Boston Haunted History Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour

The Boston Common may appear to be little more than a pleasant park in the heart of the city, but it has been the site of some deeply unsavory things in its long history. In the 1600s and 1700s, the city used an old elm here to hang convicts. Some say their spirits never left the park, including one woman who is said to prowl the park after nightfall, looking for lost children.

John Hancock's grave marks the final resting place of this famous Declaration of Independence signer. According to legend, Hancock was buried with expensive rings on his fingers, and enterprising grave robbers took that as an opportunity. But did they actually dig up his body?

The Granary Burying Ground, founded in 1660, is among the city's oldest cemeteries. It holds the graves of famous revolutionaries, as well as thousands of unmarked graves. In the 1800s, the graveyard was rearranged to make it more aesthetically pleasing, but some suggest the disruption only angered those residents who have no gravestones to mark their final resting place.

King's Chapel Burying Ground is even older than the Granary Burying Ground. In fact, established in 1630, it's the oldest graveyard in the entire city. If you believe the local legends, they tell of a man who was buried alive here. Sometimes, at night, visitors say they still hear him scratching at his coffin.

Perhaps best known for his famous "Midnight Ride," Paul Revere's grave is also found in the Granary Burying Ground. Supposedly, Revere's grave is haunted, but not by Revere himself! Revere's friend Dr. Joseph Warren is said to linger around the gravesite to protect his longtime friend.

The Central Burying Ground is where all those unmarked bodies from Boylston Street Station were moved, but it's also the final resting place of Boston's undesirable dead, like British soldiers. Almost everyone who ventures through this graveyard reports a deep and inexplicable feeling of unease, like something terrible is about to happen...

James Otis might not be the most famous resident of the Granary Burying Ground, but his contribution to the creation of the United States is no less significant than that of his peers. If you know the phrase "taxation without representation is tyranny" then you know Otis! Supposedly, his spirit still lingers here, though no one is quite sure why.

At the site of the old Pilot House, visitors say the sailors who once unwound here after long stints at sea never actually left. Some hear the sounds of men playing cards, drinking, laughing and talking, even when no one else is around.

One of the most important historical sites in Boston, the Old North Church is where Paul Revere famously asked for a lantern signal to notify him of the coming British: "One if by land, two if by sea." It also happens to sit atop a crypt populated by the dead... and those dead seem at times to be of the restless sort.

Copp's Hill Burying Ground, the last stop on your tour, was the burial site for Boston's everyday citizens. While ghost sightings are rare here, most visitors report feeling deeply uneasy for reasons they can't explain. Your tour concludes here, but there's much more to Boston and more optional stops for those who would like to keep touring.

The historic Emerson Colonial Theatre, Boston’s oldest continually operating theater and a stage for legendary Broadway premieres.

Explore the USS Constitution Museum, where history comes alive through exhibits about “Old Ironsides” and her heroic naval legacy.

Remember the Cocoanut Grove, site of Boston’s tragic 1942 nightclub fire that led to major advances in fire safety laws nationwide.

The Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston’s iconic luxury hotel, known for its grand architecture and over a century of timeless elegance.

Visit the South End Burying Ground, one of Boston’s oldest cemeteries, holding centuries of history and stories from the city’s early days.

Experience The Eliot Hotel, a historic boutique hotel in Boston’s Back Bay, known for its timeless charm and elegant accommodations.