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Pendleton Underground Tours
Between 1870 and 1930 industrious
Chinese citizens dug underground tunnels underneath
Pendleton's (now) historic district. The tunnels held
businesses such as ice plants, butcher shops and Chinese
laundries - - as well as bawdy salo ons, bordellos and opium
dens. Today you can take a tour of Pendleton
Underground through the tunnels which were restored in 1989.
The history of legal and illegal businesses operating in the
same area for over 100 years makes the tour unique and like
no other tour anywhere. The restored tunnels
feature exhibits and mannequins used to recreate the wild
west businesses. A bit of the flavor of the times can
be grasped from the fact that at a time when Pendleton had a
population of only 3,000 citizens, it supported 18 bordellos
and 32 saloons!
The tunnels
were restored amongst a certain opposition which was aghast
at the questionable and immoral history it represented
because part of the subject matter is about gambling,
Chinese, bootlegging and prostitution. Today the
Pendleton
Underground Tours
is operated by the non-profit corporation P.U.T. which
recently celebrated its 10th year anniversary. It has
become Eastern Oregon's number one year-round tourist
attraction.
Official Website:
http://www.pendletonundergroundtours.org/
Location:
Pendleton Underground Tours
37 S.W. Emigrant Ave.
Pendleton OR 97801
DIRECTIONS TO PENDLETON UNDERGROUND TOURS
If you are traveling
East or West to Pendleton, Oregon, on I-84 take exit 210,
follow the city center signs to the rail road tracks,
go two blocks to the second street light (Emigrant Avenue)
and turn left.
PUT is at the end of the block on S.W. 1st Street and
Emigrant Avenue.
If traveling on Highway 11 from Walla Walla, Washington,
follow the city center signs to Main Street then turn left
and go two blocks to Emigrant Avenue and turn right. PUT is
at the end of the block on S.W. 1st Street and Emigrant
Avenue on the North side.
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