This image is the cover for the book Spirits Along the Columbia River, Haunted America

Spirits Along the Columbia River, Haunted America

The breathtaking scenery of the Pacific Northwest hides a myriad of dark secrets.


From sightings of the Columbia River Sea Serpent, nicknamed "Colossal Claude," to tales of Bigfoot encounters dating back to 1865, strange creatures lurk both on land and at sea. Shipwrecks, drownings, shanghaiing, and nautical superstitions abound. The restless settler spirits of those who lived and died on the Oregon Trail are said to linger alongside apparitions of adventurers and soldiers, while others, including the 1920's-era ghost of a woman in white and a man in top hat haunt places like the Columbia Gorge Hotel.


Join author Ira Wesley Kitmacher as he takes you on a journey through one of the most haunted regions in America.

Ira Wesley Kitmacher

Ira Wesley Kitmacher is an author, professor, attorney, public speaker and retired senior federal executive. Originally from Massachusetts, he now lives in Washington State. Ira is fascinated by the history of the Pacific Northwest. In addition to his books, he is regularly featured on the radio and in newspapers. He has designed and is teaching a course on haunted Pacific Northwest folklore. He has also developed and is leading haunted history tours of Washington's Long Beach Peninsula.

The History Press