Historic Haunts

For as long as humans have told stories, we’ve been fascinated by the unknown. The mysteries of life, death, and what—if anything—lies beyond have shaped cultures, traditions, and legends for centuries. Even today, these questions persist, fueling our curiosity and inspiring countless tales of hauntings and unexplained encounters.

While beliefs about the afterlife differ, ghost stories remain a shared fascination across time and place. Whether whispered around a campfire or passed down through generations, these eerie tales blur the line between history and folklore. Some see them as cautionary legends, others as proof of lingering spirits—but one thing is certain: they continue to captivate us.

Of course, undeniable evidence of the paranormal remains elusive. However, that hasn’t stopped people from searching. Where there’s a good ghost story, there are people who want to hear it, feel it, or witness it for themselves. Or, maybe they just want to have some fun with the thrill of it. Regardless, there are countless homes, cemeteries, and landmarks shrouded in history, just begging to be explored.

For those willing to brave the unknown, countless haunted locations await your group. Some are steeped in tragedy, others in mystery, but all share stories that refuse to fade. So, gather your amateur ghost hunters, avid history buffs, and intrepid explorers for a journey that just might take them beyond the veil—if they look hard enough.

STORIED SPIRITS

Beneath the streets and buildings of Portland, Oregon, a whole world resides in the dark. Since the 1890s, a labyrinth of underground tunnels has connected Portland businesses via basements and makeshift rooms. While the general understanding is that the utility tunnels were intended for the transportation of goods from ships on the Willamette River to downtown businesses, local legends say the tunnels came to serve a much more nefarious purpose.

Popularly referred to today as the Shanghai Tunnels (now acknowledged to be an offensive moniker), this network of pathways allegedly enabled years of smuggling, prostitution, and drug and human trafficking to unfold beneath the city. The tunnels also housed speakeasies during Prohibition, according to lore.

Long since disused, most of the tunnels were blocked off for good during World War II. However, one local business offers limited access to the tunnels—and the stories they keep—for groups to explore.

Old Town Pizza & Brewing sits in the former lobby of the 1880s-era Merchant Hotel. With direct access to Portland’s infamous catacombs, Old Town is the only business in the city that offers a “Haunted Underground Shanghai Tunnels Tour.” And who should tourgoers keep an eye out for on their tour? That would be the famous spirit of Nina, a prostitute who was said to have been murdered in the Merchant Hotel.

“We get different kinds of tour guests,” says Adam Milne, owner of Old Town Pizza & Brewing. “One tour guest is mostly interested in historic buildings. And the Merchant Hotel is one of the oldest buildings in Portland. So, you get your history buffs, and then you get a lot of people who are fascinated by the supernatural and want to see what others potentially have seen.”

Old Town offers around 30 tours per week and can accommodate groups of about 16 at a time. During the 90-minute tour, visitors will see a former opium den, brothel, gambling den, some cells, and a repurposed speakeasy. Guests are encouraged to take lots of pictures to capture the supernatural. Past tourgoers and employees have reported witnessing orbs, moving objects, and apparitions of a woman (Nina, perhaps?) in the basement.

“[The tours] are very popular,” says Milne. “They’ve become some of the top tours in the city. And we have a brewery. It’s located in another part of town, but at the end of the tour, there is a speakeasy underground, and we do a beer tasting with our craft beer at the very end. People end up on the ground floor in our restaurant and typically stay for pizza and beer.”

Milne adds that there’s nothing else quite like it in Portland. “It’s something that can’t be created,” he says. “It just formed over history and time. It is a unique experience that people have a really good time with, and it ends with pizza and beer.”

On the opposite side of the country, spirits walk more freely aboveground. Pennsylvania’s Gettysburg National Military Park, one of the most famous Civil War battlefields, is said to be home to a number of wandering spirits. Reports include sightings of uniformed soldiers and phantom battle cries. One of the most famous ghostly manifestations reported at the battleground is that of the “Phantom Regiment,” the supposed remnants of a Confederate unit that still haunts the grounds, beating their ghostly drums as they march. Another famous specter is the so-called “Lady in White,” known to roam the battlefield and historic town as she mourns the loss of her beloved. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

To come face to face with these historic haunts, consider a “Ghosts of Gettysburg” tour with Gettysburg Battlefield Bus Tours. Or, get a little more hands-on with Gettysburg Ghost Tours, which offers both guided night tours and ghost hunts.

