15 Most Haunted Places in the US

From abandoned prisons to grand hotels with turbulent pasts, the United States is filled with historic sites where tragedy and legend overlap. These places draw visitors for their architecture, their stories, and the chance to stand where history left a heavy footprint. Whether you are into night tours, museum exhibits, or careful restoration work, each stop below offers concrete details that explain why it continues to fascinate people today.

Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Opened in 1829, this massive Gothic prison pioneered the separate incarceration system that influenced facilities worldwide. Notable inmates included Al Capone and bank robber Willie Sutton. Today it operates as a museum with guided and self guided tours that cover its architecture, reforms, and daily life behind the walls.

Waverly Hills Sanatorium, Louisville, Kentucky

Built to treat tuberculosis patients in the early twentieth century, the complex once held hundreds during regional outbreaks. The building features long wards and a well known body chute designed for discreet transport. Visitors can book historical tours that explain treatments, staff procedures, and efforts to preserve the structure.

Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, Weston, West Virginia

Construction began in the mid 1800s, creating one of the largest hand cut stone masonry buildings in the country. The hospital’s records document changing psychiatric practices and overcrowding over the decades. The site offers daytime history tours focused on architecture, patient life, and restoration projects.

St. Augustine Lighthouse, St. Augustine, Florida

This working lighthouse dates to the nineteenth century and anchors a maritime museum complex. Exhibits detail shipwreck archaeology, coastal navigation, and keeper routines. Climb the 219 steps for views of the coastline and explore outbuildings that show how families lived on the grounds.

The Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado

Opened in 1909 by inventor F. O. Stanley, the hotel hosted early mountain travelers and helped promote Rocky Mountain tourism. The property maintains period interiors and offers daily history tours that discuss famous guests and preservation. Its setting near the national park adds a scenic backdrop to the main building and carriage house.

The Queen Mary, Long Beach, California

Launched in the 1930s, this ocean liner served as a luxury passenger ship and later a World War II troop transport. Retired to Long Beach, it now operates as a hotel and event venue with guided tours of engine rooms and historic decks. Exhibits cover naval engineering, wartime service, and celebrity crossings.

Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, California

This Victorian mansion grew through near continuous construction under heiress Sarah Winchester, producing stairways to ceilings and rooms without clear purpose. The house showcases elaborate woodwork and unusual floor plans. Tours explain period building methods, earthquake retrofits, and the property’s long conservation timeline.

Lizzie Borden House, Fall River, Massachusetts

The 1892 double homicide made this modest home a landmark in American true crime history. Furnishings and layout reflect the period and allow visitors to understand the investigation’s key locations. The site functions as a museum and bed and breakfast with tours that trace court records and contemporary reporting.

The Myrtles Plantation, St. Francisville, Louisiana

This antebellum home features distinctive creole architecture and live oak grounds. House tours present ownership changes, enslaved labor history, and nineteenth century life on the property. Guests can stay overnight in rooms and cottages while exploring the main house and gardens.

Villisca Axe Murder House, Villisca, Iowa

The small frame house preserves the scene of an unsolved 1912 family murder that drew national attention. Period appropriate furnishings and photos help visitors follow the timeline investigators built. Day tours outline the case file, while overnights are available for those studying the site in depth.

LaLaurie Mansion, New Orleans, Louisiana

This French Quarter residence became infamous after an 1834 fire revealed the abuse of enslaved people by the owners. The current structure reflects later renovations and private ownership. Walking tours in the neighborhood discuss the documented history, legal fallout, and subsequent rebuilding of the property.

Alcatraz Island, San Francisco, California

Once a federal penitentiary that housed high profile inmates, the island also contains Civil War era fortifications and a lighthouse. The audio tour covers cellblock routines, escape attempts, and the prison’s closure in the 1960s. Exhibits include the Native American occupation of 1969 to 1971 and ongoing habitat restoration.

Gettysburg Battlefield, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Site of a pivotal Civil War battle, the landscape includes preserved farms, monuments, and the Soldiers’ National Cemetery. The National Park Service maintains roads and trails that trace troop movements. Visitors can explore the museum and cyclorama to understand the three day battle’s sequence and aftermath.

Crescent Hotel, Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Completed in 1886, this hilltop resort later served as a hospital under Norman Baker, who promoted unproven cancer treatments. The building’s history is documented through archival photos and interpretive displays. Today it functions as a hotel with tours that highlight construction, medical claims, and careful rehabilitation.

Bird Cage Theatre, Tombstone, Arizona

Operating during the silver boom, this combination theatre, saloon, and gambling hall was active around the time of the O.K. Corral gunfight. Many original fixtures and bullet marked walls remain in place. Guided visits cover entertainment acts, mining town culture, and preservation of the original stage and boxes.

Share your favorite haunted site or your own visit tips in the comments so everyone can plan their next history filled stop.