In addition to exploring Boston's major historic sites, why not explore the darker, haunted side of Boston as well?
Day and night, Boston is brimming with activity from the locals getting fresh seafood at the oyster bars to the tourists getting blisters walking along the famous Freedom Trail. Of all the cities in all of the United States, Boston seems to top the list of rich histories. Afterall, who can forget the Boston Tea Party, the Battle of Bunker Hill or the hundreds of other stories we read about in our history books all throughout our schooling? With such a fascinating background full of prominent historical figures, there are bound to be some kind of spirits left behind, right? If you plan on visiting Boston soon, do your normal tourist outings in the morning. At night, however, plan on visiting the haunted sites of Boston.
The Omni Parker House hotel is considered to be the longest running hotel in the entire nation, so it isn't strange that it has a reputation for being one of the most haunted. You may have heard that this hotel is the official home of the Boston cream pie, but it also is the home of some strange spiritual behavior. Some of the most beautiful pieces of architecture in this hotel are its stunning bronze elevator doors. One of the doors, however, does not need occupants, or at least it doesn't need HUMAN occupants, for it often runs up to the third hotel without provocation or reason. Also, if you are staying on the third floor, consider this. In 1949, a man traveling on business committed suicide in room 303, which you may notice has since been converted to a hotel storage room. Some say the reason is that guests staying in the room often complained of hearing unexplained noises and smelling the overwhelming scent of whiskey.
In Boston Harbor on George's Island is Fort Warren which was once used as a prison during the Civil War. The "Lady in Black" has become quite a legend amongst those at Fort Warren. Many on sentry duty have reported seeing a woman in black robes walking along the island. The story goes that a lieutenant who was one of the captured at Fort Warren during the Civil War had only recently been married weeks before. He sent a message to his new bride who came to Fort Warren in an attempt to get him out by any means necessary. When they were caught and cornered, she shot her gun, accidentally killing her husband. She was later hung, dressed in black robes which she wears to this day during her haunts of the grounds.
Shelton Hall, located at Boston University, before being converted to a student dormitory was once a Sheraton hotel. Legend has it that Eugene O'Neill the famous playwright was staying in room 401 when he drank himself to death in 1953. Students who reside at Shelton Hall swear that O'Neill still haunts this floor. The lights seem dimmer on this floor than on any other floor and strange sounds and figures have been witnessed by many a student.
