With a history as rich as the United States, we shouldn't be surprised that every state has paranormal tales to tell. From abandoned asylums to creaky hotels, the United States is home to countless eerie destinations that are believed to be haunted. Some of those claims, at least to the skeptical, may appear dubious. However, paranormal experts have documented many of them, including the 50 most haunted places in the United States.

Alabama: Sloss Furnaces National Historic Landmark

A National Historic Landmark in Birmingham, Sloss Furnaces produced pig iron from 1882 to 1972 and, upon its closing, was restored and now welcomes visitors for tours. It's also rumored to be the most haunted place in Alabama. Many visitors tell of seeing the apparition of James Wormwood, a blast foreman who was notorious for treating workers poorly, leading to his untimely demise. One evening, during the graveyard shift, those same workers are said to have revolted, throwing Wormwood into the molten fires of the furnace. Today, Wormwood roams the grounds of the former furnace.

Alaska: Kennecott Copper Mining Camp

Hailed as the most haunted place in Alaska, Kennecott Camp and the rail lines going to and from the mines are so frightening that even developers have been convinced to leave the area alone. In the 1990s, developers building homes along one of the railroad lines canceled the project after too many construction workers quit. The workers reported almost constant screaming and wailing voices in the area, along with missing tools, sometimes right from their tool belts.

Want to learn about another haunted Alaska destination? This tiny town has a dark history, and is one of the most haunted places in America.

Arizona: The Jerome Grand Hotel

Perched on a hilltop overlooking the ghost town of Jerome and surrounding Verde Valley, the Jerome Grand Hotel, previously a hospital, is widely considered one of the most haunted hotels in Arizona. Guests tell of hearing crying, coughing, and wailing in the halls. One apparition is believed to be the spirit of a former employee named Harvey, who may have been murdered in 1935, and is often seen in the stairwell of the basement. If you're brave enough, request room 32, the site of two untimely deaths. Take the elevator to the third floor, though, or you may run into the apparition of a bearded man frequently seen roaming the hotel.

Arkansas: Mount Holly Cemetery

While Mount Holly Cemetery is known as the final resting place for countless notable Arkansans, from United States senators to state governors, it also has its fair share of haunted tales to tell. Early morning visitors tell of hearing music from a flute but there is, unsurprisingly, no one around. Those who are brave enough to visit after dark claim to have seen the apparitions of Native Americans and Confederate soldiers roaming the cemetery grounds. Perhaps eeriest of all, legend says the statues on some of the graves move and trinkets have mysteriously appeared on graves.

California: Winchester Mystery House

The former home of Sarah Winchester, the widow of firearm magnate William Wirt Winchester, the Winchester Mansion is known for its architectural oddities and peculiar features, including staircases that lead to nowhere, doors that open onto walls, and more than 150 rooms and countless secret passages. The mansion offers tours and hosts what it calls an immersive Halloween haunt. Visitors have shared their experience with the paranormal - seeing a man pushing a wheelbarrow and apparitions peeking out of windows, suddenly feeling chills, and pulling on their arm when no one is there.

Colorado: Molly Brown House Museum

Perhaps the most haunted home in Colorado, the Molly Brown House was once the home of Denver socialites J.J. and Molly Brown, the latter of whom survived the Titanic. Since her passing, Molly has returned to her former home and she's not too shy about making her presence known. Visitors have reported smelling roses or tobacco smoke and sometimes spot Molly, her husband, or her mother inside the home. Piano keys have moved without making a sound; strange shadows dart around, and doors have been known to close on their own. Go on a tour, guided or self-guided, and you might see Molly, too.

Connecticut: Dudleytown

Residents of Connecticut know better than to plan a visit to the infamous Dudleytown, and it’s not just because it’s on private property. It has nothing to do with the local police who patrol the area or the “No Trespassing” signs, and it has everything to do with most of us not wanting to find ourselves cursed, too. Centuries ago, the Dudley family moved from England to Connecticut to escape a curse placed on them. The curse followed them and, in turn, wreaked havoc on Dudleytown, with a neverending cycle of murders, unexplained deaths, and failed businesses.

