A City That Dares to be Weird

Thursday – Friday. . . 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The War Zone

— featuring the litter, trash and disorder you left home to avoid.

“Amazing!” F & H, New Jersey

In 2019 protesters torched our statue of our anorexic elk, (why, no one knows). Afterwards, a local protester carried the sign below in protest, stating that ruminants lives . . . well you can read it. In addition to elk, cows, horses, and sheep are ruminants. As are vegetarians.

Our infamous 1.5-hour long walking Un-tour including all the drama of War Zone Portland as featured on Faux News, Gnus-Max and other quazi-reputable news sources — including boarded up windows, missing statues, abandoned buildings, litter, filth, graffiti, homeless encampments — plus all the normal weird stuff that makes Portland Portland.

Just so you know, in 2019 protesters torched a very realistic brass statue of an elk here in PDX. Afterwards, a local protester carried this sign in protest, stating that ruminants lives . . . well you can read it. In addition to elk, cows, horses, and sheep are ruminants. As are vegetarians.

Featuring ~

  • Downtown’s Haunted Hotel.
  • The World’s Smallest City Park.
  • The Case of the Anorexic Elk.
  • An amazing Trompe-l’œil mural.
  • Is Fort Sumpter featured in a PDX park?
  • Portland’s Iron-Front Architecture — the second largest collection outside Manhattan Island.  More than New Orleans, even.
  • The Salmon Springs Nude Bathing & Wash Station. (Public nudity is legal in Oregon)
  • The Mystery of the Abandoned Civic Buildings.
  • Who stole Abe & Teddy? after roasting them?

Limit of 12 Guests per tour.

Saturday – Sunday . . .11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Shanghaied in Portland

— Known as the Most Dangerous port city in the world of the 1890’s.

“More fun than shopping.” F.W., Florida

Between 1892 and 1904, thousands of men were “Reverse-Shanghied” here, just as the ship they were on entered the Port of Portland. So many that the chief Shanghaier and his cronies became millionaires — not in 21st century money but in 19th century dollars. The chief Shanghaier was one of the richest men in the Pacific Northwest.
Between 1892 and 1904, thousands of men were “Reverse-Shanghied” just as the ship they were on entered the Port of Portland. So many that the chief Shanghaier and his cronies became millionaires — not in 21st century money but in 19th century dollars. The chief Shanghaier was one of the richest men in the Pacific Northwest.

Join us on a 1.5 hour, small group walking tour of 1890’s Portland when it was named the most dangerous seaport in the world by the governments of Britain, France and Germany – and Shanghaied sailors. Over 2,216 English Sailors were kidnapped between 1896 and 1900 in Portland and forced to work as merchant sailors in the most frightening conditions where death was just one misstep away.

Featuring ~

  • The largest China Town in the U.S.
  • A short history of the Portland Police Department and the crimes our men in blue were forced to commit just to survive.
  • The “Bright Center of Portland” in the 1890’s where nearly 10,000 women worked as prostitutes and 10,000 single men lived near 2nd & Burnside.
  • Discover the waterfront where over 600 riverboats moored between trips from Portland to Astoria, Idaho and even to the Arctic Circle on the Columbia River.
  • And of course, we point out all the intriguing sites where Shanghaiing was carried out. In the 1890s it was a major growth industry here leading to Portland being considered the most dangerous sea port in the world. Not bad when you consider that 50 years earlier there was no one living here. At all. Just a crowd of elk. Seriously. How did this sweet little city become so corrupt in such a short time?

Limit of 12 Guests per tour.

All tours start next to Starbucks Coffee at S.W. Broadway and Morrison on Pioneer Courthouse Square.

Tours operate year-round!

Off-season tours by appointment only.

June through October schedule: 11:00 – 12:30 Thursday — Sunday

Price: $35.00 per guest payable in small, unmarked bills on-site prior to commencement of your tour. Credit or ATM cards accepted. Thanks.

For schedule, availability and reservations email us at

pdxtourguides @gmail.com

or call

503-298-3661

Well researched * Historically accurate * Typically Portland

(Our tours are reviewed for accuracy by University professors and professional historians.)

Click Here: What the media in Portland says about SinCityPortland Walking Tours.

Click here: What is Sin City Portland?

For questions or reservations, call 503 298-3661

Masks suggested * Social Distancing Recommended

Headsets available at no charge to allow for additional distancing.

All tours start next to Starbucks Coffee at S.W. Broadway and Morrison on Pioneer Courthouse Square. Call 503 298-3661 for schedule, availability and reservations. Same day reservations call by 9:00 a.m.

Walking Tours of 1.0 to 2.0 miles at nice easy pace (Hey, we’re old farts and just can’t walk that fast).

The Myth of Shanghai Tunnels in Portland