12 Most Haunted Ships in the US

Life at sea can be spooky enough without adding ghosts to the mix, but some vessels seem to have picked up a few extra “permanent crew members” along the way. From mysterious floating cannonballs to unexplained footsteps on empty decks, America’s most haunted ships tell tales that’ll make even the bravest sailor’s skin crawl.

These floating time capsules of naval history don’t just preserve America’s maritime legacy – they’re also keeping some rather spirited company. Whether it’s World War II destroyers where phantom sailors still man their posts or historic frigates where objects move on their own, these vessels have become floating haunted houses.

And the best part? You can actually visit these nautical nightmares yourself, with some ships even offering overnight stays for the particularly brave (or foolish) ghost hunters who dare to spend a night among the specters of the sea.

Docked in Long Beach California the Queen Mary isn’t just your average floating hotel – she’s basically the ultimate ghost roommate situation. After 30 years of carrying celebs royalty & soldiers across the Atlantic this grand dame retired in 1967 with quite the supernatural baggage.

Sure she’s got the fancy 1930s decor but it’s her 47 confirmed deaths (and rumors of hundreds more) that really spice things up. Take Stateroom B340 where sheets apparently love playing tug-of-war with guests & faucets turn on for impromptu water shows. Management had to shut it down for decades before reopening it in 2018 as a “sleep-with-the-spirits” attraction.

The ship’s most famous ghostly tenant is John Pedder a young crew member who got squished by a door during a drill. He now roams around in blue coveralls asking visitors for his wrench – talk about workplace dedication! The First Class Swimming Pool & Boiler Room #4 are also hot spots for paranormal activity.

Fun fact: During WWII she became the “Grey Ghost” cramming up to 15000 soldiers onboard. In 1942 she accidentally played bumper boats with HMS Curacao resulting in 300+ sailor deaths. Guess some folks just couldn’t bring themselves to check out of this floating haunted house.

Docked at Buffalo Naval Park the USS The Sullivans carries a heartbreaking tale of five brothers who made the ultimate sacrifice. The Fighting Sullivans as they were known enlisted together in WWII and served aboard the USS Juneau until a Japanese torpedo claimed all their lives in 1942. Their tragic story led to the Navy’s Sole Survivor Policy and inspired the christening of this destroyer in their honor.

The ship’s haunted reputation stems from numerous unexplained encounters. Security guards have bolted from their posts after coming face-to-face with a bloodied apparition matching George Sullivan’s description. In the narrow corridors shadowy figures materialize and vanish while vintage radios crackle to life with mysterious static no electrician can explain.

Perhaps most intriguing are reports of the ship’s machinery operating by itself with expert precision. Crew members swear it’s George Sullivan’s spirit maintaining his beloved vessel even decades after his death. The ship’s supernatural activity drew national attention when Ghost Hunters featured it cementing The Sullivans’ status as one of America’s most haunted naval vessels.

Talk about your workplace ghosting! The USS Olympia, America’s oldest floating steel warship, isn’t just resting peacefully at Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia – she’s apparently still fully staffed with her original crew, just not the living kind.

This historic vessel, commissioned in 1895, made quite a splash during the Spanish-American War under Commodore George Dewey. Not content with just one war, she later played taxi to America’s Unknown Soldier in 1921, which might explain why some of her passengers decided to stick around permanently.

The engine room’s become something of a supernatural hot spot, with visitors getting more hands-on attention than they bargained for – literally! Phantom hands have been known to reach out near the triple-expansion engines, probably just trying to keep things shipshape. And if you think you’re seeing things in the mirrors throughout the ship, you probably are – ghostly faces have a habit of popping up for a quick hello.

Nicknamed the “Blue Ghost” by frustrated Japanese propagandists who kept claiming they’d sunk her (spoiler alert: they hadn’t), the USS Lexington now floats peacefully in Corpus Christi Texas serving up history with a side of supernatural shenanigans.

A friendly spirit named Charlie has apparently taken up the role of the ship’s unofficial tour guide. Unlike your typical grumpy ghost, this helpful specter has a habit of rescuing lost visitors and delivering impromptu engineering lectures in the engine room before pulling his signature vanishing act. Talk about dedication to maritime education!

The ship’s ghostly crew seems to have a peculiar fascination with office supplies. In one memorable incident pen caps mysteriously disappeared only to reappear later arranged in perfect formation on a desk – perhaps the most organized haunting in naval history.

