Boston is a city that is rich with history, so it is no surprise that it comes with a haunted past, filled with tragedy and loss. The city was officially named a colony in 1630, but events even before that, like the Boston Massacre and the witch trials, have left a lasting history of violence to the city’s name. Many people in the city have reported seeing spirits haunting different areas of Boston.
Downtown Boston and the areas surrounding it bring in a great number of tourists, especially around the Halloween season. Companies such as Boston Ghosts and Ghosts and Gravestones offer both walking and trolley tours after sunset to some of the most interesting and haunted spots in the area.
Below, I have attached four of the most haunted places to visit in Boston to celebrate the spooky season!:
- Liberty Hotel
Before it was the luxurious hotel it is today, the Liberty Hotel, located on Charles Street, has an interesting history. The former building that stood in its place was the Charles Street Jail. Built in 1851, the jail was known for its well-maintained accommodations. with a lot of natural light and prisoner facilities that made it hard to believe it was a jail. However, the facility began to fall to disarray over the years, as there was a rise in riots and prisoner escapes.
In 1973, it was found in violation of constitutional rights due to the immense overcrowding of prisoners, but did not officially close until 1990. The prison sat empty for around a decade, before Massachusetts General Hospital purchased the building to use for storage. In 2007, it reopened as the 300-room luxury hotel we know today.
Many ghost sightings and experiences have been reported by both staff and guests of the hotel. The most common report has been glimpses of a figure peering through the upstairs windows.
The kitchen is also an active point of spiritual activity for the hotel. Employees have reported seeing pots and pans clanging together and phantom figures of guards and prisoners appearing in the kitchen. Throughout the hotel, many have reported hearing heavy boots stomping and distant cries. This building holds a past full of fear and torment within its very walls.
- Granary Burying Ground
Located on Tremont Street in Downtown Boston, the Granary Burying Ground houses the remains of America’s most famous historical figures. Many come from all over to view these famous tombstones, but they are also known to visit to get a glimpse of the hauntings that happen at night. Some of the famous figures buried at Granary Burying Ground include Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, John Hancocl, and victims of the Boston Massacre.
According to paranormal experts, Granary Burying Ground is considered one of the most haunted places in Boston. People have reported sightings of floating orbs and shadowy faces when taking pictures at the graveyard. Also, many say that they have heard disembodied voices and feelings of being watched when on the grounds.
- Omni Parker House
Known as the longest continuously running hotel in the country, the 161 year-old hotel comes with a past of ghostly encounters. The Omni Parker House is one the the most popular luxurious hotels on the East Coast. Founded in 1855 by businessman Harvey Parker, it introduced the concept of larger-scale hotels, something that was completely unheard of before that, as many people did not go out and travel unless they absolutely had to.
Many ghost sightings have been reported by guests over the years, one of the most popular ones being Harvey Parker himself. The 10th floor of the hotel appears to be the place that Parker likes to stay, traveling down the hallways and greeting guests in their rooms. According to the Omni Hotel website, the tenth floor has also been reported to have “eerie and unexplained sounds, such as laughter and the movement of rocking chairs”, which currently does not exist within the hotel grounds.
The third floor, specifically room 303, has also become known for its spiritual occurrences. The third floor was most known for housing author Charles Dickens . Also, several people, including Charlotte Cushman , a famous 1870s actress, lost their lives on the third floor. The hotel staff received so many complaints of noises and strange smells in room 303, as a businessman died there many years ago, that they decided to close down the room for good to use as a storage place.
With a hotel with such a rich history, it is no surprise the amount of mysterious happenings that occur within its very walls.
- Boston Commons
The Boston Commons are considered one of the top tourist spots in the city. It is the oldest park in the United States, being founded in 1634. It currently covers 50 acres of land across Downtown Boston, and once used to house the Old Granary Burying Grounds.
Before it became a park, the Commons used to be used for cows to graze, but also a place where many public executions took place. The Puritans would hang many who violated the law there, making martyrs out of them. One of the most famous figures executed at the Commons was Quaker Mary Dyer, who was hanged for her religious beliefs. There is a statue to honor her outside of the statehouse, at the corner of Beacon and Bowdoin Street.
Due to the fact that the Boston Commons became a site for many public executions for many years, it is no surprise that visitors have had some spiritual encounters when visiting. According to visitor statements from Boston Ghosts website, “strange noises have been heard from the park, as well as sightings of the spirits of two women dressed in 19th century clothing sitting on a park bench”.
Many souls remain trapped within the grounds of the park, so if you go searching in hopes of getting a glimpse of these spirits, you might just get your wish.