McRaven: The Most Haunted House in Mississippi

You'd be hard pressed to find a Mississippi local who would argue against the fact that McRaven is the most haunted house in the state. Located in Vicksburg, Mississippi (formerly called Walnut Hills) the first section of the house was built by a highwayman named Andrew Glass in 1797.

If you're unfamiliar with the term "highwayman", it's basically a nicer way of saying "robber". Glass made his living forcefully taking the money of unlucky travelers and McRaven was his hideout. The two-room house was equipped with a removable ladder leading from the ground floor to the upper level, where Glass slept, which would be pulled up at bedtime to guard against possible retaliation for his thievery.

Over the years, ownership of the house changed many times. Each new proprietor added something to the original structure, which ultimately allowed for generations of pent up sadness, sickness, death, and grief to build up within the walls, and around the property. The second section of McRaven was built in 1836 by Sheriff Stephen Howard, whose wife, Mary Elizabeth, died in the home during childbirth. Her trapped spirit is, to this day, one of two ghosts that makes itself known most frequently. People have attributed lights mysteriously going off and on throughout the house to Mary's presence. For many years, her wedding shawl remained in the home and guests would report that it felt hot to the touch.

mcraven house — Photo Credit: TravelingOtter / Flickr (CC)

In 1849, a brick manufacturer and sawmill owner named John H. Bobb built the third addition to the house. Bobb is said to have been shot and killed there. His trapped spirit is another one known to stick close to the house, as though he's keeping an eye on things.

In 1961, the home was opened to the public for tours, which still run and are a popular tourist attraction in the area. For $50 you can even participate in an actual ghost hunt conducted in, and around, the property.

Do you think you're brave enough to explore McRaven?

The Tennessee Wraith Chasers from the Destination America show Haunted Towns explore the home as part of their investigation of Vicksburg. You can watch their investigation here.

[Via: Only In Your State and McRaven House]