Japanese garden outside Japan, this tranquil escape recently underwent a $30-million expansion under the guidance of…
0.47 MILES
The heart of downtown Portland, at the heart of Portland’s retail district and the city’s transit system, is a multi-tiered brick plaza nicknamed Portland…
2 MILES
West of the city, Washington Park is a lush destination with 410 acres of green space, well-manicured gardens and forested trails. Within the parkland are…
Vancouver National Historic Reserve
6.87 MILES
Situated within easy walking distance of the city center is Vancouver's most important historical monument, and also one of the most important statewide…
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…
7.1 MILES
At this reconstructed fort, park rangers and actors in period costume skillfully summon the era from 1825 to 1845, when it served as headquarters of the…
Nearby Old Town-Chinatown attractions
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…