U.S. Ghost Adventures' Best Haunted Cities to Visit Across the Country

The Wren Building, found on the campus of the College of William & Mary in Virginia, has a long and haunted history of tragedy (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

*Note: This is a guest post submitted to All Things Wanderful by U.S. Ghost Adventures.

Every city in the U.S., from your small towns to major metropolises, has haunted lore and urban legends that locals have shared for decades. It could be a historic hotel, an abandoned mansion, or an old asylum where patients weren’t treated with hospitable care. Any location where tragic events or horrific deaths took place will have a dark energy within it. And those are the ideal spots for ghosts and spirits to linger.

While there are many haunted cities in America, some have endured misery and disaster more than others. And those cities are the best places to go if you want to experience a real ghost encounter. That is why we have put together this list of the best haunted cities to visit in the U.S. Read on to determine for yourself which location you should visit for a spooky good time.

The Top Haunted Cities in the U.S.

Gettysburg, PA

The city of Gettysburg is home to two of the most significant events in American history: the Battle of Gettysburg, which took place from July 1st to July 3rd in 1863, and President Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg Address that he gave four months later on November 19th. One is considered the bloodiest battle of the Civil War, and the other is perhaps the most powerful speech given during that period, especially considering how it redefined the principles of the American people.

As a place where so many brutal deaths occurred during the Civil War, Gettysburg is known to be haunted by many ghosts. Most of the spirits that are seen throughout the city are soldiers from the Battle of Gettysburg who never found a way off the battlefield. There are several places associated with the battle where you can have a ghost encounter, including the Gettysburg National Cemetery and the Battlements at Gettysburg National Military Park.

Haunts await in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (Photo: U.S. Ghost Adventures)

The Gettysburg National Cemetery

The Gettysburg National Cemetery is the final resting place for 3,512 Union soldiers. It was dedicated in 1863 as part of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. The graveyard was created for the many Union Army casualties sustained during the Battle of Gettysburg.

Visitors to the cemetery have reported seeing ghosts dressed in Civil War-era attire; hearing sounds of screams, gunfire, and explosions in the distance; and having a general sense of unease as they step onto the grounds. Some people have mentioned seeing orbs of light and shadowy figures, hearing the sound of footsteps behind them, and feeling cold spots throughout different areas of the graveyard.

One visitor mentioned it being very foggy when they visited the cemetery; the fog became so heavy that they could see just a few feet in front of them. They felt trapped and also sensed that they weren’t alone. They began seeing shadows of ghosts all around them, before feeling an unusual pressure in the atmosphere. They quickly turned and headed back to the main entrance. The closer they got to the entrance, the less dense the fog became, eventually lifting altogether.

The Battlements at Gettysburg National Military Park

The Battlements at Gettysburg National Military Park are off-limits after sundown, and for good reason. Several strange paranormal occurrences have been reported by people who visited the area.

This location encompasses the site of the Battle of Gettysburg, which included areas such as Little Round Top. The park preserves the battlefield, and it includes several monuments and dedications, like the Gettysburg Cyclorama painting, an artwork that tells the story of the battle that changed the outcome of the Civil War.

Those who visit the battlements have heard strange noises such as horses neighing and pulling carriages, their hooves clicking against the ground, getting louder as they moved closer. Their shadows show up for a few minutes before they suddenly disappear. Others have heard the sound of footsteps behind them and sensed the feeling that they were being watched.

Make sure to join a Gettysburg ghost tour for the full haunted Gettysburg experience!

Annapolis, MD

Annapolis is known for being a haunted location, with links to the early days of civilization in the United States. It is filled with spirits who died tragic deaths during the Revolutionary War era. Several of the spirits in the area are tied to historic buildings such as old hotels, where you can still book an overnight stay if you’re brave enough.

Beware of Room 405 at the historic Maryland Inn …or don’t (Photo: U.S. Ghost Adventures)

The Maryland Inn

The Maryland Inn was built in 1772 by Thomas Hyde and has a long history of providing exceptional lodging for weary travelers passing through town. Today, the original structure still faces State Circle in Annapolis. Over the years, the hotel has hosted several notable individuals as guests, including those who took part in the Congress of Confederation. While it has been a place of comfort and relaxation for multiple visitors over the years, some guests enjoyed their stay so much that they never left.

Many people have seen the apparitions of ghosts wearing military uniforms that are not from this century. There have been reports of phantom smells, such as cigarette smoke in the air, as well as unexplained noises. One person witnessed a rocking chair moving by itself on the front porch, accompanied by the distinct scent of cigar smoke in the air.

SEE ALSO: One Spooky Town to Visit in Each of the 6 New England States

The fourth floor of the hotel is well-known for being a popular spot for paranormal activity. Room 405, in particular, has seen its share of tragedy. Back in the 1800s, a young bride was in that very room, waiting for her fiancé to finally return from overseas, when she watched in horror as her husband-to-be was trampled in the street below by a horse and carriage. After racing to his side, The Bride, as her ghost is known, returned to the fourth floor hotel room, where she paced back and forth before ultimately throwing herself from the open window. It is said the pair now haunt the hotel for eternity.

