Haunted Locations of Philadelphia
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Paranormal travel, while highly specific, is greatly sought after thanks to popular television shows and movies; especially during the Halloween season. So when it comes to all things Philadelphia, of course, I have to share the most haunted locations.
Philadelphia is one of the oldest cities in the United States and is full of history. This makes “The City of Brotherly Love” a ghost hunter’s dream.
From historical locations like the Fort Mifflin or Eastern State Penitentiary to graveyards and even a few unexpected locations, such as The Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia is rich in paranormal activity.
Whether you believe in ghosts and supernatural activity is completely personal, however, if you happen to find yourself visiting Philadelphia during the spooky season, then you might want to check out a few of these places even if just for the fun of it all.
Want to take a guided ghost tour of Philadelphia? Here are some companies that offer great walking ghost tours:
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Top Haunted Attractions in Philadelphia
American Philosophical Society Library
It is believed that Ben Franklin himself haunts the American Philosophical Society Library. It is said that in 1884 a library employee was knocked over when a ghost figure rushed towards a bookshelf, marking the first documented ghost sighting in the Library. After recounting the experience the individual described the figure to be that of Ben Franklin.
Additional haunted stories include sightings of the Ben Franklin statue leaving his pedestal and dancing in the streets outside the library. Others have said they saw Franklin heading home or to the famous City Tavern.
You can visit the American Philosophical Society Library Thursday – Sunday 10 AM – 5 PM. Tickets for the museum are currently available here. (This is not a ghost tour.)
Address: 104 S 5th St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Betsy Ross House
Featured on “Ghost Hunters” (Season 5, Episode 1), the team found evidence of the house being haunted by what might be that of a security guard who was murdered in the gift shop basement.
Visitors and employees of the house claim to hear voices throughout the house. There are additional claims of hands grabbing and dark shadows.
Whether it is the old owner of the house or the murdered security guard haunting the grounds, Betsy Ross House is a great historical location to add to your city exploration.
You can visit the Betsy Ross House every day from 10 AM – 5 PM. Admission for a self-guided tour starts at $8 and tickets can be purchased here. (This is not a ghost tour.)
Bishop White House
Some of the ghosts that allegedly haunt the Bishop White House include John a free African-American and friend of Bishop William White (owner of the home) who died of yellow fever, Mrs. Boggs a previous staff member of the home, Bishop White himself, and the cat of Dr. Benjamin Rush.
The house is currently closed due to COVID-19, but you can walk past to see this historic location and maybe get a glimpse of the mysterious ghost cat.
Christ Church Burial Ground
Cemeteries are always at the top of the list for haunted locations and Christ Church Burial Ground is no exception.
The final resting spot for Ben Franklin, some say he haunts this location along with a few others on this list.
He reportedly throws pennies at visitors from stolen pocket change.
Address: 340 N 5th St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Planning a trip to Philadelphia? Check out these other posts to help you plan!
Cliveden
Cliveden is where the Battle of Germantown occurred in 1777. With war comes death, so there is no question that many consider this location haunted.
Occupied by the British, it is believed that many Continential Soldiers still haunt this location along with their own Benjamin Chew. Stories include sightings of a headless woman wandering around in search of the missing body part.
However, if you talk to locals or even those who have previously lived in the home, no one has reported ghostly activity. Guess that means you have to go find out for yourself!
To tour the manor, purchase your tickets online, with a starting cost of $15.
Cruiser Olympia
Floating in the Delaware River at Penn’s Landing is the Olympia, the oldest steel ship that remains afloat. First used in 1895 Olympia has 26 years of service.
Olympia rose to fame in the Battle of Manila Bay on May 1, 1898, which launched the Spanish-American war.
Her past career was violent and bloody, which leaves many to believe that it is haunted. Stories include shadowy figures in the boiler room, unexplained voices, and apparitions of soldiers.
Explore the Olympia during the day for $18 per adult, or take a tour with Ghost Tour Philadelphia for $19.
Eastern State Penitentiary
One of the most well-known spooky locations in Philadelphia, Eastern State Penitentiary was once home to the famous mobster Al Capone.
This historic prison was one of the most famous and expensive prisons in the world and held many notorious individuals, including prisoner C-2559, Pep the black Scotch retriever. The story of Pep is actually pretty interesting as his prisoner information was fabricated to provide a background story but later earned his reputation by murdering a few cats.
However, when it comes to the ghost stories of Eastern State nothing is as adorable as Pep the dog.
Cellblock 4 is said to have unknown forces and faces appearing on walls while Cellblock 12 has echoing voices and Cellblock 6 has shadow figures making their way around the block.
