This Vermont Hotel Is Among The Most Haunted Places In The Nation

The year was 1769 when construction began on what would become the Equinox. Rich in history, this spot has long been a hot spot for luxury and many important guests have visited over the years. Among these guests who have visited are four U.S. presidents and one vice president. They are Presidents William Howard Taft, Ulysses S. Grant, Theodore Roosevelt, Benjamin Harrison, and Vice President James S. Sherman. Roosevelt even gave a campaign speech on the front lawn! However, it's not any of these presidents who are said to have a ghostly presence at this haunted place. It's a former first lady. Let's take a look at the story behind this haunted hotel in Vermont: the Equinox Hotel.

The Equinox is a stately property located at 3567 Main Street in the Manchester Village.

Just looking at the buildings, it's both fascinating and easy to see how times have changed. There are 17 structures that exhibit six different architectural styles.

So who is haunting this stately site?

The answer is none other than Mary Todd Lincoln, wife of President Abraham Lincoln.

Mary Todd Lincoln first visited the Equinox during the summer of 1864. She made reservations to visit again the following year with her husband and a special suite was even constructed in anticipation of the President's visit.

But before he could visit with Mary, Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865.

Over the years, many employees have claimed to see the ghost of Mary and a small child appear and disappear at the hotel.

Guests, too, have been frightened when these supposed apparitions have appeared.

Others have reported hearing whispers and feeling a cold chill pass through them.

Additionally, guests have claimed that items in their rooms have moved when they left, as well as being woken up by the lights coming on in the middle of the night.

Is it possible that Mary Todd Lincoln loved the Equinox so much that she never left?

Perhaps she was too sad that her husband never got to see the property she fell in love with and continues to return herself.

We know that Mary's son, Robert Todd Lincoln, loved the area as much as his mother. He built Hildene, his impressive summer estate just down the road from the Equinox.

Whether the reported ghostly activity is real, or they can simply be explained by a trick of the eye or old electrical fixtures and drafts, they are absolutely harmless.

Have you been to this haunted hotel in Vermont? What did you think? Be sure to tell us all about your experiences -- haunted or otherwise -- in the comments below. For more information, you can check out the Equinox Hotel website or follow the Equinox Hotel on Facebook.

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