Ghost Tours Philadelphia

Ghost Tours of Philadelphia take visitors through the haunted history of America's most historic city, exploring tales of restless spirits in colonial-era buildings, Revolutionary War battlefields, and centuries-old cemeteries. With roots stretching back to 1682, Philadelphia's 340+ years of history have generated countless ghost stories involving founding fathers, executed criminals, yellow fever victims, and tragic lovers. Multiple tour companies offer experiences ranging from family-friendly walking tours to late-night paranormal investigations. The tours concentrate in Old City, Society Hill, and Washington Square - areas rich with documented hauntings and supernatural folklore.

History of Hauntings

Colonial Era

Early spirits:

• Colonial tragedies
• Pre-Revolutionary deaths
• Cemetery foundations
• Early settlement hardships

Revolutionary War

War dead:

• Battle casualties
• Prison ship victims
• Executed spies
• Valley Forge ghosts

Yellow Fever (1793)

Mass death:

• 5,000+ died
• Mass graves
• Abandoned sick
• Lasting trauma

19th-20th Century

Later hauntings:

• Civil War era
• Industrial accidents
• Murder victims
• Institutional ghosts

Haunted Locations

Washington Square

Mass burial ground:

• Revolutionary War dead
• Yellow fever victims
• Unknown grave locations
• Apparition sightings

Independence Hall

Founding ghosts:

• Benjamin Franklin sightings
• Signing Room apparitions
• Night watchman reports
• Unexplained phenomena

City Tavern

Colonial spirits:

• Revolutionary-era hauntings
• Tavern atmosphere
• Historical figures
• Staff reports

Eastern State Penitentiary

Prison ghosts:

• Inmate spirits
• Cellblock apparitions
• Terror Behind the Walls
• Year-round tours

Fort Mifflin

Military hauntings:

• "Screaming Woman"
• Revolutionary soldiers
• Civil War ghosts
• Most haunted fort claim

Christ Church

Cemetery spirits:

• Benjamin Franklin's grave
• Colonial-era burials
• Nighttime sightings
• Burial ground atmosphere

Tour Companies

Ghost Tours of Philadelphia

Original operator:

• Founded 1990s
• Candlelight tours
• Historical accuracy
• Professional guides

Other Operators

Multiple options:

• Spirits of '76 Ghost Tour
• Philadelphia Ghosts
• Grim Philly Tours
• Various seasonal operators

Specialty Tours

Themed experiences:

• Haunted pub crawls
• Cemetery tours
• Paranormal investigations
• Private events

Tour Routes

Old City

Historic district:

• Independence Hall area
• Christ Church
• City Tavern
• Elfreth's Alley

Society Hill

Residential hauntings:

• Colonial homes
• Historic squares
• Underground tunnels
• Revolutionary sites

Washington Square West

Theater district:

• Walnut Street Theatre
• Historic buildings
• Mass grave site
• Institutional ghosts

Stories

Benjamin Franklin

Founding phantom:

• Library Company sightings
• Printing house ghost
• American Philosophical Society
• Multiple locations

Betsy Ross

Flagmaker's ghost:

• House hauntings
• Basement spirit
• Worker sightings
• Tourist reports

Edgar Allan Poe

Literary ghost:

• Former Philadelphia resident
• Poe House hauntings
• "The Black Cat" location
• Dark inspiration

Seasonal Events

Halloween

October peak:

• Extended schedules
• Special tours
• Eastern State Terror
• Citywide events

Year-Round

Regular operation:

• Weekend tours standard
• Private bookings
• Special occasions
• Corporate events

Experience

What to Expect

Tour format:

• 1-2 hour walking tours
• Costumed guides
• Storytelling focus
• Historic context

Tips

Recommendations:

• Comfortable walking shoes
• Weather-appropriate clothing
• Camera/phone for photos
• Open mind

Family Considerations

Audience:

• Family-friendly options
• Adult-only tours available
• Age recommendations vary
• Scare level varies

See Also

• Eastern State Penitentiary
• Old City
• Philadelphia History