Pennsylvania is one of America’s most historic states — but with so much history comes more than a few restless spirits. From the blood-soaked battlefields of Gettysburg to abandoned asylums, elegant hotels, eerie churches, and even a cemetery made famous by Hollywood horror, the Keystone State is alive with ghost stories. Some places are tragic, others mysterious, and a few downright terrifying. Whether you’re a curious traveler, a paranormal enthusiast, or just looking for a good scare, these 20 haunted places in Pennsylvania will make you think twice about what lurks in the shadows.

Every haunted road through Pennsylvania seems to lead back to Gettysburg — a quiet town forever marked by the roar of cannon fire and the cries of the fallen. The three-day battle fought here in 1863 turned peaceful fields into hallowed ground, and some say the echoes of that tragedy still roll through the mist each night. From old inns and humble homes to covered bridges that once bore the weight of soldiers, Gettysburg stands as the beating heart of the state’s ghostly lore. Step carefully — the past is very much alive here.

Gettysburg is often called the most haunted town in America — and for good reason. The three-day battle left over 50,000 dead or wounded, and many believe their spirits still march across the fields, linger in inns, and drift across bridges.

On quiet evenings, tourists hear the boom of cannons, the crack of muskets, and cries of the wounded echoing through the night air. Some see phantom soldiers marching in formation across the fields, only to vanish before their eyes. Ghost tours in the park frequently capture glowing orbs on camera, and many guests feel sudden cold spots in the summer heat.

Perhaps most unsettling are the full-bodied apparitions mistaken for reenactors — soldiers in period uniforms who suddenly disappear. Gettysburg is more than a historical site; it is a place where the battle never truly ended.

Built in 1810, the Farnsworth House Inn carries the scars of the Civil War. Confederate sharpshooters used its attic to fire down on Union troops, leaving more than 100 bullet holes in the brick walls. Later, the inn became a hospital, where the wounded suffered and died.

Guests report heavy boots pacing in the attic, phantom whispers, and a jaw harp playing faintly at night. A playful child ghost known as “Jeremy” is said to tug on clothing and giggle in the shadows. Paranormal investigators have recorded soldier voices, sobs of women, and objects moving on their own.

The inn leans into its haunted past, offering ghost hunts in the cellar and attic. Visitors often leave shaken, convinced they were touched or followed by unseen hands. Spending the night here is not for the faint-hearted.

The story of Jennie Wade is one of the most tragic in Gettysburg. At just 20 years old, Jennie became the only civilian killed during the battle when a stray bullet struck her as she baked bread for Union soldiers. The house where she died is now a museum, but her spirit lingers.

Visitors hear footsteps moving through empty rooms, doors slamming shut, and even the sound of children laughing — though none are present. Many guests report feeling a sudden chill when standing in the kitchen where Jennie fell. Guides tell stories of Jennie’s protective nature, with some visitors claiming to see her watching from the upstairs window.

The Jennie Wade House isn’t just a museum — it’s a monument to the human cost of war, with a ghostly reminder that even civilians weren’t spared.

Picturesque by day, eerie by night, Sachs Covered Bridge is tied to one of Gettysburg’s darkest tales. Legend holds that three Confederate soldiers accused of desertion were hanged from the bridge beams. Their restless spirits are said to remain.

Visitors crossing the bridge after dark describe the smell of cigar smoke, phantom footsteps behind them, and even disembodied heads floating in the darkness. Paranormal investigators have captured voices pleading for help and unexplained knocks echoing along the wooden planks.

Today, the bridge is a popular stop for ghost walks. Many who visit say the air feels heavier here, as if the past itself clings to the wood. Sachs Bridge is a haunting reminder that even in retreat, death claimed its toll.

After wandering Gettysburg’s battlefields and hearing the echoes of long-ago soldiers, it’s time to rest — or try to. Pennsylvania’s historic hotels and mansions promise comfort, luxury, and a glimpse into the past, but some guests never checked out. From elegant ballrooms where ghostly music drifts through the air to prison cells turned tourist attractions, these places prove that hospitality in the Keystone State often comes with an otherworldly twist. Each inn holds its own story — some tragic, some mischievous — and every creaking hallway has a tale to tell after the lights go out.

