Back in Time Today
There’s something undeniably eerie about lighthouses. Is it the crashing waves, the isolated locations—or the ghosts that refuse to leave? Here are 13 lighthouses where the keepers may have died, but never really left.
1. St. Augustine Lighthouse – Florida
Visitors report shadowy figures, mysterious footsteps, and the laughter of long-dead children. One former keeper is said to still patrol the tower, lantern in hand.
2. Heceta Head Lighthouse – Oregon
This picturesque lighthouse is haunted by “The Gray Lady,” believed to be the ghost of a keeper’s wife who lost her daughter. Guests often feel watched or touched by unseen hands.
3. West Point Lighthouse – Washington
Located near Seattle, this lighthouse is home to the spirit of a former keeper who reportedly still maintains his nightly rounds, despite being dead for over a century.
4. Seguin Island Lighthouse – Maine
This lighthouse carries the tragic tale of a keeper who killed his wife—and then himself. Visitors say they hear piano music drifting through the mist, from a long-destroyed instrument.
5. Yaquina Bay Lighthouse – Oregon
Though only in operation for a short time, this lighthouse has a lingering presence. A young girl’s ghost is said to roam its halls after mysteriously disappearing during a visit.
6. Presque Isle Lighthouse – Michigan
The ghost of George Parris, a devoted keeper, reportedly still checks the lamps and locks the doors. Even after death, his dedication to duty continues.
7. New London Ledge Lighthouse – Connecticut
The story goes that a heartbroken keeper named Ernie jumped to his death from the roof. To this day, coast guard crews report doors opening and radios turning on by themselves.
8. Point Lookout Lighthouse – Maryland
Known as one of the most haunted lighthouses in America, it was once a Civil War hospital. The spirits of both soldiers and keepers are said to haunt the area.
9. Whaleback Lighthouse – Maine
Inaccessible and isolated, this offshore lighthouse is known for strange lights and ghostly figures. Keepers claimed to hear disembodied voices calling their names at night.
10. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse – North Carolina
The most famous lighthouse on the East Coast also has its share of spectral sightings—especially of a keeper who drowned during a storm and now haunts the shoreline.
11. Port Boca Grande Lighthouse – Florida
Legend says the ghost of a young girl who died of diphtheria haunts this light. Some visitors claim to hear her crying or feel cold drafts even in the summer heat.
12. Old Presque Isle Lighthouse – Michigan
Despite having no electricity, this decommissioned lighthouse’s light mysteriously turns on. Locals believe it’s the work of a former keeper, keeping his eternal watch.
13. Battery Point Lighthouse – California
Accessible only at low tide, this charming light hides a darker past. Former residents say the ghost of a woman—possibly a keeper’s wife—wanders the halls, moving furniture and opening doors.