The most haunted place in Charleston is almost certainly the Old City Jail, a four-story gothic hulk that nearly every paranormal team in the country has investigated. The list continues underground at the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, where Blackbeard was once held; at Poogan's Porch, where the St. Amand sisters still appear in the mirrors; and at Magnolia Cemetery and the old streets downtown. Here is where the port city founded in 1670 keeps its ghosts.
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.
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.
Questions people ask
What is the most haunted place in Charleston?
The Old City Jail. Dark skulking shadows, unexplained touches, and sounds that send visitors out the door have been reported by investigators and guests alike, and tours take the willing inside after dark.
What happened at the Provost Dungeon?
Built to hold British-era prisoners, the underground dungeon housed hundreds in conditions so poor that many died chained to its walls; Blackbeard himself was once held there. Visitors report being touched or grabbed, and screams from empty cells.
Is Poogan's Porch haunted?
Diners think so. The Victorian restaurant was once home to the St. Amand sisters, and after Zoe St. Amand died in 1954 her figure began appearing around the house, often glimpsed in the bathroom mirrors. The porch's namesake dog adds the gentler half of the story.
