Welcome back to The Velvet Runway and this feature about Boston’s Haunted History: Spooky Spots to Visit This Halloween.
Boston is one of America’s most historic cities, but with nearly four centuries of stories, it’s also one of the most haunted. Known as the cradle of the American Revolution, the city’s cobbled streets, colonial taverns, and centuries-old burying grounds are filled with tales of restless spirits. From Revolutionary soldiers and mysterious ladies in black to haunted hotels and ghostly taverns, Boston’s supernatural side offers just as much intrigue as its well-documented history.
Boston’s haunted reputation is thanks in part to its turbulent history and the many places where tragic deaths and horrific crimes occurred. All of which lead us to many epic legends and tales of restless spirits and haunting encounters.
Here are some of the most fascinating facts about Boston that combine true facts with a hint of horror and mystery.
Boston’s Haunted History: Spooky Spots to Visit This Halloween
Halloween is the perfect time to uncover this chilling side of the city. Whether you’re a believer in ghosts or just love the thrill of a good story, Boston’s haunted history will give you plenty to shiver about. From eerie cemeteries to haunted hotels and ghostly taverns, here are the best places to experience Boston’s haunted history.
1. Boston Common : Site of Public Punishments and Executions
When the Puritan colonists first purchased the rights to the land known as the Common, they each paid six shillings for their tract of land. The pasture became known as the Common Land and was used for livestock grazing from 1634, when it was first established, until 1830.
Today, the Boston Common is a celebrated public park with a peaceful frog pond, ball fields, and playgrounds. Charles Lindbergh once spoke there to promote commercial aviation, and Martin Luther King Jr. led a civil rights rally at the park. But many years ago, the Common was not a place of free speech and celebration.
During the colonial age, the Common was a place used for Puritanical punishment and executions. It had a whipping post, a pillory, and stocks. Those seen as criminals and evildoers at the time, such as pirates and witches, received similar punishments as murderers. They were all hanged from a tree that was known as the Great Elm.
The Quaker Martyr: Mary Dyer
The execution of Mary Dyer, which took place on June 1st, 1660, at the Common has haunted Boston for centuries. Mary was a Quaker who was hanged for defying the Puritan ban on Quakers in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Her death has been linked to the easing of anti-Quaker laws in Boston. Today, a bronze statue of Mary stands in front of the Massachusetts State House in her honor.
Hauntings at the Boston Common
Today, haunted Boston Common is known as America’s oldest city park and is also home to several dark spirits from the location’s evil past. With multiple tragic deaths occurring there, it is hard to say just how many spirits haunt the area. Visitors often report seeing apparitions swaying from the trees, and some say they can even hear the sound of a rope creaking from the branches.
Pro Tip: Take a nighttime ghost tour that includes Boston Common — the park’s haunting past comes alive under the cover of darkness.
2. The Old State House : The Site of the First Fatalities in the American Revolutionary War
Standing proudly at the crossroads of downtown Boston, the Old State House is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks — and also one of its most haunted. Built in 1713, it was the seat of colonial government and the site of pivotal events in the lead-up to the American Revolution. Most famously, the Boston Massacre took place just outside its doors in 1770, when British soldiers opened fire on a crowd of colonists.
On March 5th, 1770, a gang of angry American colonists arrived at the Customs House, now known as the Old State House, and began taunting the British soldiers who were in charge of guarding the building.
Five colonists, Crispus Attucks, Patrick Carr, Samuel Gray, Samuel Maverick, and James Caldwell, were among the mob. They were fatally shot that day by the British soldiers, and their deaths have been regarded by many historians as the very first fatalities of the Revolutionary War. Along with the five men who were killed, there were several others in the mob who were wounded. The following morning, the locals referred to the event as a “bloody massacre.”
Six years later, shots were fired once again in the square, but this time, it was because of a grand celebration. On July 18th, 1776, the people of Boston gathered under the balcony of the Old State House to listen to the first-ever reading of the Declaration of Independence.