Delaware: Fort Delaware

Fort Delaware has a rich history that's rife with legend. Originally built in 1859, the fort was used as a prison camp for Confederate Prisoners of War during the Civil War. Nearly 3,000 POWs died at the camp, and many of them still roam the grounds today, in a desperate attempt to have their stories heard. Visitors tell of seeing apparitions, including a woman in the kitchen and prisoners walking the grounds. You may hear footsteps and strange voices, but no one is around. Join a paranormal tour of this haunted fort...if you're brave enough.

Florida: May-Stringer House

The May-Stringer House has often been called the most haunted place in Florida - for good reason. John and Marena May built the home in 1855; Mr. May died of tuberculosis three years later. Marena remarried but later died while giving birth to her daughter Jessie, who died at age three. All three are said to haunt the house, which is now a museum. Guides hear children’s laughter and cries, see ghostly visions of Marena and John, and report items being moved around the house (particularly a doll that belonged to Jessie).

Georgia: Bonaventure Cemetery

Tucked on 160 acres in the enchanting town of Savannah, Bonaventure Cemetery is one of the most hauntingly beautiful cemeteries in the world, fitting as it is rife with paranormal tales. If you stroll through the cemetery in the evening, you may even hear the sobs of Gracie Watkins, a little girl who died of pneumonia in the late 1800s. Visitors often leave toys at her grave to keep her entertained. While no one knows who they are, other souls have also been seen wandering the cemetery at night.

Hawaii: Nu’uanu Pali Lookout

A brutal mass murder took place at the Pali Lookout. When King Kamehameha I won a battle against Maui chief Kalanikupule in 1790, he drove the chief and his 400 soldiers off the cliff to their deaths. At night, visitors report hearing screams, moans, and voices from below. You might even see apparitions of the warriors.

Idaho: Old Idaho State Penitentiary

Old Idaho State Penitentiary in Boise earned a harrowing reputation as one of the most violent prisons in the United States during its more than century-long history. While more than 13,000 inmates passed through the prison, some have never left. Those brave enough to join a self-guided or guided tour of the historic prison tell of strange happenings, including unexplained voices and a touch, when no one is around. Convicted murderer Ray Snowden spent the years before his execution in House 5, said to be the most haunted spot in the entire prison.

Illinois: Bachelor's Grove Cemetery

About 25 miles outside Chicago, Bachelor's Grove Cemetery has long been considered the most haunted cemetery in Illinois. Only 82 souls once rested here, but many of the gravesides were vandalized and the headstones were stolen after the cemetery was abandoned. Today, ghost hunters travel from around the world to experience the paranormal. The strange occurrences at this Midlothian cemetery began in the 1970s when visitors reported seeing orbs, apparitions of a black dog and figures in monk robes, phantom vehicles, and a floating, shrinking, and vanishing farmhouse.

Indiana: Hannah House

A stop on the Underground Railroad, Hannah House in Indianapolis helped slaves escape to Canada. One night a gas lamp tipped over, causing a massive fire. Several men, women, and children died. Mr. Hannah, the owner, decided to bury them in the basement to protect both his family and other slaves in his home. Visitors often hear whispers and moans, see shadows, and feel cold spots. The tragedy doesn't end there, though. Mrs. Hannah gave birth to a stillborn baby, whose cries still echo throughout the home.

Iowa: Villisca Axe Murder House

If you live in Iowa or have traveled to Villisca, you've undoubtedly heard of the Villisca Axe Murder House, the home where the Moore family of six, and two guests, were murdered in their sleep by an unknown assailant with an axe. The family is believed to haunt the house, which is available for tours during the day and, if you're brave enough, at night.

Kansas: Stull Cemetery

Rumored to be a gateway to hell, Stull Cemetery is the most haunted place in Kansas. Next to an abandoned church in Stull, the cemetery is the subject of many legends, some more than a century old. Many believe the cemetery is possessed by Satan who, if you believe the lure, appears here twice a year. Those who have been to the cemetery report being grabbed by an invisible force and suffering memory loss after their visit.

Please note: The cemetery is on private property. Visitors are not permitted on the cemetery grounds without permission, so it's best to enjoy the legend from the comfort of home.