Built in the 1920s on the site of a former 18th-century Moravian inn, the Historic Hotel Bethlehem is as grand as it is ghostly. Guests come for luxury — but some check in for the paranormal.

Reports tell of a shoeless landlady wandering the halls, an actress who sings in the lobby, and even a phantom tour guide who greets guests in the basement. Staff have seen apparitions vanish into thin air, while visitors wake to find their belongings mysteriously moved.

Unlike many haunted places, the spirits here seem more playful than menacing. Many believe they are former residents and guests who loved the hotel so much, they never truly left. For travelers, it’s a chance to experience fine hospitality with a supernatural twist.

This imposing prison opened in 1871, and its thick stone walls hold one of Pennsylvania’s most famous ghost stories. The Old Jail Museum was once home to the Molly Maguires, Irish coal miners accused of violent conspiracy. Several were hanged here under controversial circumstances.

The most chilling legend comes from one condemned man who pressed his hand to the wall in protest of his innocence. More than a century later, his handprint remains — resistant to scrubbing, repainting, and even sandblasting.

Visitors describe icy cold spots in empty corridors, shadows pacing in locked cells, and moans echoing through the gallows chamber. Standing inside the execution room, many report an overwhelming sense of despair. The Old Jail isn’t just a museum; it’s a shrine to injustice, forever haunted by those who met their fate within its walls.

Built in 1794, Selma Mansion has hosted prominent Pennsylvania families and plenty of spirits. Known as one of the oldest surviving homes in Norristown, its Georgian architecture hides layers of tragedy.

Visitors describe heavy footsteps in rooms above them, sudden slams of doors, and shadows crossing windows when the house is empty. Paranormal investigators have captured chilling EVPs — voices of men, women, and children, all sounding as though they’re calling from another time.

Locals whisper that Selma Mansion feels “alive.” Even those who don’t believe in ghosts admit to feeling a presence when standing in its halls. The house regularly hosts paranormal events, offering curious guests the chance to meet its lingering residents face-to-face.

Dating back to 1704, the General Wayne Inn is a cornerstone of Pennsylvania history — and ghost lore. George Washington once dined here, and Edgar Allan Poe reportedly found inspiration within its walls. But the inn’s most famous residents may be its ghosts.

Guests and staff tell stories of Hessian soldiers from the Revolutionary War seen marching through the inn. Others describe spectral diners seated at tables, only to vanish when approached. Poe himself is said to linger, perhaps still weaving stories from beyond.

Over the years, employees have reported unexplained footsteps, glasses moving on their own, and whispers carried on empty air. The General Wayne Inn is a rare blend of history, literature, and the paranormal — a place where past and present sit down at the same table.

After nights spent in haunted hotels and shadowy mansions, it’s time to step out into the places where communities once gathered — and where echoes of laughter, learning, and prayer still linger long after the doors closed. In Pennsylvania, even the brightest stages and holiest sanctuaries can’t escape their ghosts. From theaters where founders still watch the curtain rise, to university halls filled with mysterious footsteps, and a lonely church deep in the woods that sings to itself — these stories prove that not all hauntings are born from tragedy; some are tied to passion, pride, and faith that simply refuse to fade.

Opened in 1906, the Mishler Theatre was the dream of Isaac Mishler, a cigar manufacturer who wanted to bring culture to Altoona. Nearly destroyed by fire in 1906, it was rebuilt and became a crown jewel of the community. But Isaac’s passion for his theater seems to have carried beyond the grave.

Performers and staff often smell the scent of cigar smoke drifting through backstage corridors — Isaac’s signature habit. Actors report a shadowy figure watching from the wings, while some audience members swear they’ve seen a man seated in the balcony who vanishes when the lights come up.

The Mishler is still in use today, but its ghostly patron remains. Some say Isaac lingers to protect the theater he loved so deeply, ensuring the show always goes on.

Towering 535 feet over the University of Pittsburgh, the Cathedral of Learning is both a landmark and a labyrinth of ghost stories. Opened in 1937, its Gothic architecture alone inspires an eerie atmosphere, but it’s the Nationality Rooms that hold the most chilling tales.

The Early American Room is infamous for unexplained activity. Chairs scrape across the floor without human hands, candles flare on their own, and objects are mysteriously rearranged. Students studying late at night have felt sudden icy drafts, heard footsteps following them, and even seen books topple from shelves without cause.

