Entry No. 34 — the Portland file — filed under: haunted hotel
White Eagle Saloon & Hotel
A 1905 Polish immigrant meeting hall turned saloon-hotel where McMenamins itself admits 'the line between fact and fiction — and between this world and the other — seems to have been thoroughly and wonderfully blurred,' with tales of shanghaiing, resident spirits, and even presidential-assassination lore tangled into the building's history.
The story
Built in 1905 in North Portland’s Albina neighborhood, the building started as a Polish immigrant meeting hall before evolving into one of the city's roughest saloons and lodging houses. You walk into a space where more than a century of North Russell Street history sits heavily in the woodwork. Even McMenamins openly admits that the line between documented historical fact and supernatural lore here has been thoroughly and wonderfully blurred.
The tales tangled into the building's past read like a dark ledger from early Portland: persistent claims of shanghaiing rings turning unsuspecting drinkers out to sea, strange ties to presidential assassination lore, and a handful of resident spirits who never checked out. Whether every whisper holds up to academic scrutiny doesn't really matter once you're inside—the old timber floorboards carry enough noise and weight to make you believe all of it.
What it's like
Step inside and you'll find a living piece of Portland rock 'n' roll history anchored by a nightly live-music stage, a long wooden bar, and an outdoor deck and beer garden out back. If you decide to stay overnight, you'll climb upstairs to small, cheap hotel rooms featuring shared bathrooms down the hall—ideal for a late night, provided you don't mind creaky floorboards and the distinct feeling that you aren't the only one awake in the corridor.
The move: Get a room upstairs for the night (cheap, shared-bath rooms), then grab a late drink downstairs in the saloon that's supposedly still working through its ghost stories.
- 📍 Albina / North Portland
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 836 N Russell St, Portland, OR 97227
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Shanghai Tunnels Underground Tour (Old Town Pizza & Brewing) — Pair the White Eagle's shanghaiing legends with a trip across the river to explore the subterranean brick corridors beneath Old Town.
- McMenamins Chapel Pub — Compare this saloon setting to another uniquely repurposed McMenamins property inside a 1930s funeral mortuary just a mile and a half north.
- Paxton Gate PDX — Grab a daytime look at taxidermy and pinned insect specimens on Mississippi Avenue before settling in for late-night drinks and live music.
Good to know
Where is the White Eagle Saloon & Hotel located?
It sits at 836 N Russell St in the Albina district of North Portland.
What kind of accommodations does the hotel offer?
The upstairs offers modest, budget-friendly hotel rooms with shared bathroom facilities down the hall.
Does the venue serve food and drink?
Yes, the saloon serves standard pub meals and McMenamins craft beers, accessible indoors or out in the beer garden.
Is there live music at the White Eagle?
Yes, the saloon hosts nightly live music featuring local bands and touring acts on its indoor stage.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Wikipedia · mcmenamins.com
last checked: 2026-07-20