Some Pennsylvania history refuses to stay in the past. Across the state, historic landmarks come with unexplained sounds, shadowy figures, and stories that never settled down. Visit these reportedly haunted places and see what follows you home. 

Exterior of a brick house with a sign outside that reads, "Farnsworth House Dining."

Haunted Places to Visit in PA

1. Farnsworth House Inn

Gettysburg

Used as a shelter for Confederate sharpshooters and a makeshift hospital after the Battle of Gettysburg, the Farnsworth House Inn is touted as one of the most haunted places in the United States. Stay in the historic bed-and-breakfast and choose from a variety of eerie experiences, including ghost hunts and guided walks through cemeteries, cellars, hospitals, and battle sites.

2. Old Jail Museum

Jim Thorpe

Between 1877 and 1878, seven accused Molly Maguires were imprisoned and executed at what is now Jim Thorpe’s Old Jail Museum. Walk through the basement and Cell 17, where prisoner Alexander Campbell reportedly left a handprint while declaring his innocence before his execution. The mark remains visible despite repeated attempts to wash, paint, and plaster over it. 

3. Penn’s Cave & Wildlife Park

Centre Hall

Tour Penn’s Cave & Wildlife Park, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and explore its local folklore. Hear the legend of Nita-nee and Malachi Boyer, a forbidden couple who fled together before being captured. According to the story, Malachi was abandoned inside the cave, where some believe his spirit still lingers.

4. Cathedral of Learning

Pittsburgh

The eerie Early American Room in the Cathedral of Learning, the educational tower that looms over the University of Pittsburgh, is known for its mysterious activity, including shifting furniture and objects, cold spots, and randomly flaring candles, making it one of our favorite haunted areas near Pittsburgh.

5. Mishler Theatre

Altoona

According to testimony from Madeline Letsche, the ghost of Isaac Mishler, who died in 1944, haunts Altoona’s historic Mishler Theatre. Madeline, whose mother worked at the theater decades ago, reported smelling his cigar smoke and sensing his presence. Stage crew members, office workers, and visitors have since described similar experiences. Attend a performance, and you may encounter more than the evening’s scheduled entertainment. 

Entrance to a school with cars in the front parking lot and a dark sunset overhead

6. Haunted Hill View Manor

New Castle

Visitors to Haunted Hill View Manor have reported hearing voices and footsteps and seeing numerous apparitions, including patients peeking out of rooms, a young boy, and a man who offers to take guests’ photos. The facility, which operated from 1926 to 2004 as a home for the mentally ill, elderly, and financially destitute, is open for tours as well as public and private investigations. During the Halloween months, the historic property becomes a top haunted attraction in Pennsylvania with special spooky events throughout the season. 

7. Historic Hotel Bethlehem

Bethlehem

The award-winning Historic Hotel Bethlehem is said to host several friendly ghosts, each with a favorite corner of the property. Reported visitors include a 19th-century stage star in the lobby and a former tour guide greeting guests near the boiler room. Keep watch for a former landlady who reportedly appears without shoes or stockings. Read more about the paranormal places where you can stay in PA. 

8. Gettysburg National Military Park

Gettysburg

Gettysburg National Military Park preserves the site of the Civil War’s bloodiest battle, where thousands of soldiers were killed, wounded, or reported missing. Visitors have reported hearing phantom drums, distant musket fire, and other unexplained sounds across the battlefield. Explore respectfully and remember that this is sacred ground, where the National Park Service does not offer ghost tours. 

9. York’s Penn Park

York

With its basketball courts, splash pad, and tranquil setting, it’s hard to imagine that the beautiful York’s Penn Park was once the location of a U.S. army hospital where 14,000 soldiers were treated during the Civil War. Their spirits are believed to haunt the park to this day.

10. Paoli Battlefield Historical Park

Malvern

Paoli Battlefield Historical Park was the site of one of the most gruesome battles of the American Revolution. The British troops attacked the Americans at midnight with bayonets and swords, leaving many dead and perhaps a few spirits in their wake. Some visitors claim they have spoken with the fallen soldiers at this haunted area near Philadelphia. 

Silhouettes of two adults and a child standing on an old bridge with the sun shining through

11. Sachs Covered Bridge & Jennie Wade House

Gettysburg

Seek out more scares and dive deeper into the ghostly history of the town at a variety of haunted areas near downtown Gettysburg. Sites such as the Sachs Covered Bridge, the Jennie Wade House, and other historic buildings stake claim to paranormal sightings. Take a self-guided walking tour through town and discover more of Gettysburg’s haunted history. 

12. Betsy Ross House

Philadelphia

You may run into the spirit of the iconic woman who designed the first American flag herself when you take a tour of the Betsy Ross House in Old City, Philadelphia. Paranormal experts guess that having dealt with the loss of a husband and several children in her lifetime is why she’s often seen and heard crying in her old homestead. 

13. Pennhurst Asylum

Spring City

Once home to the Pennhurst State School, Pennhurst Asylum reopens on select nights from September through November as a seasonal haunted attraction. For history without chainsaws or creatures, take a three-hour daytime tour featuring remediated spaces, preserved artifacts, and stories from former employees. Photographers can examine the former institution’s architecture and history during a dedicated photography tour. 

14. Night of the Living Dead Cemetery

Evans City

In a remote cemetery in Evans City, hidden from view, the “living dead” rose from the ground and walked the Earth in search of human flesh — or, at least, that’s what happened in the 1968 film Night of the Living Dead, directed by George A. Romero. Scenes of this cult-horror classic were filmed throughout Evans City, including the Evans City Cemetery, where the opening sequence of the movie takes place. Travel to see where the global zombie craze began at this cemetery and stumble upon some ghostly acquaintances while there. 

15. Selma Mansion

Norristown

A federal-style manor with a storied past, the Selma Mansion is one of the oldest structures in Norristown, Pennsylvania. Dating back to 1794, this historic home is said to be haunted by members of the various families who once resided and died on property. Schedule an appointment or visit during an open house, annual history day, or Halloween House of Horrors event. 

16. Carrie Blast Furnace

Pittsburgh

Located along the Monongahela River, the Carrie Blast Furnaces are among the few surviving pre-World War II blast furnaces in the country. This National Historic Landmark preserves Pittsburgh’s steelmaking history and the difficult conditions workers faced during the early 20th century. Visitors have reported unexplained sounds, voices, and shadowy figures while touring the site. 

Haunted Road Trips in PA