It probably comes as no surprise that Gettysburg is considered one of America’s most haunted cities. The Battle of Gettysburg claimed so many lives and has undoubtedly left its mark on the land, but there have been other deaths and tragedies here, too, which have led to hauntings.
You can’t even turn around in Gettysburg facing a haunted location!
Let’s dig right in as we visit these haunted hotspots on our tour of the most haunted places in Gettysburg, PA.
1. Sachs Covered Bridge
Sachs Bridge is a covered bridge in Gettysburg that spans Marsh Creek. The original Sachs Bridge was destroyed during a storm in 1996 but has since been rebuilt using many of the old materials salvaged.
Although it has been closed to traffic since the 190s, it remains a popular spot for those seeking a paranormal encounter.
The tale linked to the bridge involves three Confederate soldiers who deserted their unit and, upon capture, were hanged from Sachs Bridge. Several people have spotted apparitions of soldiers on the bridge, and mists and strange anomalies appear in photographs taken there.
2. Devil’s Den
Devil’s Den is an area of the Gettysburg Battlefield that saw heavy fighting on the second day of the battle. It is now believed to be one of the most active areas of the battlefield regarding paranormal activity and one of the most haunted locations in Gettysburg.
Some witness reports include the sound of drums and gunshots, camera malfunctions, and even items being pulled from visitors’ hands by unseen forces.
Perhaps the most compelling reports are from the visitors who claim to have encountered a friendly soldier with whom they have had a conversation, but he does not show up when they take his picture and has been known to disappear suddenly!
3. Tillie Pierce House Inn
Another one of the most haunted inns in Gettysburg would have to be the Tillie Pierce House Inn. If you recognize the name Tillie Pierce, it is probably because she became very well-known for writing a book detailing her experiences and the aftermath of the Battle of Gettysburg.
She was a teenager then and was pulled into nursing and caring for the wounded soldiers. She was witness to many things that were not befitting of a teenage girl, including the battle itself, numerous amputations, and many other horrors associated with such a bloody war.
The most haunted spot in the inn is said to be The Blue Room. People have heard footsteps approaching them in the attic and claimed someone is sitting on the bed watching them!
Some guests have reported seeing a soldier who constantly walks down the stairs, enters the blue room, and retreats up the stairs again, almost as though he is patrolling the area!
4. The Daniel Lady Farm
The Daniel Lady Farm was used during the Civil War as a field hospital for the Confederate Army and General Ewell’s Second Corps, so it is no surprise that this is considered one of the most haunted places in Gettysburg.
Soldiers injured during the battle were transported to the barn, and officers were sent to the farmhouse, either to recover from their wounds or to die, depending on the severity of their injuries. Many of the men passing through here had chest wounds and/or missing limbs.
The farmhouse and barn would have seen far more than its fair share of horror, especially considering wartime amputations were performed without much in the way of anesthetic or medical equipment!
Forensically verified bloodstains remain on floors in the house that indicate where operations took place, patients propped themselves along the walls, and where a body lay on the floor!
It is believed that General Isaac Ewell and his troops still haunt the farm today. The restored house and barn, owned by the Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association, are open for tours on weekends from April through December, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
5. Gettysburg Hotel
The Gettysburg Hotel was established in 1797 and is said to be one of the most haunted hotels in Gettysburg. It is haunted by a spirit named Rachel, who is believed to be a Civil War-era nurse who is still looking for wounded soldiers that she can care for.
Guests have reported Rachel opening their drawers and taking some of their clothing out for them to wear. Rachel is not the only spirit who is haunting the Gettysburg Hotel.
The others include a wounded soldier and a lady still dancing in the ballroom!
Paranormal investigators have identified the wounded soldier as James Culbertson, a Union soldier from Company K, Pennsylvania Reserves!
6. Cashtown Inn
Cashtown Inn has become infamous because it was where the first soldier was killed during the Gettysburg portion of the Civil War. According to the property’s current owners, the inn is incredibly haunted.
They have a collection of photographs dating back to 1987 right up until recently, which show strange orbs of light and even skeletal figures showing up.
Guests at the inn have also reported unexplained banging on their doors, lights being switched on and off by unseen hands, and doors being locked or unlocked seemingly by themselves!
One of the strangest examples of paranormal activity reported here is that some guests have returned to their rooms after a day out only to find their suitcases neatly packed, with no explanation!
7. Jennie Wade House
The Jennie Wade House has long been considered one of the most haunted houses in Gettysburg.
Jennie Wade never lived in the home; it was rented by her sister Georgia.
Georgia had given birth just four days before the battle. Jennie, her mother, brother, and a neighbor boy had gathered there to support Georgia during the battle.
Jennie is famous for being the only civilian casualty directly killed during the Battle of Gettysburg.
