Top 10 Haunted Places in Charleston SC

Ghosts and goblins. Things that go bump in the night. Charleston SC is one of the most haunted cities in The United States. A great part of Charleston is that it is rich in history. A rich history comes with a dark past. While doing tours or on your own make sure to check out the most haunted places in Charleston SC.

There are so many great locations in Charleston to visit. I get asked a lot about haunted places and if I ever see ghosts. In many of these places, you will walk by, take pictures, and be in awe of how amazing they are. But never knowing the haunted history behind them.

Haunted places in Charleston SC

Take your time and find the darkness in Charleston. Pull out your cameras because you never know what you will capture. Being in one of the most haunted cities in the country is a lot of fun. Here are my top 10 haunted places in Charleston SC.

1. White Point Garden

Location: 2 Murry Blvd. Charleston, SC 29401

White Point Garden is said to be one of the most haunted places in Charleston SC. Legend has it that pirates haunt this garden looking for their ship. People say they see orbs and other apparitions. Many have reported walking through cold spots throughout these gardens.

There is a monument for the pirate, Stede Bonnett in the park. According to the monument, Stede Bonnett and 29 of his sailors were hung in the garden. Along with these pirates, many slaves were hung on these grounds as well. Also, it is known that at least 2 people were gibbeted here!

Plenty of reasons why White Point Garden is one of the most haunted places in Charleston SC.

2. Old City Jail

Location: 21 Magazine St. Charleston, SC 29401

Number 1 haunted place in Charleston, SC. The Old City Jail was in use between 1802 and 1939. This jail held many different prisoners during its time in use. During the Civil War, it held Union and Confederate troops. Pirates have a rich history in Charleston and many were imprisoned at this location. 2 major prisoners stand out. First, Lavinia Fisher and her husband John, who were part of a highway robbery gang, were held from 1819 to 1820. They were executed at the jail in 1820. Secondly, Denmark Vessey who was jailed in 1822 planned a slave revolt. He planned to take out slave owners, then free the slaves and sail them to Haiti.

It is reported that Lavinia Fisher haunts the jail. People have heard her on the premises. Tourists have said that they have been touched or manhandled by spirits. This jail has been used to hold some of the worst people to come through Charleston and even torture many of them. Truly a place where angry spirits are looking for revenge.

The Old City Jail has been featured on Ghost Hunters, Ghost Adventures, and the Travel Channel.

3. Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon

Location: 122 E. Bay St. Charleston SC 29401

This site of The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon was once the Half-Moon Battery. Half-Moon Battery was a center of trade in Charleston and held a prison underneath it. There are still parts of the original city walls at this location.

The prison was used to hold soldiers of The Revolutionary War by Colonialists and the British. It held prisoners from The Civil War including Union and Confederate Troops. But most famously, it was used to hold pirate legends such as Stede Bonnet and Blackbeard himself. Charleston has a strong history with pirates.

Visitors have said that they have seen ghosts in the hallways and have heard screams from the dead prisoners. There are reports of chains on the wall starting to swing by themselves.

There have been times when visitors have seen a staff member dressed as a Revolutionary time period member, but only to see him disappear before their eyes.

4. Poogan’s Porch

Location: 72 Queen St. Charleston, SC 29401

In 1976, this residential house was purchased to turn into a restaurant. The new owners found that the old owners left their dog at the location. Poogan, the name of the sweet white-haired dog, quickly loved his new family. The family decided to name the new restaurant in the dog’s name, Poogan’s Porch.

Poogan served as the unofficial greeter of the restaurant until he passed away in 1979. People say that they still see Poogan at the restaurant. They even have said that they have felt the dog rub up against them while they are sitting only to not see any animal.

Before it was a restaurant, two sisters lived in the house, Zoe and Elizabeth. They were close sisters. They did not care for the outside world much and kept mostly to themselves. In 1945, Elizabeth passed away leaving Zoe to her lonesome self. Zoe started to decline in her mental health. One night she left the house to roam the streets of Charleston yelling out for her sister. She was picked up and taken to a hospital where she stayed the rest of her life.

Legend has it that Zoe is still at her old home searching for her sister. People have seen Zoe standing at the top floor window wearing a black dress. Guests of the restaurant have witnessed seeing Zoe, but many do not know it until they see a picture of her in the building. She is mostly seen in the women’s bathroom. There has been moving of furniture and doors reported by the staff as well.

5. Circular Church Graveyard

Location: 150 Meeting St. Charleston, SC 29401

The Circular Church Graveyard is one of the oldest graveyards in Charleston. Boasting about 500 gravesites that date back to 1695, this is truly an eerie place. Given the location of the graveyard, these souls have dealt with a lot; war, hurricanes, and earthquakes. No resting in peace here, making this one of the most haunted places in Charleston SC.

The majority of the stories here have come from tours through the graveyard. A tour guide has given many tours of the graveyard and never saw anything until one night. One night she noticed a strange person walking around the graveyard. The guide said that it looked like a man dressed as a Revolutionary Soldier. According to her, she saw the figure at least 4 more times. Her visitors on the tour have said they saw the same figure.

One visitor took pictures of the area and reported having buttons in these pictures along with orbs. One time, he states that he saw the Revolutionary figure floating away. He mentions that he heard voices and whispers within the graveyard as well. Many other visitors mention seeing this Revolutionary soldier from time to time. Maybe you will get lucky as well and see him.