But the famous haunts don’t end there—in fact, they’re just getting started. Planners can book a group tour with New Orleans Ghosts in Louisiana to learn all about the Old Absinthe House, a bar where the ghosts of pirate Jean Lafitte, President Andrew Jackson, and Voodoo queen Marie Laveau are all rumored to still make appearances.

In Savannah, Georgia, the famous Bonaventure Cemetery—known for its one-of-a-kind statuary and picturesque Spanish moss-draped oaks—is said to be home to several spirits. Little Gracie Watson, who died in 1889, is perhaps the most notable. Her grave, marked by a life-sized statue of her likeness, is where many visitors leave gifts and report seeing tears of blood fall from the statue if a gift is removed. Some even report seeing the little girl roaming the grounds. Other common sightings are those of Johnny Mercer, a ghostly pack of barking dogs, colored orbs flitting around the graves, and more. Ghost City Tours offers a 90-minute “Bonaventure Cemetery Tour” for those interested in learning about the unique history of the location.

More haunted (and historic) sites your group might want to consider exploring are the iconic Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, famously known as the inspiration of Stephen King’s “The Shining”; Faulkner House Books in New Orleans; the Pelican Inn on Pawleys Island, South Carolina; the Shoshone Ice Caves in Lincoln County, Idaho; and Keg Mansion, now an acclaimed steakhouse, in Toronto, Canada.

DARK DWELLINGS

For a more intimate experience with a ghost of the past, consider bringing your group to a historic home, where the hallways are said to echo with the footsteps of past residents.

Although perhaps a bit more on the side of the macabre, The Historic Lizzie Borden House might be an interesting place to start. Notorious for supposedly murdering her father and stepmother in 1892, Borden’s story captivated the nation—despite her having never been found guilty. The house where the crime was committed remains in Fall River, Massachusetts, and bears her name today. Now an inn and museum, guests can choose to stay the night, tour the property, or even partake in a murder mystery dinner. While you’re there, though, keep an eye out for the apparitions of Andrew and Abby Borden as they wander for eternity.

In Cleveland, Ohio, sits a Victorian stone house rife with mystery. Built in 1883 and originally occupied by the Tiedeman family, Franklin Castle soon became a place of tragedy when all the children died in quick succession, followed shortly by their mother, Louise. Today, paranormal experts claim the castle is permeated with a sinister spirit said to alter the state of a person’s mind, leading to strange and seemingly random behaviors. In 1975, human remains were discovered behind a wall on the second floor. Property tours, mystery games, and overnight events are available for those brave enough to enter.

Victoria, Canada, is home to another castle-like home with an interesting history. Craigdarroch Castle, a National Historic Site, was constructed by coal baron Robert Dunsmuir and today offers visitors a glimpse into 1890s life. Open to tours Wednesdays through Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., the 39-room property is an architectural marvel history buffs will love. It’s said that members of the Dunsmuir family can still be spotted roaming the rooms of the home, with visitors reporting ghostly whispers, phantom piano melodies, and apparitions. Notably, the property was used in 2016 as a filming location for horror movie, “The Boy.”

Of course, haunted tourism is not for everyone. Whether the mere idea of it is too frightening or a tourgoer is simply not a believer, there is no right or wrong interpretation of that chill you feel down your spine, that movement you see from the corner of your eye, or that sound you hear in the other room. Maybe there’s a tangible explanation—or maybe there isn’t. Regardless of your perspective on the matter, these sites each tell their own unique stories of both life and death. And we keep those stories alive with every visit.

By Madeline Fuerstenberg

Main Image: Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado; Credit: Adobe/Jordon K Dopp