10 Most haunted places in America
Do you consider that there is an afterlife? If so, then there must be a chance that all the ghost stories we have heard throughout our years of development are actually true.
They might be true, at least in part.
Most of us have at least heard one or two ghost stories, and these terrifying tales, which some claim are true, are certainly worth thinking about.
And so, we have come up with 10 of the most haunted places in America which are absolutely not meant for the weak-hearted!
List of the 10 most haunted places in America:
- Gettysburg, Pennsylvania: A haunting history lesson
- Savannah, Georgia: Spooky southern charm
- New Orleans, Louisiana: The city of the dead
- Oregon City, Oregon: Traveling homes and disrupted spirits
- Boston: Revolutionary ghosts
- Austin, Texas: A hotel for ghosts
- Charleston, South Carolina: Haunting messages
- Chicago: Notorious paranormal activity
- Charlotte, North Carolina: Otherworldy thespian
- Washington, D.C.: Political poltergeist
1. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania: A haunting history lesson
The Pennsylvania town of Gettysburg is known for its paranormal activities.
According to history, 72,000 Confederate soldiers serving under General Robert E. Lee engaged 94,000 Union soldiers under General George Meade in combat.
The Civil War’s deadliest conflict was fought there. It’s understandable that Gettysburg is rife with hauntings and tales of ghostly encounters given that more than 51,000 Americans were either killed, wounded, or reported missing in action.
Every historical setting is bound to have a few ghost stories and Gettysburg is no exception.
The rich history of Gettysburg has created an abundance of supernatural stories and spooky lore that intrigues and bewilders to this day. The Battle of Gettysburg fought between July 1st and July 3rd, 1863 is known to be a turning point in the American Civil War.
The three days of brutal battle caused the largest number of casualties and generals killed in action during the Civil War.
Since the battle, both visitors and residents of Gettysburg have claimed to see the spirits that still linger.
Some of the most noted haunted spots in Gettysburg are popular tourist sites.
While the list seems endless considering all of the experiences our guests and locals have had, we’re providing this top list of haunted Gettysburg locations and must-see haunted sites in historic Gettysburg.
2. Savannah, Georgia: Spooky southern charm
One city that has a reputation for being particularly creepy merits our attention more than most as Halloween draws nearer. The oldest and possibly most lovely city in Georgia is Savannah, which is renowned for its stunning antebellum architecture, breathtaking coastal views, and an abundance of local ghosts.
Savannah, dubbed “America’s Most Haunted City” by some, is a great place to travel on a Halloween vacation, especially for those of us who enjoy learning about the past or a good scare. There is, of course, much more to Savannah than just its spooky past; with its thrilling activities, stunning parks, art museums, unique shopping, waterfront views, and delectable cuisine, there has never been a better time to plan your trip to this all-American Southern city.
A city more suited to ghost stories than Savannah, Georgia’s impeccably preserved history, is difficult to imagine. It’s one of the South’s most eerie locations for Jacksonville, North Carolina-based vacation agent Kelly Hudler
. The home at 432 Abercorn Street on Calhoun Square, according to Hudler, is one of the most eerie places she’s ever been, even though Savannah is full of haunted hotels, taverns, and town squares. She claims, “The house gives you a bad feeling.
Additionally, long-time neighbours claim that the house, which was built in 1868 for Civil War general Benjamin J. Wilson, radiates a bad energy. The house has been vacant for a while, which heightens the mystery. Other Savannah attractions.
3.New Orleans, Louisiana: The city of the dead
In New Orleans, the City of the Dead is nothing more than a cemetery. But unlike in any other city, these cemeteries are renowned for their design, organisation, and ghost stories. In their own special way, City of the Dead are magnificent.
They may even be described as having haunting beauty. The graves appear to have been constructed that way on purpose despite being chipped and collapsing. It is one of the 10 most haunted places in America.
The pathways through the cemetery resemble streets. These pathways will lead you on an adventure that sends chills down your spine since they are made of cobblestones and shells that have been worn down by time and vandalism.
But why is it called City of the Dead? The renowned American novelist Mark Twain, who was attracted by the cemeteries in New Orleans, gave them a nickname.
4.Oregon City, Oregon: Traveling homes and disrupted spirits
The history of Oregon City is extensive. For hundreds of settlers who walked the Oregon Trail, it was their final stop.
It was the first settlement west of the Rockies to be incorporated.
It was the hub of Oregon’s industrial growth and served as the territory’s capital from 1820 to 1852.
With so much history concentrated in one spot, it’s not surprising that some of the most historic sites, or should we say haunts, are still inhabited by the ghosts of many of the founding members of Oregon City. It is considered to be one of the 10 most haunted places in America.
Every autumn, Northwest Ghost Tours takes to the streets of Oregon City to lead tourists to some of the city’s creepiest locations. Rocky Smith has spent more than 20 years researching Oregon City’s paranormal heritage after being haunted at the Ermatinger House in 1995. Since then, he has gained considerable expertise in apparition activity and created the well-known tours that highlight the top locations for paranormal encounters.
As one might expect, October is the biggest month for tours, with excursions planned almost every day or every evening. Tours are also offered throughout the summer.
For anyone who missed the chance to experience a haunting in October or who may be searching for the ghosts of former Oregon City Christmases, a few tours are also offered in November and December.
5. Boston: Revolutionary ghosts
Boston Common is said to be haunted by Colonial Era ghosts as well as Revolutionary War era ghosts.
Sam Baltrusis, a ghost hunter, claims that British Revolutionary War troops may be reincarnated in Boston’s underground tunnels.
