Did you know that Boise wasn’t always the capital city of Idaho? When Idaho was just a territory, the town of Lewiston served as the capital. Today it’s a bustling little city of approximately 30,000 people but reminders of the Wild West town it once was can still be found. Some say that even the spirits of Lewiston’s very first townspeople still linger in certain parts of the city. Spend an evening learning all about Idaho’s first capital when you partake in this one-of-a-kind historic ghost tour. On this tour you’ll be led through some of the oldest structures in the city and you’ll even get a glimpse at the little-known underground network of haunted tunnels that can be found just underneath the sidewalks!
It's not so suprising to learn that Lewiston is one of the most haunted cities in Idaho when you consider that the town was born out of the Wild West. Back in the beginning, lawlessness was rampant and the town was filled with secret brothels and hidden gambling caverns. Oh, and there was even a secret network of underground tunnels!
It's rumored that many of these spots are haunted and you can see them for yourself when you go on the ghost tour provided by Idaho History Tours. The tour is led by a history buff named Garry Bush and along the way he'll show you a side of Lewiston you never even knew existed.
One of the most notable spots along the tour is the famous Lewis Clark Hotel. It was first opened to the public in 1922 and rumor has it that some guests never actually left. The once bustling hotel is now a beautiful antique, but there's something eerie about this place that you can't put your finger on.
At the beginning of the tour, Bush will provide a detailed history of Lewiston's rough-and-tumble early days. You'll then be led around the historic section of town, entering century-old buildings and exploring places you never even knew about before.
The stop at Morgan's Alley is one of the most memorable. Today it is an event venue but back in the day it was home to a lively saloon and gentleman's club. It's believed to be haunted by the Lady in Blue who appears as both mysterious orbs of blue light and a full body apparition.
At first, it was believed that the Lady in Blue was a "lady of the night" who worked at the brothel. At one point, Bush had a medium investigate and it was discovered that she was actually an extremely religious woman who tried to get the gentleman's club shut down permanently.
Even if you don't believe in ghosts, there's something thrilling about exploring some of the oldest structures in Idaho. Especially the secret network of underground tunnels underneath the city.
It may sound ridiculous, but it's true. It's unclear exactly why these century-old tunnels were constructed in the first place. One theory is that they were used by "invisible people" (notably the Chinese and Black population) to get from one building to another since they were not allowed through the front doors. Many of the tunnels have been filled in, but a few can still be entered to this day.
Whether or not you consider yourself a history buff or a paranormal enthusiast, you're bound to become enthralled with this ghost tour. This historic town has a lot of stories hiding within it and you'll want to hear them all. For more information about Idaho History Tours, you can visit their website here.
Did you know there was a secret network of haunted tunnels hiding beneath Lewiston? Check out our list of the 8 Best Places To Spot A Ghost In Idaho for even more haunted spots that are sure to give you the spooks.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