Kentucky: Waverly Hills Sanatorium

The Waverly Hill Sanitarium in Louisville opened in 1910 to house patients with tuberculosis. Because the epidemic spread quickly and there wasn't enough space, some patients lived in tents on the lawn. Thousands died during the epidemic, but the horror extended to the surgical rooms. Surgeons performed experimental surgery, without anesthesia, on patients, some of whom died. The spirits of many who died here remain to this day. Witnesses report unexplained lights, apparitions, shadowy forms, and other phenomena. Paranormal tours are available.

Louisiana: LaLaurie Mansion

On the outside, Madame LaLaurie was a well-respected member of the New Orleans community. Behind closed doors, however, she was downright evil. A fire ripped through the LaLaurie Mansion one night in 1834, exposing her crimes and shocking those who knew her. Emergency personnel found slaves strapped to tables, bound in the attic, and caged. All had been tortured. Madame LaLaurie fled to Paris; an angry mob stormed the home and destroyed what was left of it, and the souls of those murdered remained. Many tell of hearing screams coming from the private home.

Maine: Strand Cinema

Strand Cinema in Skowhegan has been called the most haunted place in Maine, and it's because of one woman. She lived - and died - in the apartment above the theater in the 1970s. Patrons have long reported everything from sightings to physical contact at the theater, but few saw her anger like the construction workers who modified the theater in 1978. Workers were shocked by electric tools that were not plugged in. The unhappy soul threw tools, tossed paint on newly painted walls, and left her handprints on the movie screen. Perhaps most shocking, a shadowed apparition reportedly threw balcony ceiling tile onto the ground.

Maryland: Point Lookout

Point Lookout in Scotland was used as a prisoner encampment/hospital during the Civil War, and estimates show that more than 8,000 died here. A popular campground today, Point Lookout is one of the most haunted places in Maryland, and visitors have the stories to back up that claim. Campers often encounter the ghosts of Confederate soldiers walking along the roads. Some campers have even snapped photos of unexplained objects, including apparitions.

Massachusetts: Bridgewater Triangle

There’s no haunted place in the Commonwealth more famous than the Bridgewater Triangle, a 200-mile space in southeastern Massachusetts that some believe is the center of weird, paranormal activities. Many mysterious occurrences revolve around Hockomock Swamp, a 16,550-acre wetland in Freetown Fall River State Forest. The Hockomock Swamp is known to serve as a dumping ground for murder victims, and reports of cults practicing black magic. Those brave enough to venture here report seeing glowing orbs and Bigfoot.

Michigan: Traverse City State Hospital

Traverse City State Hospital operated for more than 100 years, during which time there were claims of abuse, including inhumane treatment and forced commitments. During those years, many stories have evolved about restless spirits and patients who never checked out of the hospital. Visitors report disembodied screams and voices echoing through the empty halls. Lights are said to turn on and off by themselves, even though the electricity has been turned off for years.

Minnesota: Forepaugh Restaurant

Now the Forepaugh Restaurant in St. Paul, the manor was once a private home to wealthy wholesaler Joseph Forepaugh and his family. Both Joseph and the maid, Molly, died here and are said to haunt the premises today. Legend has it the two were having a torrid affair. Riddled with guilt, Joseph shot himself in the head; a heartbroken Molly hanged herself days later. While Joseph seems to stroll the grounds, Molly enjoys terrifying guests by pounding walls and exploding glasses. Some say she likes to spend time at social events and her ghostly figure even appeared in a guest's wedding photo.

Mississippi: Grand Opera House

No one knows who haunts the Grand Opera House in Meridian, a local staple for more than a century, but everyone can agree on one thing. The spirits are friendly, often tapping on unsuspecting guests' shoulders. Some visitors have reported feeling cold spots, an indication of the paranormal.

Missouri: The Elms Hotel and Spa

A luxury hotel in Excelsior Springs, The Elms Hotel and Spa has been a local staple for more than a century, and in that time has suffered its fair share of tragedy, including burning down twice. When it reopened in 1912, the haunted tales began with spirits said to roam the hallways. The stories intensified during Prohibition when illegal gamblers and drinkers filled the hotel's speakeasy. Since then, a friendly housekeeper, dressed in 1920s style, has been seen wandering around, and the spirit of a gambler is said to hang out at the pool. The Elms hosts a paranormal tour where you might experience something otherworldly.

