The past, especially when it is traumatic, does not always fade away even after years and years have already passed. Across the United States of America, various houses hold memories of tragedy, pain, and mystery. From abandoned mansions to eerie estates, this article brings you a detailed list of the top 10 haunted houses in America with notorious histories that may leave one with chills down their spines.
Most Haunted House in America
1. Winchester Mystery House
Location: 525 South Winchester Boulevard San Jose, CA 95128.
The Winchester Mystery House was built by Sarah Winchester, the widow of the son and founder of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, William Winchester, in 1884. The house which was supposed to be a simple eight-room farmhouse turned into a four-story home with 160 rooms, around 10,000 windows, and 2,000 doors. What’s weird about this house is that there are staircases that lead to nowhere, doors that do not have anything on the other side, and rooms that have no exit. According to the legends, Sarah built her house like a maze to confuse the spirits of the victims who died because the rifles manufactured by her husband’s company she believed would come seeking vengeance from her. The house is believed to be haunted by those spirits.
2. Myrtles Plantation
Location: 7747 U.S. 61, St. Francisville, Louisiana.
Another one on the list of 10 haunted houses in America with notorious histories is the Myrtles Plantation located in Louisiana. The owner of the house, Judge Clark Woodruff, reportedly had an affair with a servant of the plantation, Chloe. However, when the owner started seeing another girl, Chloe feared she would be thrown into the fields to work with other servants. Hence, she came up with a plan and baked a cake that had poisonous crushed oleander leaves. She hoped to restore her worth by nursing the children of the owner who ate the cake back to health but the children died. Afraid of being accused of the murder, the other servants hung her to death and threw her body into the river. People have heard the laughing sounds of young girls and spotted spirits since then.
3. Whaley House
Location: 2476 San Diego Avenue, San Diego, California.
Whaley house was the residence of the Whaley family. According to the legends associated with the house, it is said to be haunted even before the construction of it began. The house is reportedly built on the land where the Yankee Jim Robinson, a popular local thief, was publicly executed. The family, soon after shifting into the house, was struck by doom and saw many deaths of close family members, including the daughters. The family believed that the house was haunted by the spirit of Yankee Jim Robinson, and ghost sightings are still reported making it another one of the top 10 haunted houses in America with notorious histories. The haunted house is so famous that people have started going on guided tours of the house.
4. LaLaurie Mansion
Location: 1140 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70116, USA.
The LaLaurie Mansion, located in New Orleans, was once the residence of a socialite serial killer named Marie Delphine Macarty, who is believed to have tortured and killed the servants in her mansion brutally. Even after 200 years, people still believe to have seen ghostly appearances and experienced paranormal activities in the mansion making it another one of the top 10 haunted houses in America with notorious histories. The mansion has also been a major part of the famous American television series American Horror Story but the crew never filmed in the actual mansion.
5. Lizzie Borden House
Location: 230 Second St, Fall River, MA 02721, USA.
Lizzie Borden House is another one of the top 10 haunted houses in America with notorious histories that is now a popular tourist attraction for those who wish to explore dark history. The house is famous for the unsolved double murders of Andrew and Abby Borden that took place in the house for which Lizzie Borden, who was the only one present in the house at the time of the murder, was acquitted. However, many different theories circulate about who actually committed those murders. People who visited the house reported many strange things and paranormal activities in the house.
6. Villisca Axe Murder House
Location: 508 E 2nd St, Villisca, IA 50864, United States.
The Villisca Axe Murder House is another one of the top 10 haunted houses in America with notorious histories that are famous for the multiple murders that were committed in the year 1912 when 8 victims, including 6 children, were murdered in their sleep, followed by a church service. The murder mystery remained unsolved, and the people visiting the house reported hearing whispers and knocks and having unexplainable paranormal experiences.
7. 112 Ocean Avenue
Location: 112 Ocean Avenue, Amityville, New York, USA.
Another one in the list of top 10 haunted houses in America with notorious histories is 112 Ocean Avenue, which came into the limelight after becoming the crime location for the mass murders committed in the year 1974 when a 23-year-old man named Ronald DeFeo Jr. shot six members of his family dead in their sleep. Since then, the house is said to be haunted, and the family who moved into the house in 1975 claimed to have been terrorized by paranormal activities.
8. The White House
Location: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20500, U.S.
One of the most shocking ones in the list of top 10 haunted houses in America with notorious histories is the White House which is said to be haunted by the ghosts and spirits of various leaders and presidents who took their last breaths in the presidential residency while the most famous ghost that haunts the White House is said to be the ghost of Abraham Lincoln.
9. Franklin Castle
Location: 4308 Franklin Blvd, Ohio City, Cleveland, Ohio, United States.
Franklin Castle is another one of the top 10 haunted houses in America with notorious histories and is believed to be haunted by various spirits. The most famous legend about the castle is that of the 13-year-old niece of Tideman, who was reportedly hanged in one of the secret tunnels located behind the ballroom. It was said that she was insane and he wanted to free her from her misery. However, the truth was that he caught her in bed with one of his grandsons. People visiting the castle have reported the spotting of ghastly figures in it.
Also read: The 10 Best Horror Movies of All Time: Ultimate List
10. Lemp Mansion
Location: 3322 Demenil Pl, St. Louis, MO 63118, USA.
Lemp Mansion, another one of the top 10 haunted houses in America with notorious histories, is said to be one of the most terrifying ones. Tons of ghostly activities have been reported in the mansion till now and it is said to be haunted by the spirits of the Lemp family members. According to some reports and several beliefs, many members of the Lemp family committed suicide in the mansion. People who visited the mansion supposedly heard eerie whispers and experienced other paranormal activities.
