There’s An Abandoned Underground City Hiding In Oregon And You’ll Want To Visit
Have you ever wondered about the “underground” history of Oregon that you don’t typically find in textbooks? There are a few places still left in Oregon that bring that history to life—and one of them is the world-famous Pendleton Underground.
Hiding beneath the streets of downtown Pendleton is a secret district that has been around for more than 100 years. Today, you can take a tour of the abandoned underground city that will make you feel like you’ve been transported to the past.
We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life as we all practice social and physical distancing. While we’re continuing to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, we don’t expect or encourage you to go check them out immediately. We believe that supporting local attractions is important now more than ever and we hope our articles inspire your future adventures! And on that note, please nominate your favorite local business that could use some love right now: https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/nominate/
Hidden away beneath the city of Pendleton, the Pendleton Underground is a network of tunnels that once was home to many secret businesses, both legal and illegal.
The tunnels were built by Chinese workers who had been harshly discriminated against by the town's white population —to the point that it was unsafe for Chinese people to be out after sunset. In order to run businesses and move freely from place to place, hidden tunnels were built beneath the city, eventually forming a secret underground district that was home to both legal and illegal businesses.
The long-abandoned tunnels were discovered in the 1980s when potholes began appearing in the roads above. What they found beneath was (and still is) downright fascinating.
Nowadays, you can see it for yourself by taking a tour with Pendleton Underground Tours. You'll be led through some of the tunnels by historians that'll fill you in on the history and lore surrounding this mysterious place.
To take a tour, you must first make a reservation. The office is located at 31 SW Emigrant Ave, Pendleton, Oregon. It’s open from 10am to 5pm everyday except Sundays and Tuesdays. Find out more on the Pendleton Underground Tours website or by calling (541) 276-0730.
