Ghost Guide To Gettysburg's Most Haunted Places

The Drummer Boy Camp Resort is like a scene out of Evil Dead. It's not just one of the coolest log cabin resorts in Gettysburg: it is also rumored to be haunted. Spectral soldiers have been spotted by guests, walking in unison around the property before disappearing into thin air.

The Gettysburg National Cemetery is the site where Abraham Lincoln gave his most famous speech: the Gettysburg Address. The speech took place four and a half months after the battle, on November 19, 1863 and was written in honor of the dedication of the Soldier's National Cemetery. The speech was surprisingly short, at a mere 10 sentences long and lasted just over two minutes. It came after an eloquent, yet rarely-mentioned two-hour long oration by pastor and politician Edward Everett.

It's also a possibility that Lincoln was coming down with an illness, likely smallpox, the day he was set to give the speech. The exact wording of the speech is hotly debated, with 5 accounts of the speech containing slightly different phrasing. Despite all of this, the simple speech has gone down in history as one of the best, proving that sometimes, less actually is more.

Today many guests visiting the cemetery report witnessing balls of unexplainable light that roam freely around the cemetery. Make sure to take lots of photos while you're visiting, because you never know what strange activity you might capture.

Everyone knows that Gettysburg has a reputation for being one of the most haunted places in America, but despite its history and the fact that the battlefield is the setting some genuinely spooky run-ins with spectral soldiers, the Gettysburg Museum Visitor Center proves that you don't have to be a battlefield or old building to be the home of ghostly encounters. Having been the final resting place for so many relics, it's no surprise that it has developed a reputation for being one of the most haunted buildings in the city.

The Devil's Den is arguably the most haunted spot in America. Today the boulders still hold marks from soldier foot traffic, and have been the sight of an innumerable amount of paranormal experiences. Groups visiting the den have witnessed soldiers dressed in civil war garb disappear into the darkness. Many people have heard the sound of cannon fire, running, and even screaming, only to find the area empty when they investigate.

Just a stone’s throw from the Eisenhower National Historic Site and Gettysburg National Military Park, Sach’s Bridge dates back to before the Civil War. Legend has it that 3 Confederate soldiers were hanged here after deserting during the Battle of Gettysburg. Whether that’s true or not, people have reported cannon fire, screams of those being wounded and killed, and some even claim to have seen a shadowy mist float through the bridge.

Easily considered to be the most haunted location in all of Gettysburg, the National Military Park has been the the background for an innumerable number of paranormal experiences... and for good reason. If you remember your history lessons, you'll already know that the Civil War battle of Gettysburg was a bloody 3 day fight that went from July 1st to July 3rd, 1863. The battle took place in the countryside and farmland near the town of Gettysburg, which covered roughly 40 miles. Roughly 50,000 men died horrible deaths, and according to many who visit the park, many of them are still here today. There are so many manifestations that have been reported at the Gettysburg National Military Park that it has become one of the most traveled to locations for those looking to have a paranormal experience of their own.

Tip: Concentrate on highly active locations like the Devils's Den, Little Round Top, and Spangler's Spring, which over the years have been the sight of the most paranormal activity.

The Gettysburg Diorama and History Center might not seem like the kind of place where ghosts would hang out in the afterlife, but you'd be surprised. Over the years visitors who have spent some time exploring the museum have reported having paranormal experiences of their own, partly thanks to the museums collection of historical artifacts from the area. People have reported experiencing the strange smell of gun powder, and the sound of heavy boots walking in the halls when there is no one else around.

Reverend Alexander Dobbin built the Dobbin House Tavern to begin a new life in America, and according to both guests and employees he still resides at the historic house, which today has been transformed into a very haunted restaurant.

Wax museums by themselves are creepy, but when their haunted wax museums like the Hall of Presidents, than it's a whole different level. Over the years people have reported seeing men dressed as soldiers wandering the halls of the museum, and some visitors even claim that the dolls have been seen moving on their own.

The Jennie Wade House holds a very strange distinction when it comes to history. Thanks to a freak accident, the small home became the site of the Civil War's only direct death of a civilian. Today, ghost hunters say that her bizarre death has kept her from ever leaving her little home, and if you're lucky, you might just get to meet her. On July 3, 1863, 20-year-old Jennie Wade (sometimes called Ginnie) was in her sister's kitchen, hard at work making bread for hungry Union soldiers, when an errant bullet from a Confederate sniper pierced her heart. Jennie died instantly. The bullet had managed to make it's way through two wooden doors before hitting Jennie and coming to rest in her corset.With a story that bizarre in a city known for its phantoms, it's not hard to see why ghost hunters flock to the building.

Spend the night at the one of the Brickhouse Inn's 1898 Victorian houses, and you'll probably have to share your room with some of the ghosts rumored to haunt the historic inn.

Many of the guests who are brave enough to spend the night at the Tillie Pierce House Inn do not leave disappointed. Today the Inn is a quaint bed and breakfast, complete with their own ghosts who love the attention they get from the excited clientele. Guests have experienced hearing mysterious marbles rolling across the floor, a lady sighing in the dead of night, and flashes of light that travel from on side of the room to the other. One of the most reported experience is the sound of very heavy footsteps that walk the halls at night going from room to room. Only the bravest need apply!

The Gettysburg Hotel is kind of at the center of the paranormal storm. a quarter mile from the battlefield, and just steps from where Lincoln held the Gettysburg address, this Civil War-era hotel is one of the most haunted in the city. The hotel is known for its famous ghosts, one of which is Rachel, a nurse who died inside the hotel during the battle. She is often spotted by guests quickly rushing down the halls and out into the street. Apparently Rachel likes to remove guests clothing from their rooms as well, as if she's searching for medical supplies.

David Wills was an attorney and prominent citizen who lived in Gettysburg-- in fact, his house is conveniently located right in the center of town. He was the one who received letters from people looking for loved ones lost and missing during the battle, who planned the cemetery and its dedication, and undertook the cleanup of the battlefield. It's also the house where Lincoln stayed the night before he gave the Gettysburg Address and put the finishing touches on the speech. If you visit The David Wills House today, you'll find two rooms that have been restored to their 19th century appearance: David Wills' study, and the bedroom where Abraham Lincoln stayed.

Gettysburg College has earned the title of the most haunted college campus in the world. Both the Confederate and Union solders used Pennsylvania Hall at Gettysburg College as both a hospital and signal post during the battle. For obvious reasons this has left quite an otherworldly impression on the college. On almost a daily basis students have experiences with a handful of famous ghosts, including the "Blue Boy", the orphan, and the Lone Sentinel... but that's just the tip of the iceberg.