A stray bullet entered this home, passing through two doors while Jennie was mixing dough for biscuits, entering her back, and killing her.
The house is now one of Gettysburg’s most popular tourist spots, and the famous bullet holes in the doors can still be seen!
It has been claimed that if female visitors place their finger in the interior door bullet hole, Jennie will give them a special gift—they will receive a marriage proposal within a year.
This is thought to be because poor Jennie was killed before her marriage, and she doesn’t want other ladies to suffer that same fate!
8. Children’s Orphanage
The Children’s Orphanage, located at 777 Baltimore Street, is now the headquarters for Ghostly Images, a group specializing in haunted tours. The building is also haunted, which is probably why they chose it as their base!
The Orphanage opened in 1866 but ended up being closed down just 11 years later after it was discovered that the mistress was chaining the orphans to the cellar walls, locking them in a dungeon, and practically drowning them in vats of water.
Missing orphans were never found. Rosa (the mistress) claimed they ran away, but the local citizens were suspicious. Rosa was put on trial and found guilty of “Cruelty to Children.” She was fined $20 and forced out of town.
Many are convinced that the orphanage is home to the ghosts of children who succumbed to illness and hunger, while some argue it’s the specter of Rosa Carmichael that lingers in the corridors of the Children’s Orphanage. Either way, the building is one of the most eerie locations in Gettysburg.
9. General Lee’s Headquarters
General Robert E. Lee’s former headquarters in Gettysburg, now a museum, is notorious for its paranormal activity. Visitors report full-body apparitions, particularly in the upstairs attic, where a restless spirit is known to roam.
The 4-acre property echoes with phantom sounds of drumbeats, cannon fire, and gunfire, immersing visitors in the residual energy of the Battle of Gettysburg.
A trail winding through the grounds offers a chilling walk, with the eerie cries of spectral soldiers occasionally piercing the silence.
Within the museum, unexplained phenomena abound. Doors and cabinets mysteriously open on their own, objects relocate without explanation, and the sounds of bullets striking the building create an unsettling atmosphere.
Lights flicker and dim as if touched by unseen hands, adding to the eerie ambiance of this historic site. Here, the past feels unsettlingly close to the present.
10. Farnsworth House Inn
According to locals, Farnsworth House Inn is haunted by more than a dozen different spirits, making it one of the most haunted houses in Gettysburg!
One of the most well-known spirits is a former nurse named Mary, who is still doing her sworn duty by trying to help and comfort those ill or injured.
There is also the spirit of a little boy called Jeremy, who was killed in an accident and is spotted regularly around the inn and is often heard sobbing in his former room.
The house was originally built in 1810 and was used to shelter Confederate sharpshooters. To this day, there are still around 100 visible bullet holes in the brick walls!
11. Gettysburg College
Gettysburg College, steeped in history, stands on ground that once bore the heavy burden of the Civil War. Pennsylvania Hall, a prominent structure on campus, served as an emergency hospital for both Confederate and Union soldiers, witnessing countless deaths due to battle wounds, infections, and disease.
This tragic past has seemingly imprinted on the college, manifesting as hauntings and unexplained phenomena.
Campus life at Gettysburg College is often intertwined with the supernatural. Students and faculty regularly report mysterious occurrences: objects disappearing or shifting places, lights flickering inexplicably, and an undeniable presence of unseen energies.
Sightings of soldier apparitions are not uncommon, but the campus lore doesn’t end there. The tragic tale of the “Blue Boy,” an orphan who met a chilling fate on a freezing winter night, lingers. His haunting visage is said to occasionally appear in the windows of a dormitory, a spectral reminder of the college’s somber history.
12. Gettysburg National Cemetery
Cemeteries are synonymous with supernatural activity, and Gettysburg National Cemetery is among the most haunted. With nearly 4,000 Civil War graves, it’s a focal point for paranormal encounters.
Originally, soldiers were hastily buried where they fell, but exposure to elements led to the urgent creation of this cemetery. The delay between death and reburial, coupled with the violent nature of the soldiers’ demise, is believed to have contributed to the site’s intense spectral presence.
This cemetery is not just a resting place for souls; it’s also where Abraham Lincoln immortalized the sacrifices made in his Gettysburg Address. His words echo the sentiment that the ground is hallowed by those who fell, making it a sacred historical and paranormal landmark.
Numerous visitors strolling through the cemetery have encountered mysterious orbs of light drifting aimlessly over the well-kept grass. They’ve also observed ghostly figures traversing the rolling hills and the immaculate terrain. As darkness falls, the breeze often carries haunting echoes of battle – the crackle of gunfire, the deep rumble of cannon fire, and the piercing cries of the tormented.
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