7 Haunted Graveyards Where the Dead Do More Than Lie Still

If there were ever a place you'd expect to see ghosts, it is a cemetery. Headstones, mausoleums, memorials, and coffins make this a place where the dead sleep ... And occasionally walk the grounds at night. Of course, not all cemeteries are as haunted as others.

Here are seven of the most haunted cemeteries in the world.

haunted graveyards Saint Louis Cemetery — Photo Credit: Tim Wilson / Flickr (CC)

When it comes to haunted cemeteries, none are as famous (or as haunted) as the trio of St. Louis Cemeteries in New Orleans. Those who visit claim to hear crying coming from inside the above-ground tombs. Marie Laveau, the Witch Queen of New Orleans, is the most famous ghost here, though she is far from the only one. There are groans and moans. There is the face of an old man that appears on one tomb, a ghost man who delivers flowers to his wife’s grave and then disappears, and countless other spirits. Robberies and vandalism have been reported within the walls of these cemeteries, so it is best to go on a tour. In fact, one can only access St. Louis Cemetery 1—home to Marie Laveau's tomb—by booking a tour in advance. You never know what you might see.

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bachelor's grove cemetery — Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Those who have ventured into Bachelor's Grove say it is haunted … by a house?! The creepy appearance of a phantom white farmhouse with pillars and a porch swing haunt this crumbling Chicagoland cemetery. Many claim to have also seen unexplained lights, shapes in the mist, and faces that appear on tombstones only to disappear shortly thereafter.

haunted cemeteries howard street — Photo Credit: goodharbor / Flickr (CC)

This is one of the oldest cemeteries in Salem, Mass, a town made famous for the deadly paranoia of the Salem Witch Trials. Giles Corey, one of the most famous victims of the Witch Trials, died by torture when he refused to admit guilt or innocence regarding his use of witchcraft. Corey was forced to lie down in a hole in the middle of the field while his punishers stacked stones upon a board placed across his chest. More stones were added until Corey was crushed. The horrible process took two days. His ghost appears in the cemetery now just before a horrible event is about to take place. Does anyone wonder why?

haunted graveyards western burial grounds — Photo Credit: Natalie Maynor / Flickr (CC)

Edgar Allan Poe is buried in Western Burial Ground. ‘Nuff said. His ghost is seen from time to time. But even worse is the tale of the Cambridge Skull. He was a murdered minister whose head never stopped screaming–even after death. The murderers were said to have gagged the skull and buried it in a block of cement. They say those who hear the muffled screams are driven mad by it. Sounds delightful, indeed.

haunted cemeteries cemetery hill — Photo Credit: lcm1863 / Flickr (CC)

The Battle of Gettysburg was one of the bloodiest battles in American history, leaving mounds of dead in its wake. So many soldiers fell during battle, that the survivors struggled to bury all the bodies. Cemetery Hill was a particularly gruesome scene; many claimed they couldn't walk past without holding handkerchiefs that had been soaked in peppermint and vanilla. To this day, visitors of Gettysburg report phantom smells—both the scent of peppermint and the stink of rotting flesh.

haunted graveyards union cemetery — Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Built in the early 1700s, this graveyard is known as the White Lady Cemetery because of one well-known ghost. Said to be a lady draped in white, she wanders the graveyard as well as the nearby road. Drivers who have “hit” her say she disappears into thin air. Terrifying. Mysterious. Amazing.

haunted graveyards stull cemetery — Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Stull Cemetery is said to possess a secret “Gate to Hell” that opens up at midnight on Halloween. Venture down the steps and you'll come face to face with the devil. Also haunting the cemetery grounds is a decrepit stone church, said to be the home of Satanists, witches’ covens, and cults. Care for a visit?

This Story Was First Published on The Hauntist.

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Featured photo: Carolyn / Flickr (CC); Additional photos: Tim Wilson / Flickr (CC); goodharbor / Flickr (CC); Natalie Maynor / Flickr (CC); lcm1863 / Flickr (CC)