The spookiest cities in the US and the ghosts that haunt them

While some people choose their travel destinations based on the cultural scene, others seek out the most beautiful national parks. But only a few intrepid travelers choose their destination on the likelihood of a paranormal encounter.

Let’s review some of the most haunted cities in the US. Even if you don't experience any paranormal activity, you'll at least have a memorable time learning about the area's dark history.

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Savannah is one of the cities the American Institute of Parapsychology gets the most reports about, according to its director Andrew Nichols.

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Historic inns and restaurants are rumored to house the spirits of former residents. In fact, those looking for a real spooky weekend in Savannah can stay at a haunted hotel and eat at the restaurants still frequented by spirits that never fully left the earthly realm.

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The restaurant Moon River Brewing Company is known as the most haunted place in town. Guests have reported seeing a lady in white on the stairs and spirits have been known to mess with the staff.

The Pirates' House, now a family-friendly restaurant, was once a boarding house popular among sailors. However, some were kidnapped from its basement and forced to sail aboard ships against their will, so some say their spirits still visit the restaurant today.

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The Marshall House is known as one of the most haunted hotels in the U.S. It was a hospital during the Civil War. Guests have reported seeing ghosts in the hallways and hearing children laughing and running at night.

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Famous for its vicious witch trials in the 1600s, Salem is thought to be haunted by the spirits of 19 'witches,' who were put to death for their alleged crimes. Some say their spirits linger at Gallows Hills, the site of their executions.

The spirit of farmer Giles Corey, also accused of witchcraft, is said to haunt the Howard Street Cemetery (pictured, Halloween 2021). A sighting of Corey is considered an omen of something bad to come. 

St. Augustine is the oldest city in the US, which is why, luckily for paranormal seekers, it is a hotbed of ghost activity.

The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum is one of the historic city's hot spots, supposedly haunted by girls who drowned there in the 1870s.

Visitors have also reported paranormal experiences at Castle Warden, a Moorish-style home built in the 1880s that now houses the first permanent 'Ripley's Believe It or Not!' museum, established in 1950.

The country's capital has seen its fair share of history, so it makes sense that Washington, D.C. is the setting for several ghost stories. In fact, many say the White House is one of the most haunted houses in the U.S.

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President Lincoln's ghost has been spotted in the Lincoln Bedroom; President William Henry Harrison, who died in the White House, is said to have returned in the afterlife; and first ladies Dolley Madison and Abigail Adams supposedly still linger.

But the White House is not the only haunted location in D.C. Other allegedly haunted locations are the National Building Museum, the Congressional Cemetery, and some official government buildings.

Portland, Oregon, might be best known for its craft beer scene and artsy vibes, but the city is also one of the best destinations for ghost hunters.

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The Shanghai Tunnels, which run beneath the buildings and streets of Portland, were used in the 1800s to kidnap people and ship them off to Asia as slaves.

Some say the victims' spirits still roam the tunnels and during tours, and visitors have reported hearing whistling, smelling fragrances, or feeling like something was touching them.

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One of the city’s most famous haunts is the White Eagle Café, a former b r o t h e l, hotel and boarding house. Its employees have reported smelling smoke when there is no fire, being overwhelmed by the smell of cheap perfume, and even flying objects.

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San Antonio is considered one of the most haunted places in Texas because of the city's history. The Battle of the Alamo led to thousands of casualties.

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Alamo visitors and employees have reported seeing the ghosts of soldiers and hearing mysterious rally cries.

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A historic past and prominent landmarks with dark histories make San Francisco one of the most haunted cities in the U.S. 

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The Cameron House in Chinatown, once a hiding place for immigrants to escape the brutality of the police, was burned down with people inside. Some say they remain trapped there and that they turn up in photographs now and again. 

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A police officer is said to roam Golden Gate Park and a former head mistress is thought to be presiding over her old girls school, now the Queen Anne Hotel. 

But the number one San Francisco spooky hot spot has to be Alcatraz, the island prison where some of the most notorious prisoners, like Al Capone, were sent. Visitors have reported hearing voices and the sounds of cell doors closing.

A disastrous fire, a notorious serial killer, and mob history all led to Chicago becoming an allegedly haunted destination.

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Iroquois Theater was the site of a tragic fire killing hundreds in 1903. Some say the alley behind the theater is still haunted by the people who died there.

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H.H. Holmes, the country's allegedly first serial killer, murdered dozens of women in his infamous 'Murder Castle,' and while that building was replaced, some workers still report odd experiences while working in the new building's basement.

The site of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, often attributed to Al Capone, reportedly has some residual paranormal energy, too. These are just a few of the many haunted sites in the Windy City.

Finally, there’s New Orleans, a city that has wars, voodoo and slavery in its history, all of which create fertile soil for the spirit world.

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Antoine’s Restaurant (pictured) is one of the French-Creole restaurants that put New Orleans on the culinary map, and proprietor Antoine Alciatore, who opened it in 1868, is said to still preside over its various dining rooms, wearing a tuxedo.

Marie Laveau, 'The Voodoo Queen of New Orleans,' is thought to be the city’s most famous ghost. She is buried in the St. Louis Cemetery, which is also reportedly a hotspot for paranormal activity.