Legends also claim that Mary Schenley, the Pittsburgh philanthropist who donated the land for nearby Schenley Park, wanders the Croghan-Schenley Ballroom. Her ghost is said to glide across the floor in a long gown, forever attending the ball she never had.

Hidden in the Pennsylvania Wilds, the abandoned Burlington Church is one of the state’s eeriest landmarks. Built in the 1800s, the church has been closed for decades, but its reputation as a haunted site has only grown stronger.

Visitors report phantom organ music echoing from the sanctuary, glowing lights shining in the windows despite no electricity, and shadowy figures seated in the pews. The surrounding graveyard adds to the unease, with apparitions seen drifting between headstones at night.

Ghost hunters who’ve braved the church describe overwhelming feelings of dread, sudden cold spots, and unexplained knocks on the wooden walls. For many, Burlington is not just haunted — it’s one of the most unsettling places in northern Pennsylvania.

We’ve walked through haunted theaters and stood in silent sanctuaries, but now our journey turns darker. Pennsylvania’s asylums, hospitals, and penitentiaries tell stories of suffering, neglect, and loss. These massive institutions were built with good intentions — to heal, to help, to reform — yet they became places of despair where many lived and died unseen. Their echoes remain in cold hallways, flickering lights, and the faint sound of a door closing somewhere deep within. Enter carefully; the ghosts here don’t whisper for attention — they demand to be heard.

Opened in 1926 as a poor farm and later a nursing home, Hill View Manor was meant to provide care for the elderly and destitute. Instead, it became a place where countless residents lived their final days in sadness and isolation. When it closed in 2004, its halls were already steeped in tragedy — and many believe that’s why the spirits remain.

Visitors and paranormal teams report voices calling out their names, shadowy figures darting across hallways, and the apparition of a little boy who tugs on clothing. One of the most chilling stories is of a man’s ghost who offers to take your photograph for a dollar — though no living staff member has ever done such a thing.

The manor now welcomes ghost tours and investigations, making it one of Pennsylvania’s premier paranormal hotspots. Guests rarely leave without experiencing something they can’t explain.

First opened in 1908 as the Eastern State Institution for the Feeble-Minded and Epileptic, Pennhurst Asylum was meant to be a place of compassion. Instead, it became infamous for neglect, overcrowding, and abuse. By the time it closed in 1987, its reputation as a house of horrors was set in stone.

The ghosts of Pennhurst are said to be restless and angry. Visitors describe screams echoing through empty hallways, doors slamming violently, and shadowy figures that follow them from room to room. Some investigators claim to have been scratched or pushed by unseen forces.

Today, Pennhurst is partially preserved as a haunted attraction, while much of the complex lies in ruin. Paranormal experts worldwide consider it one of the most terrifying places in America. Walking through its decayed wards, you feel the despair etched into the walls.

When it opened in 1851, the Pennsylvania State Lunatic Hospital was the state’s first public asylum, designed according to the “Kirkbride Plan.” Its long, bat-wing corridors were meant to give patients air, light, and healing. But over the decades, those ideals gave way to overcrowding, neglect, and misery.

The hospital finally closed in 2006, but stories of hauntings continue. Former staff and explorers describe phantom footsteps echoing down empty halls, doors slamming shut, and the overwhelming sensation of being watched. Shadows have been seen moving past windows of abandoned wards.

Ghost hunters who’ve visited the grounds report heavy, oppressive energy. Many believe the trauma of the thousands who suffered here has imprinted itself on the very walls.

Perhaps the most famous haunted site in Pennsylvania, Eastern State Penitentiary is legendary for both its history and its ghosts. Opened in 1829, it pioneered the concept of solitary confinement. Inmates lived, ate, and worked in total isolation. Many went mad under the crushing silence.

Notorious criminals, including Al Capone, spent time here. Yet it is the forgotten prisoners who seem to haunt its crumbling cellblocks. Visitors report eerie whispers, echoing footsteps, and shadowy figures slipping through barred doors. Paranormal investigators frequently capture EVP recordings of voices pleading for release.

Even in daylight, the Gothic towers of Eastern State feel oppressive. At night, they are terrifying. Once the most expensive prison in the world, it is now considered one of the most haunted prisons on Earth.