During the early 20th century construction of the Boylston T station, the bones of many British soldiers were found.
Boston is a city rich in history. Most often, it is associated with the times of Revolution. After all, Boston played a huge part in the Revolutionary War.
Many people coming to Boston want to learn more about our country’s founding – and they always want to take a Ghost Tour.
This is why we created the Ghosts of Boston Tour. It is one of the 10 most haunted places in America.
The Ghosts of Boston Tour is an all-ages ghost tour. This makes it perfect for families with children.
Founded in 1630, Boston was one of the first American colonies and later, one of the first great American cities.
Because it is so old and has such a history, there are haunted places to be found pretty much everywhere.
6. Austin, Texas: A hotel for ghosts
Hotels are among the most spooky places in the nation for a reason, which is unknown.
Maybe it’s because there are so many people coming and going, or maybe it’s because of how many stories each person in a moving vehicle can share. The Driskill hotel in Austin, Texas, may be the spookiest place there.
The Driskill Hotel maintains its rank as Texas’ most haunted hotel because guests still travel to see if there is truth to the many legends living inside. It is one of the 10 most haunted places in America.
The hotel is located on the corner of Sixth and Brazos streets. Though Great American Life Insurance began restoring the hotel back in 1995, the roots of the hotel date back as far as the 1880s.
According to the Driskill’s timeline, in January 1887, “Less than two weeks after the grand opening, The Driskill [hosted] its first inaugural ball for newly elected Texas Gov. Sul Ross.”
This ball would set the tone for the elite people and parties that would soon pass through the hotel’s doors.
According to another KVUE report, some guests believe the hotel is haunted by Col. Driskill’s spirit and the ghost of other people who have died in the hotel since its opening.
“He was known as an avid cigar smoker, and at times guest report the smell of cigar smoke despite the fact the hotel has been smoke-free for several years,” the article says.
Others say the spirit of a little girl also lives within the walls of The Driskill Hotel. Four-year-old Samantha Houston, the daughter of a Texas senator, was chasing her ball before she fell to her death on the hotel’s grand staircase back in 1887.
7. Charleston, South Carolina: Haunting messages
For obvious reasons, old prisons and jails tend to be paranormal magnets. It’s common belief that individuals who suffered there, were imprisoned there, or even faced the hangman’s noose still haunt the area. It is one of the 10 most haunted places in America.
Because of this, Charleston’s Old City Jail is the city’s most eerie location. The tale: Convicted pirates, thieves, slaves, and Civil War convicts were held at the Old City Jail, which was constructed in 1803. Lavinia and John Fisher, two suspected serial killers, were purportedly also housed in the facility and later put to death in 1860.
(However, a former law enforcement official who is now a journalist claims that they might be innocent, according to Post and Courier.) If anyone has a message for Hell, give it to me—I’ll deliver it, according to legend, Lavinia said before she was hanged.
Houses are typically the first place that springs to mind when thinking of haunted places, followed by cemeteries. Prisons should be another category of setting that comes to mind. Few places in history have witnessed more suffering and death than jails, after all.
American folklore about prison life is ingrained in the country’s culture.
Stories that are emblematically portrayed in motion pictures like Cool Hand Luke and Escape From Alcatraz and immortalised in songs like “Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash and “Hurricane” by Bob Dylan.
For those who made it out of prison, the success is a hollow one. Because they will always bear the stigma of being a criminal and the scars left by the horrific life they led while incarcerated. But,
8. Chicago: Notorious paranormal activity
Due to infamous figures like Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, and the first known American serial killer, H.H. Holmes, Chicago has a long history of violence. The imposing Congress Plaza hotel is located in the centre of it all. Within these confines, there have been so many claimed ghostly encounters that just reading about them makes your skin crawl. It is one of the 10 most haunted places in America.
Chicago’s Lincoln Park, a lovely, tranquil area, is a local favourite for family picnics or cookouts. But what if we told you that among the park’s expansive lawns and recreational areas could be up to 10,000 unidentified graves?
This is a lovely day in a local park in Chicago.
How could a place so lovely be so haunted?
According to one paranormal researcher, it is the most active location they have ever studied. Here, there have been recordings of visual and aural activity as well as manifestations of “heavy” atmospheres and bodily consequences including nausea and lightheadedness.
It is believed that the park’s former role as the city’s principal cemetery is what is behind the paranormal activity there.
9. Charlotte, North Carolina: Otherworldy thespian
The past is occasionally given a makeover. That is exactly is taking place with the Carolina Theatre in Charlotte, North Carolina, which was built in 1927 but is currently undergoing renovations for the new millennium.
Will the renovation succeed in erasing the building’s eerie heritage, though?
Although the spirit of the Carolina Theatre isn’t always evil, let’s just say he occasionally gets up to mischief. A tour guide who was questioned by The Charlotte Observer claimed that after carefully organising the stage items, the theater’s caretaker frequently discovered them in disarray. Additionally, he would discover that recently installed, brand-new lights were mysteriously broken.
10. Washington, D.C.: Political poltergeists
The past of our capital city is rife with mystery, from murders and scandals to actual battles. The Octagon House, one of the city’s most haunted locations according to Thrillist, is a structure you might not be familiar with. It is one of the 10 most haunted places in America.
The tale: The Octagon House was almost as significant as the White House for a while. President Madison and his family resided in the Octagon, which belonged to a wealthy Virginian man by the name of Colonel John Tayloe, after the war of 1812 left The White House in ruins. According to legend, two of the colonel’s daughters perished after attempting to elope with men their father had forbade them from marrying, one after the other. Strangely, a fall from the tower claimed their lives.