A property in Oregon City, Oregon, is reportedly haunted by the apparition of a red-haired boy who appears on the grounds. Oregon City, founded in 1844, was the first incorporated city west of the Rocky Mountains and served as the terminus of the Oregon Trail, giving it a deep and sometimes tragic history. The red-haired boy has been seen by multiple witnesses over the years, described as a child of approximately 10-12 years old with distinctive red hair, wearing clothing that appears to date from the 19th century. He is most often seen in the yard or near the edges of the property, and he has been described as looking directly at observers with a solemn, unsmiling expression before vanishing.
Some witnesses have described hearing a child's voice calling out, though the words are unintelligible. The boy's identity is unknown — Oregon City's history as an Oregon Trail terminus means that thousands of settlers, including many children, passed through the area, and childhood mortality was high on the frontier. The apparition is one of several ghost stories associated with Oregon City, which has a notably high concentration of haunted properties relative to its small size.