There’s no doubt that the Northeast United States has some of the most terrifying haunted houses in the country. From the Salem witch trials to the numerous spirit sightings reported in DC, the Northeast region is a goldmine for paranormal hunters and ghost seekers. Whether you want to visit a spooky destination this Halloween or take a haunted Northeast road trip, here are the most ghoulish cities to visit.
1. Baltimore – Mobtown
The Horse You Came In On Saloon, Baltimore – Copyright US Ghost Adventures
Baltimore, or Mobtown as it’s known to some, is a maritime port city with a turbulent past. From pirates to fugitives to mobsters, many a haunted soul has passed through this city.
Max’s Taphouse, in the popular nightlife area of Fells Point, is a popular joint. But it was once a brothel and even a slaughterhouse with a gory, grimy, and sleazy past. Numerous legends and myths about the place state that it is cursed by several ghosts.
Another popular wateringhole is The Horse You Came In On Saloon, which is the oldest continually operating saloon in the United States. Established in 1775, it’s rumored to be visited by the ghost of Edgar Allan Poe himself. It’s said to be the last place where Edgar was seen alive before he died from mysterious causes.
If you feel like you need some liquid courage before visiting these haunted spots, go on a Baltimore haunted pub crawl for some spirits and spirits.
2. Annapolis – Athens of America
The Maryland Inn, Annapolis – Copyright US Ghost Adventures
Less than an hour from Baltimore’s hustle and bustle is Annapolis, a charming, quaint port city. Underneath its picturesque exterior, though, is a dark past that continues to torment this city. From bloodthirsty pirates to suicidal brides, Annapolis has its fair share of ghosts and demons.
At the Maryland Inn, America’s oldest continually operating hotel, guests report seeing the ghost of a bride wander the halls at night. The bride was waiting for her seafaring husband to return from sea. As he was approaching the hotel, his horse and buggy got into an accident, killing him instantly. Seeing that, the bride threw herself from her balcony to join him in the afterlife.
I recommend going on an Annapolis ghost tour to truly explore Annapolis’s haunted secrets.
3. Salem – Witch City
The Salem Witch House – Copyright US Ghost Adventures
The place of the infamous witch trials, Salem, is haunted to its core. One of the first places you should visit if you want to learn more about Salem’s tortured past is the Salem Witch House, the former home of Judge Jonathon Corwin. Corwin sentenced numerous innocents to their deaths, declaring them guilty of witchcraft. His soul, filled with regret over what he did, now dwells in his former home, seeking repentance and wailing into the dead of night.
Ropes Mansion, which was featured in the movie Hocus Pocus, is another Salem haunted house worth visiting. It was built in 1720, and the first owner had not one but three wives die in the building. The mansion is named after its second owner, Nathaniel Ropes, who was a loyalist and had his house stoned during the Revolution. He died the next day. Although the mansion was restored in 2015 and now looks beautiful on the exterior, the reconstruction could not get rid of the ghosts that roamed it.
4. Boston – Beantown
Boston Common – Copyright US Ghost Adventures
Boston got its nickname, Beantown, due to the large presence of Puritans in the city. Since Puritans avoided all kinds of work on Sundays, they would bake large pots of beans and keep them in crock pots over Sunday to avoid cooking on the day of rest.
The city is famous for its integral role in the American Revolution. From the Boston Massacre to the Boston Tea Party, numerous events happened in Boston that shaped this country’s future.
One of the spookiest places in the city is The Liberty Hotel in the Beacon Hill area. While it may look hospitable at first glance, its facade doesn’t tell the story of when it used to be the Charles Street Jail, housing hardened criminals who cruel guards closely watched.
If you’re daring enough, visit the King’s Chapel Burying Grounds on a misty, cloudy night. Thousands have been laid to rest here from the early days of Boston’s founding. While the names on the gravestones may be faded and difficult to read, the apparitions that appear here after midnight are larger than life.
5. Washington, DC — The City of Magnificent Distances
The National Theatre, DC – Copyright US Ghost Adventures
The Capital is haunted by the ghosts of assassins and those whom they assassinated, anyone from presidents to spies. Now numerous spirits loiter in the streets.
For over 100 years, there have been reports of a black cat appearing during election years, roaming the halls of the White House and the hills of the Capitol. This “demon cat” is also reportedly seen before national disasters, such as hurricanes, as well as war, stock market crashes, and major political events.
At the National Theatre, the spirit of murdered actor John McCullough can be seen watching from the balconies. When most people are busy watching the show, take a look back in the corners of the balconies above to see if you can spot the outline of a shadowy figure.
Meanwhile, at the Hay-Adams House, radios turn on and off randomly. A woman’s voice is heard echoing through the halls, and locked doors become mysteriously unlocked overnight.