The ghosts of those who died during the Boston Massacre are believed to haunt the Old State House in Boston. Visitors have reported seeing apparitions of soldiers dressed in uniform, hearing strange, unexplainable noises, and experiencing unusual phenomena inside the building. Some say the atmosphere shifts dramatically at night, as if the walls themselves remember the city’s violent past.
Pro Tip: Stop by during the day to explore the museum, but return in the evening for a ghost tour that includes the Old State House — the stories come alive after dark.
3. The Central Burying Ground : Boston’s Oldest Cemetery and One of the City’s Most Haunted Locations
Established on the Common land in 1756, the Central Burying Ground is the oldest cemetery in the city and one of its most haunted locations.
The cemetery was established to make room for the overcrowding at nearby King’s Chapel, Copp’s Hill, and the Granary Burying Ground. The land was acquired by Andrew Oliver, Jr., and was formerly a portion of Colonel Fitch’s pasture. Some of the people buried at the cemetery include British common soldiers who died in combat or succumbed to disease during the Revolutionary War, foreigners who died while in Boston, and American patriots from the battle of Bunker Hill and the Boston Tea Party.
There have been several upgrades to the cemetery over the years. A large freestanding tomb known as The Dell was added to the west edge of the grounds and houses the remains of graves that were disturbed by road construction. Another large grave was added to the northwestern area of the grounds. It contains the human remains that were unearthed during the 1895 subway construction.
The Haunting of Dr. Rutger
According to local legends, the Central Burying Ground is home to at least one ghost. In the 1970s, Matt Rutger, a dentist who lived in Boston, was walking through the cemetery when he had a peculiar encounter. He looked around, and it appeared he was all alone, but he kept feeling someone tap him on the shoulder. He’d turn to look, and there was no one behind him. The tapping continued until suddenly Rutger felt someone grab him by the collar of his shirt and pull him backwards. Yet once again, there was no one there he could see.
Obviously disturbed by the encounter, the dentist began to walk quickly toward the exit gates. As he did, he saw something eerie that he never forgot.
‘”I saw a young girl standing motionless in the rear corner of the cemetery, staring at me intently.’ she wore a white dress, and her utter immobility in and of itself seemed eerie.” – Matt Rutger (Holly Mascott Nadler, Ghosts of Boston Town, 2002).
When he turned in the opposite direction, the girl instantly moved to the front of the cemetery, a whole fifty yards away from where she originally stood. Rutger changed his direction once more, then again, and once again, and every time the haunting figure would appear in a different location.
When Dr. Rutger made it to the sidewalk, he felt a cold hand slip into his pocket. He watched astonished as his keys appeared to move from inside his pocket to levitating in midair right before his eyes.
Pro Tip : Visit at twilight if you’re feeling brave — the slanted gravestones and looming shadows set the perfect Halloween mood.
4. The Omni Parker House Hotel : One of the Most Haunted Hotels in Boston
The Omni Parker House Hotel is one of Boston’s most elegant landmarks, but it’s also among the most notorious haunted hotels in Boston. Since opening in 1855, this hotel has welcomed literary legends like Charles Dickens and political figures such as John F. Kennedy. Yet, it’s the spirits of long-dead guests and staff who reportedly linger the most.
Guests have reported flickering lights, elevators moving without explanation, and ghostly apparitions in the hallways. The third floor is especially infamous, said to be haunted by the hotel’s founder, Harvey Parker, who supposedly still checks in on guests.
Pro Tip: Even if you’re not staying overnight, stop by the hotel to try its legendary Boston cream pie — and maybe catch a glimpse of Harvey himself.
5. Fort Warren on Georges Island : the Home of “the Lady in Black”
Just a short ferry ride from the city, Fort Warren on Georges Island is home to one of Boston’s most famous ghost stories: the Lady in Black. According to legend, during the Civil War, a Confederate prisoner’s wife (Melanie Lanier) disguised herself as a man to free him. She was caught, and after accidentally killing her husband in the failed escape, she was executed.
