Entry No. 11 — the Portland file — filed under: former funeral home
McMenamins Chapel Pub
A pub poured inside a 1930s funeral chapel (the former Wilson-Chambers Mortuary, also known as the Little Chapel of the Chimes) — the original pipe organ and chimes have been refurbished and still stand, alongside ironwork by O.B. Dawson and light fixtures made by the same craftsman who built Timberline Lodge's chandeliers.
The story
In the fall of 1932, a brick mortuary went up on North Killingsworth Street. Local papers hailed the Wilson-Chambers Mortuary—later known as the Little Chapel of the Chimes—as an architectural gem. It wasn't built as a sterile municipal grieving room; it was fitted with hand-wrought ironwork by master artisan O.B. Dawson, custom light fixtures crafted by the same blacksmith who forged the chandeliers at Timberline Lodge, and a soaring pipe organ fitted with real chimes.
When the mortuary eventually shuttered, the building escaped demolition when McMenamins converted the space into a neighborhood pub. Rather than ripping out the building's solemn history, they leaned into it. The organ pipes were restored and left mounted in the main sanctuary, stone pillars still frame the room, and the original 1930s ironwork continues to hold up the amber light bulbs overhead.
You didn't hear it from us, but sipping a pub-brewed ale under the shadows of a 1930s funeral chapel's organ pipes is about as Portland as it gets. It’s one of the few places in town where you can order a burger while seated in what was once a consecrated room for mourning.
What it's like
Approach from Killingsworth Street and the brick exterior still gives off pure 1930s civic solemnity. Inside, the vibe shifts to a warm, dim neighborhood watering hole tucked beneath gothic woodwork, stone arches, and iron fixtures. Grab a booth directly beneath the organ pipes for the best view of the room's original timberwork. It stays remarkably unpretentious for a former mortuary, drawing a steady crowd of North Portland locals on weeknights.
The move: Order a pint under the restored chapel organ pipes, then wander the building noting which architectural details are original 1930s mortuary fittings versus McMenamins additions.
- 📍 Piedmont, North Portland
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 430 N Killingsworth St, Portland, OR 97217
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Portland Insectarium — Walk just a tenth of a mile down Killingsworth to check out live jumping spiders and arachnids before your pint.
- Paxton Gate PDX — Follow up a tavern inside a former funeral home with a trip down Mississippi Avenue to browse museum-quality taxidermy and skulls.
- Blackthorn Mercantile — Head south into Eliot to inspect another uniquely repurposed neighborhood storefront, now stocked with occult supplies and ritual tools.
- White Eagle Saloon & Hotel — Keep the historic McMenamins tour going a mile south at this 1905 Polish hall turned saloon and hotel.
Good to know
Is the pipe organ inside the Chapel Pub original?
Yes, the pipe organ and its set of chimes date back to the building's 1932 opening as the Wilson-Chambers Mortuary and have been fully refurbished.
Who crafted the iron and lighting fixtures?
The ironwork was forged by master blacksmith O.B. Dawson, and the light fixtures were made by the same craftsman responsible for Timberline Lodge's iron chandeliers.
Where is the Chapel Pub located?
You'll find it at 430 N Killingsworth St in North Portland's Piedmont neighborhood.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Wikipedia
last checked: 2026-07-20