Boston's Most Haunted Places
Boston Common
Boston, MA 02111
Boston Common was the first place settled by Europeans in Boston and is thus the oldest section of Boston. It was here that the Puritans took over the land from Reverend William Blaxton, and where they hanged those who opposed their frighteningly strict laws. It is said that two women wearing clothes from the 19th century are often seen walking together in the Common, arm in arm. The strange thing about this is that these women could not have been associated with the hangings that took place there, as they occurred before the women's clothing was popular. It's believed that they may have been guests at a nearby hotel, and simply decided never to leave.
Related: Boston's Best Historical Sites
Omni Parker House Hotel
60 School St.
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 227-8600
www.omnihotels.com
Just a short walk from the reportedly haunted Boston Common is the Omni Parker House Hotel. The current look of the hotel dates back to the early 20th century, but the hotel itself dates back to the mid-19th century. It has been the meeting place of many a distinguished historical figure, including the likes of Charles Dickens and John F. Kennedy. Rumor has it, the ghost of Harvey Parker, the founder of the hotel, has been seen roaming the hallways, though it has been some 20 years since the last reported sighting.
Fort Warren
Georges Island, Boston Harbor
Boston, MA
Fort Warren, situated at the entrance to Boston Harbor, was named for Revolutionary War hero Dr. Joseph Warren. It was built in the 19th century during the Civil War era and was used off and on all the way up through World War II. Today, Fort Warren is open to visitors, but is no longer used as a fort. A woman in black reportedly haunts the fort, and it is said that there she was executed as a spy after she was caught trying to help her new husband escape from the fort. He was a Confederate soldier being held there as a prisoner.
Cutler Majestic Theatre
219 Tremont St.
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 824-8000
www.emerson.edu/
The Cutler Majestic Theatre, a performing arts venue at Emerson College, was constructed in 1903 and has changed purposes several times over the years. There are supposedly several ghosts in the theater. One is said to be the ghost of a former mayor of Boston who died while watching a performance. The problem is, there appears to be no record of any mayor dying there, and no one can say for sure which mayor it was. There is also said to be the spirits of a married couple that watches performances from a balcony and a little girl who accepts hidden gifts that are left for her.
Charlesgate Hotel
535 Beacon St.
Boston, MA 02215
www.masscrossroads.com/
The Charlesgate Hotel is a grand structure in the heart of Boston that was designed by J. Pickering Putnam and constructed in 1891. Though it's no longer a hotel, the imposing building still exists. A man committed suicide with a gun in his room here in 1908. Putnam himself also died there. However, it was the suicide that supposedly left the hotel with a bad vibe, and students who lived there when it was a dormitory tell several stories of mean spirits haunting them.
Related: The Salem Haunted Magic Show
Shelly Barclay is a professional freelance writer and amateur author. She writes on a variety of topics from food to mysteries. She loves to share the culture and rich history of her birthplace and home, Boston, with the rest of the world. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