The Historic Governor Calvert House

The Governor Calvert House is one of three historic homes that are owned by the Historic Inns of Annapolis. The home, which is named after the Calvert family, offers visitors a step back in time, allowing a glimpse into what life was like during the 18th century.

Although it may be a lavish treasure chest filled with history, including a beautiful glass floor in the lobby, there is something lurking in the shadows of the Governor Calvert House that has caught the attention of ghost hunters and supernatural experts in the area.

Guests have reported waking up in their rooms in pain and agony, as if there is an evil entity in the room with them. Some have seen apparitions of gentlemen dressed in 18th-century attire who wander through the hallways. But perhaps the most disturbing sight that has been reported by guests and staff members is the deranged Peeping Tom spirit who often stays in the rooms of the hotel to watch people undress.

Williamsburg, VA

Colonial Williamsburg is home to many historic locations where you can visit places that played a crucial role in shaping our nation. Williamsburg is considered one of the most haunted cities in all of Virginia and perhaps the most haunted on the East Coast. There are several haunted buildings in town where you are likely to encounter a spooky spirit or two, including the Wren Building and the Public Hospital.

The Wren Building

The Wren Building was constructed in 1695, and is the oldest college building in the United States. It is located on the campus of the College of William and Mary, and it is still in use as an active building for the college’s students and faculty.

The haunted streets of Colonial Williamsburg await (Photo: U.S. Ghost Adventures)

The building has a long history of tragedy and destruction. It was a makeshift hospital for wounded soldiers during the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. Three separate fires occurred there, and it is also built on top of a crypt. The crypt was placed there in 1729 as a final resting place for some of the most distinguished residents of Virginia. But the crypts were raided by Union soldiers during the Civil War, and the graves were disturbed, which is never a good thing.

Students have witnessed the ghosts of soldiers patrolling the halls late at night. Some have claimed to hear blood-curdling screams coming from deep within the crypt below, and others have reported mysterious footsteps following behind them, as well as furniture moving on its own.

The Public Hospital

The Public Hospital in Williamsburg was the first asylum in North America and was solely dedicated to treating mentally ill patients. The hospital was established in 1772 and included 24 patient isolation cells and high walls that surrounded the grounds. Over time, the building expanded to house more than 300 patients.

In the early days of mental health care, treatment was experimental and oftentimes very inhumane. The patients endured torture, isolation, and cruelty through the use of strong drugs and electroshock therapy.

SEE ALSO: Soak Up Some History & Freak Yourself Out at These 9 Western U.S. Ghost Towns

According to locals and tourists who have visited the old hospital, people have reported feeling sudden gusts of wind that cannot be explained. There are some employees who say they have opened rooms in the morning to see that the old patient beds have been slept on, even though there haven’t been any patients there for years. The good news is that the hauntings seem more like practical jokes, and many feel that the ghosts of the former patients do not mean any harm.

New Orleans, LA

The city known as the Big Easy has a lot of spooky locations that are just waiting for you to explore. Many of these places can be found in the French Quarter, where magic, mystery, and a bit of voodoo converge.

La Petit Theatre

Also known as the La Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre, this historic theater in the French Quarter has been a hub for artistic performances and other forms of creativity for decades upon decades. But like many of the historic buildings found in New Orleans’ French Quarter, the building harbors many unexplained supernatural occurrences that are too strange to ignore.

While visiting the La Petit Theatre, you will likely run into one or more of the resident ghosts there. You may bump into a lovely young actress from the 1930s who is known as Caroline. She accidentally fell over the railing on the balcony to her death in the courtyard below the theater. She was dressed in a white wedding gown for the play she was supposed to star in that same night. Her ghost has been seen wandering throughout the theater and standing on the balcony wearing the same white wedding gown.

The historic St. Louis Cathedral is home to one of New Orleans’ friendlier ghosts (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

St. Louis Cathedral

One of the most beautiful and impressive historic buildings in New Orleans is the St. Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter. Hundreds of thousands of people have visited this majestic sanctuary, including a few haunting spirits.

The current building, located on Jackson Square, is the fourth cathedral built on the land. Two of the buildings were destroyed by tragic events. The first was lost to a hurricane in 1722, while the other was burned to the ground on Good Friday in 1788. The third iteration of the cathedral was built in 1794 and was later expanded to create the fourth version, completed in the 1850s, that still stands today.

SEE ALSO: New Orleans: Four Days of Beignets & Foul Play(s) in the Big Easy, Pt. 1

It's been said that before the newest construction of the cathedral began, the land was used to bury some of the most elite members of this New Orleans church. That means the cathedral was built on top of grave sites, which could be one of the reasons why it is so haunted today.

There are several ghosts inside the St. Louis Cathedral, including the ghost of Pere Antoine, who was well known throughout the community for his kindness toward the people of New Orleans. It seems that his spirit continues to watch over his congregation today. His ghost has been seen in the alley near the cathedral, dressed in his signature robe. He is often seen during the holiday season but has also been noticed in other parts of the city at different times of year, as well.

The best way to see New Orleans’ haunted spots is to join a local New Orleans ghost tour!

###

U.S. Ghost Adventures hosts haunted tours in over 100 cities all across the country, from Portland, Maine, to Waikiki, Hawaii. To find a tour near you, head over to their website.