The History and Haunting of Pittock Manor in Oregon

The History and Haunting of Pittock Manor in Oregon
23 January 2025 J.W.H
ghosts

The scent of roses and shadows in the corners make people believe that the Pittock mansion in Oregon, USA, is haunted by the couple who built it. It is said to be now a museum and the spirits welcome visitors to their eternal home.

Deep in the heart of Portland, Oregon sits a majestic mansion that has captured the imagination of locals and visitors alike, overlooking Mount Hood and the Cascade Mountain Range. The Pittock Mansion in Oregon's West Hills neighborhood, built in 1914, is a stunning example of French Renaissance architecture and is surrounded by breathtaking gardens and panoramic views of the city below. The interior is designed with oak-paneled cabinets and marble floors with a grand staircase worthy of the best castles. But there is more to this mansion than meets the eye.

Rumors of strange happenings and specters within its walls have circulated for decades. Many believe that the ghosts of former residents still live there and that the estate is haunted by restless souls.

History of Pittock Manor

Before we delve into the ghost stories surrounding the Pittock Manor, let's take a look at its history. The mansion was built for Henry Pittock, owner and publisher of The Oregonian newspaper, and his wife Georgiana. Henry Pittock came from England, then from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and started in his father's printing business. After traveling west on the Oregon Trail at age 19 in search of adventure and fortune, Henry turned it into a successful daily newspaper that made him wealthy.

Here he met his wife Georgiana and they married in 1860. Together they built the house where they wanted to retire. It was originally intended as a summer home, but the couple moved into the mansion in 1914 and it quickly became the center of Portland's elite social scene. It was also known for its lush gardens, as Georgina loved gardening and even founded the Portland Rose Society and Rose Festival.

The Pittocks lived in the mansion until their deaths. Georgiana died in 1918 at the age of 72 and Henry in 1919 at the age of 84. The property changed hands several times in the Pittocks family. The last family members to live there were their grandson Peter Gantenbein and his father Edward, who moved out in 1958 and sold it to the city of Portland in the 1950s.

Throughout the 1960s, the mansion fell into disrepair and was almost demolished, especially after the devastating Columbus Day storm of 1962. However, a group of concerned citizens rallied to save the historic property and it was eventually restored to its former glory. Today, Pittock Mansion is open to the public as a museum showcasing Portland's history and culture.

The haunting of Pittock Manor

Despite its size and beauty, Pittock Mansion has a shadowy side. Beginning in the 1960s, guests and employees reported strange occurrences and unexplained phenomena in the walls, particularly in the upper rooms. Some believe that the ghosts of Henry and Georgiana Pittock still exist.

One of the most frequently reported phenomena is the feeling of being watched or followed. Visitors reported feeling a icy breeze and even a hand on their shoulder, even though no one else was nearby. Others report seeing shadowy figures moving through the halls or hearing the sound of footsteps when no one was there. One night, an employee closed the museum for the night and turned back when they left. All the lights in the mansion turned on, even though no one was there. Or maybe it was?

Pittocks: Henry and Georgiana Pittock (center), wedding day, 1860. Georgiana also lived an adventurous life and was captured by the Sioux when she was nine natives when she rode her pony because she was a great rider. She returned unscathed. She met Henry as he passed by in his horse and carriage Oregonian building. They had nine children. People believe that the couple now haunts the mansion they built.

Georgiana Pittock and the scent of roses

Some even claimed to see the figure of a woman in the window as staff came in in the morning, looking at them through the mirrors and greeting them in the basement.

There is also the scent of roses that lingers as they enter the upper rooms, making people think that Georgiana must be in the mansion because she liked them so much. Staff also saw the appearance of a woman in a long dress. One such story is about a guy who heard something falling on the floor and went to see. She saw a woman in a dress pick up a photo that had fallen. An employee came to look and the guy looked away for a moment. But when she looked back, no one was there anymore.

Pittok family: The family lived in the mansion for decades. Rumors that it was haunted began in the 1960s when it was sold to the city of Portland.

The haunting portrait of Henry Pittock

Another popular ghost story involves a portrait of Henry Pittock hanging in the mansion's library. According to legend, the portrait's eyes follow guests around the room, and some have even reported feeling like they were being judged by a stern figure.

Perhaps the most terrifying legends are that the painting itself moves along the wall. The same goes for most furniture in your home, which rearranges itself when no one is looking.

The ghost of the caretaker in the garden

It is said that outside you can hear the sound of shovels digging into the ground, as if someone was working there. This is said to happen especially in the northernmost part of the mansion. Then you hear the sound of weighty footsteps, as if someone was approaching the residence.

But this is not the case and people think it is the ghost of one of the caretakers who lived there, who died in the Gate Lodge property south of the mansion. Although it is a strange experience, it is said that those working and visiting the mansion perceive it as a benevolent spirit with no ill will. The ghost simply stays to tend Georgina's garden, which she loved so much.

A welcome visit to the Pittock Mansion

Pittock Manor invites guests to admire its stunning architecture and lush gardens, almost as it was when it was first built. Today it functions as a museum open every day and is visited by over 80,000 people a year. And if the rumors are to be believed, the spirits of Henry and Georgiana Pittock will be ready to welcome you to their dream home, which they will at least enjoy in the afterlife.

Reference:

Pittock Mansion: The Happiest Haunted House in America? | Thought catalogue

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/experiences/oregon/pittock-mansion-haunted-orhttps://www.onlyinyourstate.com/experiences/oregon/pittock-mansion-haunted-or

Pittock Manor haunted by the ghosts of the original owners – HUS

Inside the Pittock Mansion, Portland's legendary haunted mansion

History – Pittock Manor

Paranormal PNW: The Haunted History of Pittock Mansion – The Mossy Log

Pittock Mansion Museum – Haunted Houses

Image Source: Pixabay.com

  • J.W.H

    About John:

    John Williams is a Reincarnationist paranormal Intuitive freelance writer...he is living proof of reincarnation existence, through his personal exploration, he has confirmed its authenticity through visits to the very lands where these events transpired.

    Through guided meditation/s using hemi-sync technology he has managed to recollect 3 previous lives to his own, that go back to the Mid to Late 19th century.

    JWH - "You are the GODS! - Inclusion of the Eternal Light of Love and you shall never die”.

    “Death is Just the Beginning of Life”