New York City is packed with history, but not all of it is buried in the past—some of it still lingers in the shadows.
From grand old mansions to hidden alleyways, eerie bridges to legendary hotels, the city is full of places where strange things happen.
People have reported flickering lights, ghostly footsteps, and figures that vanish into thin air.
Whether you believe in the paranormal or just love a good ghost story, these haunted spots will make you think twice before walking alone at night.
1. Merchant’s House Museum
The Merchant’s House Museum located at 29 East Fourth Street is one of the most haunted places in NYC, and if you step inside, you might just feel a ghostly chill.
Built in 1832, this perfectly preserved townhouse was home to the wealthy Tredwell family for nearly 100 years, and many believe the last resident, Gertrude Tredwell, never really left.
Visitors and staff have reported eerie footsteps, whispers, and even the faint scent of perfume wafting through the 19th-century rooms.
Almost all the original furniture remains in place, just as it did when Gertrude lived there.
If you’re brave enough, you can take one of their candlelit ghost tours—just be prepared to hear something (or someone) following you up the grand staircase.
2. House of Death
Just a few blocks away, on West 10th Street in Greenwich Village, sits the infamous House of Death—one of the city’s most chilling brownstones.
This 19th-century townhouse, built in the 1850s, has been the site of multiple deaths over the years and is believed to be haunted by up to 22 spirits.
One of them is Mark Twain, who lived here briefly from 1900 to 1901—some claim he still haunts the building.
Residents have reported flickering lights, shadowy figures, and even a ghostly woman in a long gown floating through the hallways.
Today, the building is still a private residence, but if you walk by at night, don’t be surprised if you get the eerie feeling that someone—or something—is watching from the windows.
3. Washington Square Park
This park might be one of NYC’s liveliest spots, but beneath its bustling walkways and street performers lies a seriously creepy past.
Before it became a park, this land was used as a potter’s field between 1797 and 1825 where thousands of bodies—mostly the poor and victims of yellow fever—were buried in unmarked graves.
Human remains have been uncovered during various construction projects in and around the area, including fragmentary remains found between 2008 and 2017, which were reinterred in 2021.
Next time you walk under the famous arch, just remember—you’re standing near the remains of up to 20,000 people.
4. The Dakota
Just a short walk from the park, The Dakota looms over Central Park West with its dark, gothic-style architecture and a spooky history.
Built between 1880 and 1884, this luxury apartment building has long been rumored to be haunted, with residents and staff reporting sightings of a little girl in period clothing wandering the halls.
It’s also infamous as the place where John Lennon was tragically killed outside in 1980, and some claim his spirit still lingers, with reports suggesting Yoko Ono has mentioned seeing his apparition.
There’s no denying that The Dakota has an unsettling energy—especially when you catch a glimpse of its windows on a foggy night.
5. White Horse Tavern
Head back downtown to White Horse Tavern, where the spirits aren’t just behind the bar.
This historic West Village pub, dating back to 1880, is best known as a favorite haunt of poet Dylan Thomas.
He died in St. Vincent’s Hospital in November 1953 after he allegedly drank 18 shots of whiskey at the White Horse Tavern.
Since then, staff and patrons have reported eerie occurrences—glasses moving on their own and cold spots near his favorite table.
Some say Thomas himself still lingers, possibly waiting for one last drink, so if you stop by for a pint, you might not be alone.
6. The Octagon, Roosevelt Island
If you think luxury apartments can’t be haunted, The Octagon on Roosevelt Island might make you think again.
Originally built in the 1830s as the entrance to the New York City Lunatic Asylum, this renovated building once held thousands of patients—many of whom suffered horrific mistreatment.
Residents have reported strange noises, sudden temperature drops, and even ghostly figures appearing in the hallways, leading some to believe that not all of the former patients ever left.
It may look sleek and modern now, but knowing its past, you might not want to be alone in the elevator at night.
7. Morris-Jumel Mansion
For a place with both history and ghosts, this mansion in Washington Heights has plenty of both.
Built in 1765, this is Manhattan’s oldest surviving house.
Over the years, it has been home to everyone from George Washington to Eliza Jumel, a wealthy socialite whose spirit is said to still haunt the halls.
Visitors have reported hearing disembodied voices, footsteps on the grand staircase, and even spotting Eliza herself in a violet dress, glaring at intruders before vanishing into thin air.
With its creaky wooden floors and old artifacts, stepping inside feels like traveling back in time—just don’t be surprised if something from the past reaches out to greet you.
8. McCarren Park Pool
McCarren Park Pool in Brooklyn has a history that some believe carries a ghostly past.
