Haunted Places in Charleston

There might not be another US city as rich in history and as willing to embrace it as the port of Charleston, South Carolina. Founded in 1670 and christened Charles Town after King Charles II, the city played a major role in both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. It’s location on the mid-Atlantic attracted pirates (most notably Blackbeard himself) and Charleston’s intricate involvement in the slave trade lead to a formal acknowledgement and apology in 2018.

Haunted Places in Charleston

Old City Jail: Yes, you read it right, ghost lover! Charleston, SC is indeed the home of the infamous–the terrifying–Old City Jail. This four-story, gothic monstrosity has been explored by almost every paranormal team in the US. Tales of dark skulking shadows and inexplicable touches and sounds have visitors fleeing the premise in terror. You may not want to go inside unless you have nerves of steel and a strong constitution. However, if you feel up to this otherwordly challenge, contact Bulldog tours. Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon: Blackbeard himself was once housed in this underground dungeon, which was built to house British prisoners during the Revolutionary War. The conditions inside were said to be appauling, and hundreds died while chained to the walls. Visitors to the dungeon have complained of being touched or grabbed, and screams have been heard emanating from empty cells.

Charleston Ghost Tours

Poogan’s Porch: This quaint Victorian restaurant serves up traditional southern food along with the possibility of a ghostly encounter. The restaurant was once the home of the St. Amand sisters, and when Elizabeth St. Amand died, her sister Zoe became quite depressed. When she died in 1954, locals reported seeing her ghostly form floating around the house. After the restaurant opened, a neighborhood dog named Poogan made the porch there his second home. Diners still catch glimpses of the sisters, often in the bathroom mirrors. Magnolia Cemetery: There are many old graveyards in Charleston worth visiting (the Unitarian Church and the Phillips Church graveyards to name but two) but one of the prettiest is Magnolia Cemetery in downtown. Many generations of the townspeople are buried here, including governors and generals. The land was once a plantation but was designated a graveyard in 1850. While its manicured gardens and historic markers are worthy of touring on their own, it’s said the cemetery comes to life at night. Tours are available. Meeting Street: Nighttime on the streets of downtown Charleston is a ghost hunter’s paradise, full of sounds and cries that chill you to the bone. One specific site, 37 Meeting Street, combines magnificent yet eerie Georgian architecture with tales of buried treasure. The gray mansion that occupies the address is the site of ghostly apparitions and unearthly wails that cut through the night. Residents of the home have stories dating back decades of missing jewelry and shadows darting through the yard. It’s believed that pirates came a ground and buried their treasure there in the 1700s and are guarding it to this day.