New York is filled with a rich history and undeniable beauty. There are countless places to explore, from historic landmarks to art galleries, shopping streets, and architectural wonders. But with its centuries of history, many of the Big Apple’s most amazing places are also purported to be haunted.
From eerie colonial inns filled with ghostly apparitions to empty theaters where eerie tales of frightened actors still linger, a vibrant supernatural culture permeates the legendary city of New York. Here are a few of the most haunted places in New York that you can visit.
The Hofstra Mansion
The Hofstra Mansion is one of the most haunted locations in New York City. Built in 1902, the three-story brick building was the home of wealthy businessman William Hofstra, who was said to have had a taste for the luxurious lifestyle.
Throughout its storied history, the mansion has been visited by the likes of Gertrude Vanderbilt and Theodore Roosevelt. But its most famous visitor is believed to be the ghost of William Hofstra himself, who some claim wanders the halls of the old home in search of meeting his beloved wife and son who died tragically in a fire back in 1905.
The Merchant’s House Museum
Situated in Manhattan, the Merchant’s House Museum offers up a historical and eerie experience, as you come face-to-face with figures from the past. Originally built in the mid-19th century, the house stands as one of the few preservations of New York’s pre-Civil War period.
Inside the museum, visitors have reported various paranormal activities, including the sighting of a ‘lady in black’ walking through the upstairs rooms and the figure of a little girl playing on the stairs. Additionally, some visitors have reported hearing strange whispering and disembodied voices coming from the attic, as well as feeling a mysterious chill.
The Watergate
It’s no surprise that the Watergate, one of Manhattan’s most famed buildings, has its fair share of ghosts wandering its grand halls. Built in the late 1800s, the silent witnesses of the building’s gothic revival architecture are said to be former servants who were killed in a gruesome accident when the original building was destroyed.
Witnesses have reported hearing mysterious laughter and eerie cries coming from the unused rooms of the building. Additionally, several apparitions have been seen gliding through the hallways, possibly of former partygoers who frequented the building when it was owned by Thomas Edison.
The Morris-Jumel Mansion
Perhaps no other mansion in New York City carries with it as much of a mysterious and sinister history as the Morris-Jumel Mansion. The grand house dates back to 1765 and was once the site of a parlor game that went terribly wrong.
The story goes that a group of wealthy people decided to play the Ouija board game but accidentally opened a portal to the paranormal world. Since then, the mansion has been haunted by mysterious spirits and orbs, while visitors have reported seeing a ghostly girl roaming the corridors.
The Steamer St. Louis
The Steamer St. Louis is yet another of New York’s paranormal hotspots. Since it sank off the coast of Long Island in the early 20th century, the wreck has become a chilling reminder of death and destruction.
Descendants of the ship’s victims have reported hearing strange noises and seeing strange shadows within the wreckage. There have even been reports of apparitions whispering inaudible words and crawling out of the ship’s cabin.
The Knickerbocker Hotel
The historic Knickerbocker Hotel is yet another of New York City’s most haunted places. Built in 1906, the hotel has been witness to numerous supernatural occurrences, ranging from a strange figure made of smoke being spotted near the hotel’s front door to objects moving by themselves and echoes of laughter and footsteps being heard in the hallways.
So if ghost hunting is on your itinerary, be sure to add the Knickerbocker Hotel to your list of must-see haunted sites in New York.
Lydia’s House of Haunts
Located in Long Island, the Lydia’s House of Haunts is an abandoned Victorian-era mansion that is said to be haunted by the spirit of its previous occupant, Lydia. A former medium, the house stands as a unique example of Gothic Revival architecture and is said to be haunted by the ghost of its founder who still roams its halls and speaks with visitors.
Upper Manhattan Psychiatric Center
For those looking for a truly chilling ghost experience, the Upper Manhattan Psychiatric Center may be the place for you. The creepy edifice is located on the city’s Upper West Side and is rumored to be haunted by the ghosts of former patients who cruelly died within its walls.
Visitors to the property have reported feeling cold spots and hearing mysterious voices. Additionally, screams and cries have been heard coming from empty wards, while some visitors have even reported seeing apparitions and shadows looming in hallways and rooms.
New York offers no shortage of haunted locations, as these are just a few of the most haunted places in the city. From eerie colonial inns to old mental institutions, the Big Apple is full of tales of ghostly apparitions. So if you’re feeling brave, why not go and explore some of the city’s most haunted places for yourself?