Opened in 1936, this massive public pool was once a summer hotspot, but after closing in 1984, it sat abandoned for years.
While it was closed, it became a graffiti-covered wasteland rumored to be haunted by the spirits of those who drowned there.
Even after its grand reopening in 2012, some have shared stories of strange splashes, sudden chills in the water, and the unsettling feeling of being watched—even when the pool is empty.
Whether the hauntings are real or just urban legend, there’s something creepy about swimming in a place with such a mysterious history.
9. St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery
If McCarren Park Pool’s ghost stories give you chills, this church might just convince you that some spirits never leave.
Built in 1799 on land once owned by Peter Stuyvesant, the last Dutch governor of New Amsterdam, this is the second-oldest church in NYC—and possibly one of the most haunted.
Legend has it that Stuyvesant himself still roams the grounds, and visitors have reported hearing his signature wooden peg leg stomping through the church late at night.
Some say his ghost even interrupts services by knocking on the walls, proving that even in the afterlife, he still wants to be in charge.
10. Conference House (Billop House)
If St. Mark’s Church’s ghostly knocks aren’t enough to spook you, the Conference House on Staten Island has an even darker past.
Built in the late 1600s, this historic stone house was the site of a failed peace meeting during the Revolutionary War.
Local legends tell of a servant girl who was allegedly murdered here, and many believe her spirit never left.
Visitors have reported strange whispers, flickering candlelight, and sudden cold spots, especially near the basement where her body was supposedly found.
With its isolated location by the water and centuries of history within its walls, this house feels like the kind of place where the past refuses to stay buried.
11. Kreischer Mansion
Staten Island’s Kreischer Mansion takes things to a whole new level when it comes to its dark history.
This 19th-century Victorian home looks like something straight out of a horror movie, and its past is just as terrifying.
Edward B. Kreischer died under mysterious circumstances, and decades later, a gruesome mob-related murder took place inside.
Locals swear they’ve seen shadowy figures in the windows, heard disembodied voices, and even spotted mysterious flickering lights in the house.
With its history soaked in tragedy, and an eerie reputation, it’s the kind of place you don’t want to get too close to—especially after dark.
12. Hotel Chelsea
If Kreischer Mansion’s haunted isolation feels too intense, this hotel in Manhattan proves that even a busy place can be packed with ghosts.
This iconic building has housed some of the most famous artists, writers, and musicians in history—including Andy Warhol and Patti Smith.
But it’s also seen its fair share of tragedy, including the infamous 1978 death of Nancy Spungen, girlfriend of Sid Vicious.
Guests have reported lights that flicker, unexplained cold spots, and even ghostly apparitions.
A woman in Victorian clothing is said to float through the hallways, remaining a part of local legend.
With its long history of creative chaos, wild parties, and untimely deaths, the Hotel Chelsea might just be proof that some guests never really check out.
13. Belasco Theatre
The Belasco Theatre in Midtown takes ghostly encounters to center stage.
Built in 1907 by theater impresario David Belasco, this Broadway venue is said to be haunted by Belasco himself, who was so obsessed with his theater that he never truly left.
Actors and staff have reported seeing his ghost—a tall figure dressed in a priest-like cassock—watching performances from his old private balcony.
They’ve also encountered mysterious footsteps, flickering lights, and sudden cold drafts backstage.
Some even claim that if a show impresses him, he makes his presence known with a soft pat on the back—so if you ever get a ticket here, keep an eye on the balcony seats.
14. Hell Gate Bridge
If ghosts lingering in theaters sound spooky, this bridge in Astoria, Queens, takes things to an even creepier level.
Stretching over the East River, this massive steel bridge was built in 1916.
Legend says the waters below are haunted by the spirits of those who drowned there—including the ghosts of a doomed train said to have plunged into the river long ago.
Some people claim to have seen shadowy figures walking along the tracks or strange lights flickering on the bridge late at night, even when no trains are passing.
With its ominous name, nighttime silence, and urban legends, this bridge might just be the most haunted crossing in NYC.
15. Litchfield Villa
If Hell Gate Bridge’s ghostly legends don’t give you chills, then this mansion in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park might change that.
Built in 1857 as the mansion of railroad tycoon Edwin Litchfield, this grand Italianate-style villa now serves as park offices—but some say its original owner never really moved out.
Staff and visitors have reported hearing phantom footsteps and seeing shadowy figures moving through the halls, especially late at night when the building is supposed to be empty.
With its towering turrets and eerie stillness after dark, Litchfield Villa feels like a place where history still lingers.
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