Visiting New York City? If you're feeling adventurous, take time to visit some of these haunted NYC sites.
New York City is known the world over as "The City That Never Sleeps." If you have ever had the chance to visit New York, you know that the streets are as busy at 2 p.m. on a weekday afternoon as they are at 2 a.m. during the weekend. The hustle and bustle of the city streets and buildings never seems to cease. This may also be true for the spirits that fill some of New York's leading sites. If you plan on visiting New York City anytime soon, be sure to leave your nights open to visit and get spooked by some haunted sites.
If you are a history buff, you'll probably love meeting Aaron Burr...or at least his ghost. On a quiet street in Greenwich Village is an upscale restaurant called "One If By Land, Two If By Sea" that is known to be haunted by many spirits, including those of Aaron Burr and his daughter Theodosia Burr. While many spirits are of a gentle nature, that of Burr's is said to be a little more temperamental, sometimes throwing dishes and tricking diners by pulling the chairs out from under them. On the other hand, his daughter, who died while on a voyage to visit her father in New York, is more of a fun-loving spirit known to gently pull off the earrings of female diners.
In the 1920s, the New Amsterdam Theatre was home to the Ziegfield "Follies." After recent renovations, it has been renamed the New Victory; however, like many old haunted buildings, it has not yet let go of its former tenants. Legend has it that Olive Thomas, who once performed in the "Follies" as well as became a star on Broadway and film, haunts the theatre to this day. In a twist of fate, Thomas, thinking she was taking her sleeping pills, accidentally poisoned herself with bichloride pills. Employees of the theatre as well as audience members have seen her ghost walking in the balcony grasping the blue bottle that held the poison she consumed.
The Empire State Building is probably the most visited tourist attraction in New York City. With such a rich history and such prominent recognition, it, too, has a spiritual past. One ghost legend dealing with this famed building takes place during World War II. A young woman, upon hearing that her fiancé was killed in the war, raced up the Empire State Building and flung herself off the side of the building in a fit of passion. Employees of the building have reported seeing this woman dressed in the fashion of her times and with her distinguishing red lipstick.
A beautiful courtyard in New York City known as Clinton Court is thought to be haunted by several spirits. "Old Moor" is the name given to a black sailor who was hung in the courtyard over two hundred years ago. During the 1800s, "Old Moor" is thought to have created other ghosts. The wife of a coachman was said to have seen his ghost causing her to fall down a flight of stairs to her own death. A young girl standing on a balcony also met up with his ghost and fell to her death, creating yet another ghost that haunts Clinton Court.