Montana: Little Bighorn Battlefield

Hundreds of U.S. soldiers and Native American warriors died on the Little Bighorn Battlefield near Billings during the Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876. In the ensuing years, park service employees and visitors have seen apparitions of soldiers. If you visit, listen carefully. You may also hear battle cries, rifle shots, and bugles playing. Near the battlefield is also the Stone House, used by the cemetery caretaker, where the lights turn on and off on their own, and at least one apparition has been seen.

Nebraska: Annie Cook's Poor Farm

Poor houses were never known for being the most welcoming places. This Lincoln County poor farm, where the impoverished received housing in exchange for labor, was among the worst of the 19th century. At Annie Cook's, the headquarters for a prostitution ring and a bootlegging operation, many residents were worked to death - literally. Some died of so-called accidents, but Annie Cook got away with it all either through threats or smooth talking. Both Annie Cook, who died in 1952, and some of those she tortured are said to roam the land where a new farmhouse now sits. The home's residents tell of seeing apparitions, finding items that have mysteriously moved, and hearing strange noises.

Nevada: Piper's Opera House

A Virginia City icon since 1885, Piper's Opera House was condemned in 1920, remaining vacant until renovations began years later. Since significant renovations in 2003, patrons have reported seeing the apparitions of a man with a handlebar mustache and a lady in a blue dress, hearing singing, and feeling cold spots. Today, the opera house hosts performances, and you can tour the museum for a glimpse of its rich history.

New Hampshire: Pine Hill Cemetery

Often called Blood Cemetery after the name of a family buried here, Pine Hill Cemetery earns a nod as one of the most haunted places in New England. Many believe the Bloods had been murdered and their restless spirits remain at the cemetery. Abel Blood has been seen wandering the cemetery, and the finger on his tombstone, which points upward, turns downward at night. Visitors have also seen strange orbs, heard tapping sounds, and felt cold even when the weather was warm.

New Jersey:  Batsto Village

An ancient ghost town in Hammonton, Batsto Village is an official state historic site that welcomes visitors for self-guided tours. Dating back to 1766, the ghost town is one of the most haunted places in New Jersey. Many believe the Jersey Devil, a legendary creature that lives in the Pine Barrens, roams the village. Visitors report seeing odd footprints in the woods and hearing strange, almost otherworldly screams. Some have even seen the Jersey Devil dart in front of them.

New Mexico: Taos Pueblo

Taos Pueblo, a Native American community steeped in history, dates back more than 1,000 years. Kit Carson, an icon and frontiersman of the American West, moved to Taos Pueblo in the early 1800s and was later buried in the community cemetery. A friendly spirit, Carson often spends time in his former home, now the Kit Carson Home and Museum. Nearby, the Alley Cantina also has a resident spirit that will wrap itself around diners in the bathroom. Candles sometimes light on their own, and objects move randomly.

New York: State Capitol Building

Several ghosts are said to haunt the New York State Capitol building in Albany. President Abraham Lincoln's body lay in state here after his assassination. While Lincoln's spirit has never been spotted, many claim the apparition of the train that transported his body appears each year on the anniversary of his death. Legend has it that the ghost of a man who committed suicide in 1890, and a watchman who died in a fire in 1911, both haunt the grounds. Employees have heard the watchman's keys jingling, when no one is around, and have seen floating orbs.

North Carolina: Omni Grove Park Inn

The Omni Grove Park Inn in Asheville is haunted by the most famous ghost in the state - The Pink Lady. Whether murder or suicide, she fell to her death from a fifth-floor balcony in the 1920s. Her spirit remains and is a beloved part of the inn. Known for her friendliness, the Pink Lady wears a flowing pink gown and gravitates toward children, some of whom have told adults they had fun playing with her. Don't worry if you wake up to a tickling on your foot or rearranged furniture. That's probably just the Pink Lady, who also enjoys turning lights on and off to give a bit of a scare to her guests.

North Dakota: The Children's Museum At Yunker Farm

A fun destination for the whole family, the Children's Museum at Yunker Farm has a tragic past. A little girl is said to have drowned in the well on the museum's property. Her apparition is often seen by the well, where some visitors report feeling tightness in their chest and shortness of breath. Sarah Yunker, one of the farm's original owners, is said to hang out in the museum. The elevators are also said to operate on their own, and some people complain of feeling they're being watched.