The massive vessel earned her battle scars during World War II including a devastating kamikaze strike in 1944 that claimed 49 lives. Today visitors can still see the impact site marked with a Japanese flag while shadowy figures and echoes of wartime chaos continue to play out below deck. For those brave enough the Lexington offers ghost tours and even transforms into a massive haunted house during Halloween making it the perfect spot for history buffs who don’t mind their naval heritage served with a supernatural twist.

Currently docked at the Port of Los Angeles, the USS Iowa (nicknamed “The Big Stick”) isn’t just a retired battleship – it’s a floating haunted house with a crew that refuses to clock out even after death.

This 887-foot behemoth first made waves in 1943 as President Roosevelt’s personal water taxi to the Tehran Conference, complete with a custom bathtub for FDR’s comfort. Talk about presidential treatment! After playing taxi driver, she dove into the serious business of World War II, throwing punches in major campaigns from Saipan to Okinawa.

But it’s the tragic 1989 explosion in Turret #2 that really kicked off the ghost stories. Since then, paranormal activity has become as common as rust on an old ship. Turret #1 echoes with phantom maintenance crews apparently still on the clock – think ghostly footsteps and the sound of ethereal hammering. Meanwhile, Turret #2, where 47 sailors lost their lives, has become prime haunted real estate.

The ship’s most famous spectral resident is a helpful spirit nicknamed “Chief” who’s apparently taken on the role of supernatural safety inspector. He’s even credited with preventing a worker’s nasty fall – talk about going above and beyond the afterlife call of duty! Other mischievous spirits seem to enjoy playing hide-and-seek with the maintenance crew’s tools, while security guards regularly crash what sound like rowdy below-deck parties only to find empty rooms.

Moored in Baton Rouge Louisiana the USS Kidd earned its quirky nickname “Pirate of the Pacific” by flying a Jolly Roger flag and “ransoming” rescued airmen for ice cream during WWII. But these days this Fletcher-class destroyer’s playful past has given way to something far spookier.

The ship’s most active paranormal hotspots trace back to a devastating kamikaze attack on April 11 1945 that claimed 38 sailors’ lives in the forward boiler room. Visitors regularly report encounters with shadowy figures in 1940s naval uniforms who patrol the corridors before vanishing through solid metal walls.

Here’s where things get really weird – multiple witnesses have described seeing floating disembodied limbs drifting through the ship’s passageways. The old sleeping quarters seem especially lively (or should we say deadly?) with phantom footsteps heavy doors slamming shut on their own and mysterious voices echoing through empty spaces.

While you can’t book an official ghost hunt aboard this haunted hotspot the USS Kidd offers something almost as spine-tingling – overnight camping experiences where brave souls can explore the ship after dark. Just don’t expect to get much sleep with all those spectral sailors standing watch.

Known as the “Sea Witch,” the USS Salem haunts the waters of Quincy, Massachusetts with tales that’d make even the bravest sailor’s knees wobble. This Des Moines-class heavy cruiser never fired a shot in combat but managed to collect enough spirits to host a supernatural convention.

The ship’s spooky reputation bloomed after its humanitarian mission during the 1953 Ionian earthquake. While saving lives topside, its lower decks served as a makeshift morgue for hundreds of victims – talk about workplace multitasking! The third wardroom, perched right above where they stored the bodies, is now paranormal party central.

Ghost-hunting guests might bump into John, the phantom maintenance worker who gave tours before anyone realized he wasn’t on the payroll – now that’s what you call dedicated employee of the month! There’s also the “Burning Man,” who brings his own special effects with a distinct smell of ash, and a hellhound whose growl could send Scooby-Doo running for the hills.

The USS Hornet’s ghostly reputation matches its impressive war record. Now peacefully docked in Alameda California since 1998 this Essex-class carrier brings new meaning to the phrase “skeleton crew.” After playing a starring role in WWII’s Pacific theater including the Battle of the Philippine Sea in 1944 the ship later moonlighted as a space capsule recovery vessel for Apollo 11 and 12.

Ever wondered what happens when girl scouts have sleepovers on haunted aircraft carriers? One brave scout got more than she bargained for when her bunk started shaking from below. Peeking under her bed she spotted two spectral sailors one of whom turned to his buddy and said “Watch that one” before vanishing like a seagoing Houdini.