Her spirit, dressed in black robes, is said to haunt the fort to this day. Soldiers and visitors alike have claimed to see her roaming the dark stone corridors.
Pro Tip: Georges Island can be accessed by ferry from Boston. The Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park offers guided tours of Fort Warren with the option to explore on your own but make sure to book in advance.
6. The USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”): the Oldest Commissioned Warship Afloat in the World
The USS Constitution, affectionately known as “Old Ironsides,” is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world. With more than 200 years of naval history, it is unsurprising that ghostly legends cling to its decks, making it one of the most intriguing haunted ships in Boston.
Visitors and naval staff have reported eerie footsteps, the feeling of being watched, and even spectral sailors appearing before vanishing into thin air. Some believe fallen sailors from the ship’s many battles remain tied to the vessel.
Pro Tip: Visit during the ship’s public hours for a blend of naval history and a chance to hear some of the whispered ghost stories passed down through generations.
7. Stay Overnight at Lizzie Borden’s House : One of the New England’s most Infamous Haunted Sites
If you’re willing to take a short drive from Boston, the Lizzie Borden House in Fall River is one of New England’s most infamous haunted sites.
The story of Lizzie Borden and the unthinkable crime many believe she committed that fatal August morning in 1892 is a tale that has captivated fans of horror and true crime for generations. Although she was acquitted of the murders, no one in the Fall River community looked at her the same way again. The grisly murders of Adam and Abby Borden made headlines throughout the country and even now, schoolchildren will chant the eerie rhyme…
“Lizzie Borden took an axe, she gave her mother forty whacks.
When she saw what she had done, she gave her father forty-one.”
Many believe that the house where Lizzie and her sister Emma grew up is haunted by the ghosts of Andrew and Abby, or perhaps by the spirit of Lizzie herself. And if you’re brave enough, you can now book an overnight stay in one of the guest rooms at the real Lizzie Borden House.
The Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast is a historic museum where visitors can enjoy ghost hunts and tours as they stay in one of six Victorian-style guest rooms that feature a unique theme.
Pro Tip: If you’re brave enough, book an overnight stay at the Lizzie Borden House for the full experience—it’s one of the few places where you can actually sleep inside a true American crime scene. But for a lighter dose of chills, guided daytime tours are available and offer a fascinating (and less terrifying) glimpse into the case.
8. The Union Oyster House : Dining with Ghosts
The Union Oyster House, America’s oldest continuously operating restaurant, has fed diners since 1826. Alongside famous patrons like Daniel Webster and John F. Kennedy, the restaurant boasts a few ghostly regulars, earning its place among haunted restaurants in Boston.
Staff have reported cold spots, strange noises, and objects moving on their own. One spirit said to linger is that of a young girl, whose laughter has occasionally been heard echoing through the dining rooms.
Pro Tip: Reserve a table upstairs for dinner — the atmosphere is rich with history, and maybe a touch of the supernatural.
Final Thoughts on
Boston’s Haunted History: Spooky Spots to Visit This Halloween
If you love learning about the haunted side of the USA’s history, Boston, MA is a great place to start. And if you are looking for a way to take a deep dive into the city’s spooky past, joining a Boston ghost tour is a fun and exciting way to explore the city’s spookiest locations.Or, head up to Salem, one of my favorite Halloween destinations. It’s located just 45 minutes north of Boston!
So, this Halloween, take a walk through Boston’s darker past. Whether you believe in ghosts or simply love a good story, you’ll leave with a deeper appreciation of how history lingers in every corner of this remarkable city — sometimes in ways we can’t quite explain.
Use GPSmyCity to download self-guided walking tours of Boston directly to your phone. This turns your device into a pocket tour guide — perfect for exploring without extra costs or needing a guidebook.
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