City Hall

City officials do not admit to the haunting of a suicide victim in Salem's City Hall on Washington Street, but they cannot disprove it either. The poignant anecdote of 'someone' committing suicide and continue to haunt the hallways cannot be verified in order to be...disproved. Rumors indicate experiences of ghostly footsteps, thumping sounds and a sense of pain, "thick" air and a sensation of rapidly spinning in circles where the alleged suicide took place.

Custom House

The Federal style building constructed in 1818 is located at the base of Derby Wharf. Its claim to fame is its illustrious employee from 1847-1849, author Nathanial Hawthorne. A story circulating about Hawthorne's employment reveals that Hawthorne was actually terminated from his position of Customs Surveyor due to his constant claims of seeing ghosts walking the halls of the Customs House. It didn't help that he spent most of his time on the clock writing his celebrated novel, The Scarlet Letter! Visitors and surreptitious Maritime employees have spoken of ghostly experiences such as hearing ghosts of ship captains discuss the treasured items, or popular, desired trades aboard their ships. Haunting, hollow footsteps are a common experience as are odd, flickering lights that seem to disappear if you get too close to them. The tour guides do not discuss ghosts at the Custom House, but you can rest assured that if Nathaniel Hawthorne witnessed them, they do exist...

Derby Wharf

Used as a base during the Revolutionary War and extended to its current length of almost a half a mile in 1806, the Wharf is now a comfortable tourist attraction jutting out into the Salem Harbor. On it sits a small lighthouse founded in 1871. Along the Wharf, sightings of ghostly pirates, fishermen or tradesmen (have been claimed) climbing out of the water onto the wharf and wandering around the lighthouse.

Hawthorne Hotel

A quaint, charming hotel sitting adjacent to the Commons, the Hawthorne Hotel built over the razed Salem Marine Society building, opened for business in 1925. The Hotel became notorious after contributing the backdrop in multiple episodes of television series Bewitched. Visitors and Hotel employees alike have witnessed the large ship wheel on the top floor begin to spin on its own and stop, without anyone near the wheel touching it. People in various rooms and floors have heard unearthly voices in their room and after investigating, see no one. Water faucets have turned on without any help from the living, along with lights turning off an on, and toilets flushing on their own. Footsteps and knocking within a room can be heard when no one is moving around. People have seen the elevator buttons light up by themselves, then experience the elevator lifting to that floor, doors opening, closing and the car returns to the main floor on its own. A few visitors claim to have actually seen a ghostly woman riding in the elevator car with them. Guests have been overwhelmed at the sense or vision of a female apparition in their hotel rooms right along with them.

House of the Seven Gables

John Turner, a local Salem sea captain, built the house in 1668, and the house stayed in the Turner family until it was sold to Captain Samuel Ingersoll in 1782. Captain Ingersoll died at sea and left the house to his daughter, Nathaniel Hawthorne's cousin, Susanna. Hawthorne's frequent visits to the house contributed largely to another of his well-known novels, The House of the Seven Gables. Numerous ghosts have made themselves known to visitors and House staff alike on the grounds and within the House itself. A tourist to the House claims to have captured the ghost Nathanial Hawthorne's son, Julian, peering over a fence in the garden. The most recognized ghost seems to be Ms. Susanna Ingersoll. She has been seen openly roaming the hallways and rooms of the House and many people have seen her intently watching visitors roam her beautiful gardens. The noisiest ghost is said to be that of a young boy who can be heard running as he plays with toys in the attic. Since the House was said to have been an end stop to the Underground Railroad where slaves were freed in Salem, it's no wonder that a couple people have witnessed the ghost of a slave man running up and down the hidden staircase.

Howard Street Cemetery

The Howard Street Cemetery, established in 1801, is located near the heart of Salem, just around the corner from St. Peter's Church (circa 1733). Separated from the old Salem Prison (now apartments, condos and soon a bar and grill) by a chain linked fence, it is said to be an extremely haunted cemetery. One of the most famous ghosts is that of Giles Corey, a man accused of witchery though he never admitted that he practiced witchcraft. People believe that Giles was actually crushed to death near the back corner of the cemetery and to this day people say they can see him wandering the cemetery. Others say they hear moaning in that part of the cemetery at night, especially close to the anniversary of his death. Giles cursed Salem on his last breath and locals worry that his curse will continue if his ghost is seen. The most famous observation correlated to the curse was when he was witnessed by people just before the devastating Salem fire of 1914.

Inn on Washington Square

Self-proclaimed as the North Shore's first haunted Inn, this beautiful Greek Revival house was built in 1850. Located conveniently off the Salem Commons in the heart of historic Salem the Inn provides a cozy environment within the historical dwelling. Paranormally, they offer ghost tours and the opportunity to ghost hunt on the premises. After two years of continuous ghost investigations in the house, they have consequently discovered they shelter numerous ghosts, including a bickering couple, a little boy who breaks crayons, a funeral director with his horse drawn hearse, an heiress to the estate and the original architect who built the structure. That's just to name a few of their resident specters!