14. The Shanghai tunnels of Portland, Oregon
The old Chinatown neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, was once one of the most dangerous areas on the entire west coast of the United States. Basements of buildings in Portland were connected with a series of tunnels which allowed passage throughout several neighborhoods without resorting to the open streets, allowing for the movement of illicit goods in secret. One of the goods, according to local lore, which was moved in such a manner was human. Sailors who visited the area in search of prostitutes, liquor, or opium were drugged and carried through the underground network to the waterfront, where they were deposited in the holds of ships, not released until the vessel was out to sea, when there could be no escape.
The tunnels were said to be haunted by the ghosts of sailors who never made it home, a practice which began in the 1960s in conjunction with opening the tunnels for tours. In fact the tunnels were built to move goods from the waterfront to businesses while avoiding the traffic on the streets and narrow alleyways of the city. While the practice of shanghaiing sailors was not unknown, and was prevalent in other west coast ports such as San Francisco, Portland was not known for being especially dangerous for sailors. Nonetheless the tunnels in Portland retain the legend of being haunted by the victims of the practice in that city, a tale which is repeated by ghost hunters and paranormal experts from time to time, who offer proof of the ghostly occupants.