With Halloween sneaking up on us this weekend, lean into all things spooky this week. Boston is home to some supposedly haunted places and if you dare, you can visit many of them for free. We also have a complete guide to the top haunted places across Massachusetts, but if you want stick close to Boston keep scrolling down.
If you want to keep it to more treats rather than tricks, don’t worry we have some non-scary Halloween fun guides as well, check out the best places to go pumpkin picking, apple picking and admire the fall foliage.
Omni Parker House
Not only is the Omni Parker House one of Boston’s most beautiful hotels, but it is also one of its most haunted. The ghost of Harvey Parker, who founded the hotel in 1855, is said to roam its halls, with most sightings on the 10th floor. Other spooky occurrences include: elevators mysteriously called to the third floor (the floor Charles Dickens occupied and where 19th-century actress Charlotte Cushman died), throughout the hotel and friendly whispering in empty hallways. However, some not scary history about the hotel is that it is the birthplace of both Parker House Rolls and Boston Crème Pie.
House of Seven Gables
The House of Seven Gables is located in Salem, MA, which itself has lots of connections to the occult. This Colonial style mansion was originally called the Turner-Ingersoll Mansion, but the Hawthorne novel of the same name inspired the name change. Some say that Hawthorne’s great grandfather’s role as a witch trial judge caused the curse on the house. Visitors claim to have had visions of a boy playing near the attic and shadowy silhouettes near the outdoor Gothic-inspired gables. While we can’t say if those claims are true, we can say that Salem is a lot of fun near Halloween, but it is very busy this year.
Lizzie Borden House
Last but not least, the Lizzie Borden House is for sure haunted! Everyone knows the sordid tale of Lizzie Borden. But what many of us have not done is spend the night in this creepy landmark. The site of an 1892 unsolved murder is now a B&B where guests can spend the night if they dare. Claims of hearing weeping, whispers and footsteps, and sights of wandering apparitions in Victorian-era clothing have been claimed many times by visitors.