Ohio: Ohio State Reformatory

The Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield is home to some of the most violent specters in the state. Rioting inmates, who frequently fought each other to the death in overcrowded isolation cells, are said to haunt the jail. The prison hosts tours, offering visitors the chance to experience firsthand some of the paranormal activity - footsteps when no one is around, disembodied voices, chains jingling, and even church bells.

Oklahoma: Stone Lion Inn

A majestic Victorian mansion, the Stone Lion Inn in Guthrie transitioned from the family home of the Houghton family to a funeral home and, finally, to a charming bed and breakfast. During renovations, the owner realized she wasn't exactly alone. She heard doors opening and closing, footsteps on the staircase, and toys being played with at night. A young girl, the Houghton's daughter, died in the home, and her spirit along with those of her family are believed to remain.

Oregon: Lafayette Cemetery

If you don't go to Lafayette Cemetery familiar with the name Anna Marple, you will certainly leave knowing it. Many townspeople believed Anna was a witch. She was tried for witchcraft and hanged but, before her untimely end, she cursed the town, saying it would burn down three times. It burned down twice, and her uneasy spirit still roams the cemetery grounds to this day, darting in and out of the shadows, chasing visitors, and screaming. Some visitors even report being attacked by ghosts.

Pennsylvania: Gettysburg

As the site of the Civil War's bloodiest battle, Gettysburg is, unsurprisingly, teeming with the paranormal. Soldiers are often seen marching on the battlefield at Gettysburg National Military Park in the morning; visitors to Devils Den, a ridge on the battlefield, tell of seeing a young man with blond hair and a floppy hat, who poses for photos with visitors. As soon as the camera shutter clicks, he disappears. A Civil War nurse wanders the halls, looking for soldiers to help, at the Gettysburg Hotel, and you may hear Jennie Wade, the only civilian casualty at the Battle of Gettysburg, wandering around her home, where she was killed.

Rhode Island: The Biltmore Hotel (Graduate Providence)

The former Biltmore Hotel in Providence - now the Graduate Providence - is considered one of the most haunted hotels in the United States. The hotel inspired several famous novels, including Stephen King’s "Overlook Hotel." Local legend says that Johan Leisse Weisskopf, a Satanist, opened the hotel with nefarious intentions, including hosting weekly animal sacrifices. During prohibition, locals and police officers drank and partied together here which led, some believe, to an increase in murders. Those murder victims still roam the property with guests hearing raucous partying, laughing, and dancing into the early morning hours.

South Carolina: Old Charleston Jail

The Old Charleston Jail opened in the early 19th century and, during its 137-year run, more than 14,000 inmates died, often due to overcrowding. Not surprisingly, the jail is considered the most haunted place in South Carolina. Lavinia Fisher, one of the most notorious inmates and the first female serial killer in the U.S., lived here before her execution. If you believe the stories, she never left. Visitors have reported disembodied voices, objects moving without being touched, and other ghostly phenomena. You might want to sign up for a haunted tour of this infamous jail if you're brave enough.

South Dakota: The Bullock Hotel

Captain Seth Bullock opened the historic Bullock Hotel in Deadwood in 1895. He loved it so much that he never left. Many guests who have visited the downtown hotel through the years have reported seeing Bullock's apparition. Even if you don't see him, pay attention. Lights and faucets often turn on and off on their own; voices are heard when no one is around, and sounds of shattering glass penetrate the air. Don't worry if you run into Bullock or feel his touch; he's friendly. Ghost tours of the hotel are sometimes held on the weekends.

Tennessee: The Bell Witch Cave

Hidden in Adams, The Bell Witch Cave, home to a ghost known as Kate, began to haunt the Bell family in the 19th century. She made John Bell and his family's life miserable, throwing things, pitching fits, and attacking family members. Today, the Bell Witch (Kate) haunts the family's farm and nearby cave. If you tour the historic cave, you might experience something, well, odd. Visitors have reported strange occurrences like disembodied voices, strange shadows, and apparitions, and it is said that if you take something from the cave - even a pebble or stick - you will be cursed.