After the heavy silence of prisons and asylums, it’s time to step back into the open air — but don’t expect the chill to fade. Pennsylvania’s haunted past reaches far beyond walls and rooftops. Spirits linger in the forests, echo through caves, and walk across old battlefields. Even the state’s industrial ruins and film locations have their own ghostly stories. From steel furnaces that still ring with the sound of labor to caverns where forbidden love turned to legend, these outdoor haunts prove that the supernatural in Pennsylvania doesn’t stop at the door.

The Carrie Blast Furnace was once the beating heart of Pittsburgh’s steel industry, running from 1884 until 1982. Thousands of men worked here under dangerous conditions, and many lost their lives to accidents in the roaring furnaces.

Since its closure, stories of hauntings have grown. Paranormal investigators report footsteps echoing through the catwalks, shadowy figures wearing hard hats, and metallic clanging with no source. Some claim to see glowing orbs drifting among the towering machinery.

Today, Carrie Furnace is preserved as an industrial landmark and sometimes open for tours — both historic and paranormal. Walking through its rusting towers, it’s easy to imagine the spirits of steelworkers still laboring among the shadows.

A natural wonder with a chilling legend, Penn’s Cave is America’s only all-water cavern. Local lore tells the tragic story of Nita-nee, a Native American woman who fell in love with a French trapper. Forbidden to be together, they were discovered, and her lover was killed. As punishment, Nita-nee was sealed alive inside the cave.

Visitors on the boat tour through the underground waterways often describe icy cold spots, eerie whispers echoing off the cavern walls, and the sensation of being watched. Guides tell of sudden ripples in the water when no one has touched it.

The cave’s natural beauty masks a darker side — the sorrow of a young woman whose spirit may still haunt its depths.

At first glance, Penn Park looks like a pleasant green space in the city of York. But beneath the soil lie unmarked graves of soldiers from both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. Many believe those restless spirits make their presence known after dark.

Visitors have reported flickering lights, phantom whispers, and footsteps following them along empty paths. Some describe the chilling sensation of a hand brushing against theirs — only to find no one there.

The park may be peaceful by day, but at night it becomes a haunting reminder of the city’s hidden past.

Known as the site of the Paoli Massacre, this battlefield witnessed unspeakable bloodshed in 1777. British troops launched a nighttime surprise attack on American forces, killing over 200 soldiers in brutal fashion.

Today, the battlefield is preserved as a historic park — but visitors say the battle is far from over. Paranormal investigators have captured glowing orbs and ghostly apparitions on camera. Many report hearing the cries of dying men, musket fire, and the clash of steel on steel.

The park may be peaceful by day, but at night it becomes a haunting reminder of the city’s hidden past.

Film buffs know it well: the Evans City Cemetery was the filming location for George Romero’s groundbreaking 1968 movie Night of the Living Dead. But beyond its fame in cinema, it carries its own haunted reputation.

Visitors claim to see strange mists rolling between gravestones, shadowy figures drifting at dusk, and ghostly whispers carried on the wind. Paranormal teams investigating the grounds have reported unexplained lights and voices captured on EVP.

For horror fans, the cemetery is a pilgrimage site — part Hollywood history, part true ghost story. Walking among its stones, you can’t help but wonder if Romero tapped into something real when he filmed his undead classic here.

“With Pennsylvania’s long and layered history, it’s no surprise there are countless places where hauntings have been reported. Every corner of the state seems to hold a ghost story of its own — from quiet country roads to centuries-old taverns. I’ve highlighted just a few of my favorites here, but there are many more waiting to be explored.”

If you enjoyed reading about Pennsylvania’s most haunted places, you’ll love seeing them come to life!
In my full video, “Haunted Pennsylvania: 20 Ghostly Places You Must Visit (If You Dare),” I take you on a cinematic journey through these eerie locations — complete with haunting stories, ghostly legends, and the state’s most chilling history.

Pennsylvania’s haunted sites remind us that history lingers, often in ways we can’t explain. From eerie whispers in Gettysburg to phantom music in a forgotten church, the Keystone State offers endless chills for those who dare explore. Whether you’re planning a haunted road trip or just love a ghost story, these 18 destinations will keep you looking over your shoulder.