Eastern State does not claim the location to be haunted but does provide nightly tours throughout the summer for individuals to make a decision for themselves.
Personal experiences while visiting Eastern State can leave you questioning many things about life. On my last visit while walking through cellblock 12 I felt like I was suddenly at sea. Unexplainable and completely random, but once I was outside I felt fine. I’m not sure if it was from the angle of the sun or maybe it was someone’s spirit left behind trying to communicate. Who knows, but if you are looking for a great haunted location Eastern State is perfect for the ghost hunter enthusiast.
Like many locations, during the Halloween season, Eastern State puts on a haunted attraction with actors popping out of corners, loud chainsaws, fog machines, and strobe lights. As one of the must-do activities in Philadelphia during Halloween, expect a long line and definitely buy tickets ahead of time.
You can explore Eastern State Penitentiary during the day from 10 AM – 5 PM (last entry at 4 PM) starting at $17. It is highly recommended you purchase tickets online not only for the discount but so you can cut the lines and get as much time as possible to explore.
Address: 2027 Fairmount Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19130
Elfreth’s Alley
Known as the oldest continually-inhabited street in the United States, Elfreth’s Alley attracts thousands of individuals each year. Legend has it that the street is haunted by a soldier who was hanged during the Revolutionary War, however, there are no records to confirm the death.
This doesn’t mean the alley is not haunted! With over 300+ years of inhabitants, it is no surprise for visitors to have numerous different stories from orbs being captured on film to some being choked or suffocated by unknown forces.
You can explore the Elfreth’s Alley Museum inside homes 124 and 126, converted 18th-century residences. But to explore the Alley there is no admission needed.
Whether you believe in ghosts or not, this location is a great historical spot to explore.
First Bank of the United States
Established in 1791, it is said the First Bank of the United States still has some of the Nations famous founding fathers roaming the halls.
Specifically Alexander Hamilton, however, the Bank has been closed to the public for over 40 years so there are no known witnesses to these claims.
If you currently stand outside of the building many visitors proclaim that their electronics such as cell phone batteries are drained very quickly. While this might be a coincidence or natural phenomenon, many believe it is the work of paranormal activity.
Address: 120 S 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Fort Mifflin
Known as “The fort that saved America”, Fort Mifflin sits on the west bank of the Delaware River just north of the Philadelphia airport.
The fort has played a part in almost every war that the United States has fought from 1771 until 1954 when it was no longer an active military base.
With centuries of death, trauma, destruction, and more it is no wonder that the stories of paranormal activity are abundant.
Want to learn about having a first-hand experience with the Ghost of Fort Mifflin? Check out their Paranormal Program opportunities.
Stories include the soldier in casemate 5 who hates blonde women, the screaming lady in the officer quarters, and the lady in white who walks the fort’s walls looking for her lost love.
Even if you don’t believe the evidence such as the Ghost Hunters, Fort Mifflin offers many activities with reenactments and history lessons.
Grumblethorpe
Built-in 1744 Grumblethorpe looks like many of the other Germantown colonial homes, with a historical past.
On October 4, 1777, British Brigadier General Agnew was brought back to Grumblethorpe after being wounded in the Battle of Germantown. He bled to death on the wooden floors and the stain of his death still remains.
Agnew is said to continue haunting the residence ever since that day. However, Agnew is not the only spirit reported to haunt this location.
If you ever stop by on a Friday evening you might get a waft of freshly baked bread. This is believed to be the old house manager Justinia who passed away in 1820. She was apparently seen the night of her death by John Wister’s (owner of the home at the time) daughters shortly after her death and almost every Friday night since.
Other encounters recorded include black shadows, faces and eyes appearing in mirrors that are not there, and more.
Grumblethorpe is used today for many local activities such as farmer’s markets, art galleries, etc. If you are interested in taking a tour check out their website here.
Moshulu
Once a warship in WWI, the ship played its part in the death. With approximately 30 deaths onboard, crew members have reported candles being lit when no one is on board, lanterns turned on even when they were extinguished the night before, and more.
Want a unique dining experience while visiting Philadelphia? Then you definitely need to make a reservation at the Moshulu!
Address: 401 S Christopher Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Conclusion
As one of the oldest cities in the United States, Philadelphia is riddled with history. With history comes stories of paranormal activity. From ladies in white, apparitians of our founding fathers, or soldiers stuck in the past, Philadelphia has a little something for everyone. The best part of visiting Philadelphia for paranormal tourism is that you don’t have to wait until Halloween season to explore the ledgends.
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