Texas: The Baker Hotel

Towering 14 stories over Mineral Springs, the Baker Hotel is a landmark that hosted Judy Garland, Helen Keller, and Clark Gable before it fell by the wayside. (The hotel, undergoing renovations, is expected to reopen in 2026.) Guests once flocked here to drink its (so-called) healing mineral water, but many never left, including a bellhop who died in the elevator and has been seen countless times since. You might smell cigar smoke from T.B. Baker, the builder, and see the apparition of his mistress, who leaped from the hotel to her untimely death. Some say you can smell her perfume on the seventh floor.

Utah: Rio Grande Depot

For most people, a train station is little more than a stop along their journey. But a few passengers who arrived at the Rio Grande, long since closed, have never left. Today, it's the home of state history offices and several souls who have never departed. The most famous ghost, the Purple Lady often appears in the restroom or on the main floor. During an argument with her fiance at the train station, the Purple Lady threw her ring onto the tracks. She quickly went to grab the ring and was killed by an oncoming train. A man in dark attire, who walks with heavy footsteps and flicks the lights on and off, also roams the first floor of the Rio Grande.

Vermont: Emily’s Bridge

Emily’s Bridge in Stowe is, according to local legend, haunted by the ghost of a girl who tragically hung herself after her groom-to-be abandoned her. The brokenhearted bride's spirit was first summoned by college students using a Ouija board. Word of Emily's existence spread and ghost hunters from all over the country traveled to Vermont, hoping to experience the paranormal, and many do. Visitors report being scratched and poked and seeing strange shapes in the shadows. Some have even taken pictures of a girl, but no one else is around.

Virginia: Cold Harbor Battlefield

Those who visit the site of one of the largest and bloodiest battles of the Civil War, and one of the most haunted places in America, the Cold Harbor Battlefield in Mechanicsville, often leave with tales of the paranormal. A strong smell of gunpowder permeates through the Cold Harbor National Cemetery, the final resting place of countless Confederate soldiers, and the battlefield. Many have heard cannons, gunfire, and screaming. Look by the Confederate gravesites, where you might see the apparition of a young girl. Others have spotted soldiers by the trenches on the battlefield.

Washington: Point Defiance Park

Most people travel to Point Defiance Park in Ruston for the beautiful ocean views, to hike through the forest, and to drive along the scenic Five Mile Drive, the latter of which is said to be haunted by the spirits of two young girls. One is frequently seen riding her bike in the middle of the night while the apparition of another strolls down the road into the sunset. Don't be surprised if you experience some odd occurrences - a cold draft and footsteps and sighing when no one is there - if you visit the park's pagoda, too. This is easily one of the most haunted places in the U.S.

West Virginia: Trans-Allegheny Asylum

The Trans-Allegheny Asylum in Weston served as a treatment facility for the mentally ill. However, it was consistently overcrowded, and staff performed unethical experiments on patients, a common occurrence in 19th-century psychiatric hospitals. Many of those who stayed here never really left, and they make their presence known by crying, walking through the halls with heavy footsteps, and banging. Visitors have seen shadowy forms of injured soldiers, but the most common apparition is Lily. The nine-year-old died of pneumonia in her room at the facility and has been seen playing with the toys visitors bring her.

Wisconsin: Nelsen’s Hall

Nestled on Washington Island, Nelsen's Hall is legendary in Wisconsin, a historic pub where generations of visitors have, with a shot of Angostura, become members of the Bitters Club. The bar has been popular since Prohibition when owner Tom Nelson kept it open by claiming his drinks were medicinal. Despite passing 90 years later, Nelson still hangs around at the pub. His footsteps are often heard in the upstairs apartment; he's been seen in the women's bathrooms and likes changing the radio stations.

Wyoming: Occidental Hotel

The historic Occidental Hotel in Buffalo has hosted some of the most recognized names - Calamity Jane and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid - of the Wild West. It probably will come as little surprise, then, that the Occidental Hotel is one of the most haunted places in Wyoming. A woman with long dark hair, who died on the second floor, still wears her flowing white dress as she wanders through the hotel moving objects and furniture, turning the lights on and off, tapping the shoulders of unsuspecting guests, and laughing. Some visitors have even seen her apparition.

Have you visited any of the most haunted places in the United States? If so, did you experience any paranormal activity? Let us know in the comments! Ready to get out there and explore and maybe even experience the paranormal? Book a haunted tour in the United States with Viator.