The ship’s most famous resident spook the “Dress Whites Ghost” takes his naval duties seriously even in the afterlife. This dapper apparition strolls through sealed compartments like they’re revolving doors giving visitors an impromptu lesson in ghost physics. He’s joined by a supporting cast of supernatural sailors who keep busy with phantom gunfire shouting matches and furniture rearranging sessions – because apparently the afterlife needs interior decorators too.

The USS Wisconsin, now playing host to both history buffs and ghost hunters at Norfolk VA’s Nauticus museum, earned its spooky stripes long before retirement. This Iowa-class battleship’s ghostly reputation stems from a tragic accident when an unsuspecting crewman met his end while fixing the air conditioning system – talk about the world’s worst workplace mishap!

Since its 1995 retirement, the ship’s spectral crew has kept busy. Staff members regularly spot a mysterious white mist that plays peek-a-boo throughout the vessel’s corridors. It’s like a game of nautical hide-and-seek, except the ghost always wins! Security guards have reported shadowy figures lurking in walkways, only to vanish faster than a sailor on shore leave.

The “most temperamental ship” of the Korean War now hosts haunted tours during Halloween, complete with theatrical performances. But ask any veteran staff member, and they’ll tell you the real spine-chillers happen when the actors go home. Between the phantom maintenance man still trying to fix that AC and the mischievous mist that loves playing cat and mouse with visitors, the USS Wisconsin proves some crew members never really clock out – even after death.

The Star of India sits quietly at 1492 North Harbor Drive in San Diego, but don’t let its peaceful appearance fool you. Built in 1863, this iron-hulled sailing ship hasn’t just carried cargo and immigrants – it’s picked up a few permanent passengers along the way.

Take John Campbell, a teenage stowaway who met his doom in 1884 after taking an unfortunate tumble from the mast. These days, visitors swear they feel icy hands near that same spot – probably Campbell’s ghost trying to warn others not to repeat his fatal climb. Talk about a hands-on approach to safety!

The ship’s storage locker tells an equally chilling tale. A Chinese crewman got the squeeze of his afterlife when the anchor chain turned him into a maritime pancake. Now there’s a persistent cold spot that could give your freezer a run for its money. The crew quarters aren’t much warmer, with their reputation for an oppressive chill that’s probably just the old sailors still complaining about their accommodations.

Even Ghost Adventures couldn’t resist investigating this floating time capsule, recording shadowy figures playing hide-and-seek and disembodied voices probably still arguing about whose turn it is to swab the deck.

The USS North Carolina, now peacefully bobbing in Wilmington’s waters, packs more than just 15 battle stars from World War II – it’s got a ghostly crew that never got the memo about retirement. The ship’s most frequent ethereal visitor is a young sailor who met his fate during a 1942 torpedo strike, and he’s apparently stuck on bathroom duty for eternity, regularly appearing in the ship’s washroom.

There’s also a blonde sailor who’s made quite the name for himself in the ship’s paranormal social circle. He’s often spotted doing the ghostly equivalent of a casual stroll through passageways, apparently unbothered by those pesky solid walls. The spirits seem to have a peculiar fondness for playing “ghost maintenance” – doors swing open without human touch, lights flicker on and off (sometimes actually responding to commands like well-trained supernatural assistants), and objects mysteriously relocate themselves.

Talk about dedicated service – these phantom sailors have been keeping watch since the ship opened as a museum in 1962, giving visitors more than just a history lesson. Their EVP recordings and mysterious cold spots have turned this decorated battleship into what might be the world’s largest floating ghost convention.

This grand old dame of the river might be America’s most seasoned floating ghost hostess – she’s been throwing supernatural soirées since 1914! Originally christened as the Idlewild (talk about a misleading name for a haunted boat), this historic steamboat traded her peaceful retirement plans for a career in spooking passengers along the Ohio River in Louisville.

Captain Ben Winters apparently didn’t get the memo about his death in 1948 because he’s still showing up for work. Crew members regularly report his ghostly presence in his former quarters where the temperature drops faster than a lead anchor. He’s joined by two rather unfortunate former crew members – one who had an unpleasant encounter with the paddlewheel and another who got caught in the machinery. They’ve turned the engine room into their personal haunted hangout spot.