The 20 Most Haunted Cities in America

From homes to hotels to ships to battlefields and even unlikely places, anywhere you find tragedy, one often finds paranormal activity. The US has a long history of all these. Here are the 20 most haunted cities in America.

20. San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio is famous for being the site of the Battle of the Alamo during the Texas Revolution in 1836. Scholars now say the Mexican army suffered 600 casualties, while 189 Texas defenders were killed. Historians still debate the numbers. Nonetheless, many Alamo employees and visitors have reported seeing the ghosts of soldiers and hearing phantom battle cries.

19. Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, Honolulu, Hawaii

Travelers and workers at this Honolulu airport say it’s haunted by the ghost of a woman dubbed the “Lady in waiting.” According to the legend, after being jilted by her fiancé, who left her after boarding an international flight, she took her own life shortly after. Now, she’s seen roaming the airport, hoping for his return.

18. USS Lexington, Corpus Christi, Texas

Several U.S. Navy ships have used the name USS Lexington. The aircraft carrier (CV-2) was sunk in 1942, and (CV-16) took its place and name. At least 59 sailors died during battles. Now a museum, many staff and visitors report seeing uniform-clad ghosts and hearing strange noises. Every October, the ship hosts a ghost tour and a haunted house event.

17. Shoshone Ice Caves, Idaho

Discovered in the 1800s, the longest lava tube in Idaho forms a cave spanning four and a half miles. Visitors to the caves have reported numerous paranormal activities. Strange phenomena include hearing voices and footsteps in the darkness. Legends say it’s the ghost of a Shoshone princess who was buried in the caves centuries ago. Guided tours are available.

16. Pine Barrens, New Jersey

In South New Jersey, the Pine Barrens Nature Reserve is said to be the home of the infamous Jersey Devil. This alleged demonic creature with bat wings and hooves has periodically surfaced over the past few hundred years to attack livestock and people. The location of a fatal 1928 plane crash is also said to be haunted by its pilot.

15. Chicago, Illinois

Chicago has seen numerous deaths and disasters brought by fire, serial killers, and gangsters. All this, it is said, has created an abundance of paranormal energy in the Windy City. Take a ghost tour to see spots like the infamous “Murder Castle,” the site of the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre, and other places where odd occurrences are said to occur.

14. Pawleys Island, South Carolina

Pawleys Island’s most famous ghost is the Gray Man. Before devastating storms occur, his apparition is seen on the beach, sometimes approaching people, warning them to flee. The Pelican Inn is said to be haunted by its former owner, a Confederate soldier. At All Saints Church, pay respects to Alice Flagg, whose ghost roams the town and marshes.

13. Savannah, Georgia

Savannah is one of the most haunted cities in America. The most spirited location is the Moon River Brewing Company, where people have spotted a “Lady in white,” and spirits have messed with the staff. The Marshall House is considered one of America’s most haunted hotels. The Graveface Museum is another less-popularized haunt. Spirits also haunt The Pirates’ House restaurant.

12. St. Augustine, Florida

In the 1870s, some girls drowned at the site of the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum and now haunt its grounds. Castle Warden, a former 1880s home, now houses the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum, and is another spot of paranormal activity. A Saint Augustine ghost tour will take you to several other haunted locations in the city.

11. Portland, Oregon

Among the most notoriously haunted locations in the city are the Shanghai Tunnels. During the 1800s, underground tunnels were created to transport (often illegal) goods across the city. According to legend, people hanging out in bars were kidnapped and taken through the tunnels to waiting ships and never seen again. Some say the victims’ ghosts haunt the above-ground bars.

10. The Queen Mary, Long Beach, California

Perhaps the most haunted hotel in America. It sailed from the 1930s until the 1960s. It’s now permanently docked, welcoming daytime and overnight visitors. The hotel offers ghost tours recounting the many happenings that span from the engine and boiler rooms to the staterooms. More ghosts have been spotted at its swimming pool than any other on the ship.

9. The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado

In Stephen King’s The Shining, this is the real-life hotel that inspired the fictional Overlook Hotel. The Stanley Hotel has its share of hauntings. Visitors have heard a voice yelling, “Get out,” late at night. There’s a ghostly former housekeeper who likes to unpack people’s luggage. There’s a ghost that haunts the concert hall. The hotel features a night tour.

8. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Gettysburg is the site of the Civil War’s bloodiest battle, with both sides losing a combined 7,000 soldiers. Many people have reported seeing the ghosts of soldiers on the battlefield. Even the local inns and a nearby farm are said to be haunted. Visitors can take a ghost tour and learn more about the area’s history.

7. The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Los Angeles

Numerous celebrities worldwide have stayed at the infamous Hotel Roosevelt on Hollywood Boulevard. Marilyn Monroe was a long-term resident, and guests reported seeing her ghost in the mirror. Other guests have seen Carole Lombard, Errol Flynn, and Montgomery Clift. Another ghost is Caroline, a small child who roams the corridors looking for her mother.

6. Antietam National Battlefield, Maryland

Some say souls linger on this Civil War battlefield, where over 3,500 people died. The most haunted spot is Sunken Road, also called Bloody Lane. Visitors have reported eerie experiences, such as seeing uniformed men appear and then vanish into thin air or smelling gunpowder. Burnside’s Bridge is another spot with strange occurrences. Many of the bodies were buried there.

5. San Francisco, California

San Francisco is populated by many prominent landmarks that have dark histories. Haunted spots include the U.S. China Camp State Park, the USS Hornet, and the Mare Island Naval Shipyard. The most haunted location resides off the mainland on Alcatraz Island, home to the infamous island prison. Some say the ghost of Al Capone is frequently heard playing his banjo.

4. Washington, D.C.

The United States’ capital city has a long, haunted history, and the White House itself is among the most haunted houses in America. There have been numerous sightings of President Lincoln’s ghost. Mary Lincoln heard Andrew Jackson’s ghost. D.C. ghost tours take visitors through several haunted locations, including the National Building Museum, the Congressional Cemetery, and official government buildings.

3. The Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina

The Biltmore Estate was built by the Vanderbilt family and completed in 1895. The home spans nearly 179,000 square feet. Many say some Vanderbilt family ancestors still haunt the rooms and halls of the sprawling mansion. Edith Vanderbilt’s ghost can be heard calling out for her husband, George, whose ghost is often spotted in his study.

2. Salem, Massachusetts

Ghost tours abound in Salem. The town is best known for its infamous witch trials, which lasted from 1692-1693, with more than 200 people accused, 30 found guilty, and 19 executed by hanging, 14 of them women. Another man died under torture, and five people died in disease-ridden jails. The most popular haunt is the Witch House.

1. New Orleans, Louisiana

There are dozens of reportedly haunted places around New Orleans. The city has a long history of occult and magic practices, including a religious magic tradition known as Louisiana Voodoo and its most famous practitioner, Marie Laveau. Haunted buildings abound, including churches, hospitals, homes, and the No. 1 paranormal spot — the St. Louis Cemetery. There are also vampire stories.