This Fall, Tour Kentucky's Old Capitol Building In Frankfort, One Of The Most Notoriously Haunted Sites In The State
By Sarah McCosham|Published October 12, 2021
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
Kentucky is full of haunted lore and legend; visit any of the state’s historic sites and attractions, and you’re bound to hear a ghostly tale or two. In Frankfort, Kentucky’s Old Capitol Building is one of the most notoriously haunted in the state. This National Historic Landmark served as Kentucky’s capitol from 1830 to 1910, and its dramatic history and gothic architecture invite rumors of nefarious and otherworldly activity. Today, guests can take a nighttime tour of Kentucky’s Old Capitol Building, and see if the haunted rumors are true.
The capitol of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Frankfort is a town with lots of history, and the Old State Capitol building is its ghostly epicenter.
Gideon Shryock, the Bluegrass State's first native-born professionally trained architect, designed this stunning Greek Revival building, the third to have served as Kentucky’s seat of government.
Indeed, the air inside the Old Capitol is thick with the weight of a ghostly history, something brave folks can explore during a nighttime tour of the building.
During the one-hour tour, guests will explore this iconic Greek Revival edifice, hearing spooky stories from the Kentucky Historical Society Collections.
Because this building's tenure happened during one of the most contentious times in Kentucky history (the violence surrounding the 1900 gubernatorial election and subsequent death of William Goebel left the state on the brink of a civil war, in fact), ghost stories abound about the Old Capitol Building.
Mysterious shots have been reportedly heard in the small building at the rear of the Old Capitol building, which had been used as an arsenal for war artifacts.
In addition, a mahogany veneer chest in the building known as the "Conjure Chest" is said to be cursed. As many as 16 untimely deaths have been attributed to this piece of furniture, and the presence of these unfortunate souls can often be felt throughout the grounds.