Another visitor visiting this Charleston graveyard says one time when she was on a tour, she felt someone breathing on her neck. She turned to see no one. After she felt someone touch her with a cold finger but of course, again, no one was behind her.

6. Battery Carriage House Inn

Location: 20 S. Battery Charleston, SC 29401

The Battery Carriage House Inn is one of the most haunted places in Charleston SC. It is also one of the most historic hotels. In 1843, Samuel Stevens purchased the land that would be the future location of the inn. Around 1859, Stevens sold his Charleston home to John F. Blacklock.

Not long after he moved in, he had to leave this home because of The Civil War. The house was left abandoned. He sold his property in 1870 to a Yankee Colonel, Richard Lathers. Over the next 4 years, Lathers tried to help the city of Charleston in Reconstruction. Citizens would not have any of it with him being a northerner. The pain of losing The Civil War was too much for them.

Andrew Simonds, a member of the Calhoun family with a strong history in Charleston, purchased the house in 1874. He lived there with his wife until they sold the house in 1912. After this, the house changed hands plenty of times until it became the hotel that it is today in the 1980s.

Employees and numerous guests have reported seeing spirits and hauntings at the inn. They say that there are many different spirits that have haunted the inn since the end of The Civil War. Legend has it that they are “spirits of habit” and tend to stay in the same known areas of the hotel. You can find them in primarily 3 different rooms.

Room 3

The first encounter is from a married couple spending a few nights in Room 3.

During the first night, the husband’s cell phone started to make strange and loud noises. The crazy part is he had powered down the phone before he went to bed. They reported seeing an orb flying around the room as well.

On the second night, they reported seeing the orb again along with many other glowing objects. They met with a psychic who was staying at the hotel that night. They convinced her to visit the room, which she did. She could feel a presence and asked the spirit to leave.

The couple said after that, they could finally sleep. They did not report any more hauntings during their stay.

Room 8

This is the room that you do not want to stay in. This ghost is unlike any ghost here. The ghost here will make you run for a new hotel if you see it.

The haunting of this room always goes the same way. You fall asleep. You awake in the middle of the night to strange sounds. Then you see the most horrifying sight ever.

A skeptical man wanted to try this out. He booked the room and fell asleep. The man was awakened by a strange noise only to see it. There in front of him was a headless torso floating!

Room 10

Room 10 will be your best chance to see a ghost. This room’s occupant is known as the Gentleman Ghost. He is known for being alright with sharing his room with everyone.

People describe seeing him mostly as a grayish shadow in the room. Most people report seeing him lying on the bed. He is also known to walk around the room while not disturbing people.

7. St. Philips Graveyard

Location: 142 Church St. Charleston, SC 29401

St. Philips Church is originally established in 1681 in Charleston. The beautiful cemetery is located across the street from the church. It holds some of the more well-known historical figures of Charleston’s past.

One of the signers of The Constitution, Charles Pinckney is buried in the cemetery. Henrietta Johnson who is recognized as the first female artist in the colonies is here. The first female miniaturist in America, Mary Roberts is resting peacefully on the grounds. As well as, Edward Rutledge, who signed The Declaration Of Independence.

In 1888, Gaston Hardy and Sue Howard were two members of the congregation. Sue was pregnant and the two were looking forward to starting their family. On June 10th of that year, the child was stillborn and Sue was devastated. Sue died 6 days after she lost her child with the doctors uncertain as to why. It is unknown what happened to Gaston after he lost his family.

About 99 years after her death, a photographer came to the cemetery to take photos. He was able to get a photograph of a woman wearing a shawl bent over the grave of an infant. He went on to have the photo analyzed to come back as real. This photograph is used during tours. It’s said that women who are pregnant and hold this picture get a bad feeling and even have complications.

Visitors have also reported hearing a crying baby in the cemetery.

8. Dock Street Theatre

Locations: 132 Church St. Charleston, SC 29401

Dock Street Theatre is one of the best haunted places in Charleston SC because one of the more famous ghosts haunts this location. Guests have reported seeing spirits roaming the halls, in the rafters, and even on the stage.

The ghost of Junius Booth

Two main ghosts haunt the theatre. One is known as, The Ghost of Junius Booth. Yes, that Booth. Junius is the father of the Assassin, John Wilkes Booth. There is no real tie between Booth to the Dock Street Theatre. More than likely, it is the spirit of an actor that wants to continue on. People will hold strong to saying it is Junius Booth though.

Nettie

The second ghost and most famous one is Nettie. Nettie lived in Charleston in the mid-1800s and would frequent this location when it was Planter’s Hotel as a prostitute. Nettie moved to Charleston from the city looking for love, though, she was 25 (which was too old at that time). She was a country girl and was beneath the standard social status looking for wealthy men to marry, so she turned to prostitution. She did not stop trying to move up in society.

Nettie saved up her money and purchased the most expensive red dress that she could find to wear while at work. One night when she has had enough of trying to move up in Charleston society, she went outside on the second-floor balcony. It was pouring rain during a strong storm. She started screaming remarks about Charleston’s higher society. As it would happen, while screaming, she was struck by a bolt of lightning.

People say that Nettie is floating along the theatre decked out in her red dress.

9. Unitarian Church Cemetery

Location: 8 Archdale St. Charleston, SC 29401

The Unitarian Church is the second oldest church in Charleston. Visitors will notice that the paths of the cemetery are well-kept and manicured, but the rest is overgrown. The Unitarians wanted to be buried this way so that the dead and nature can be intertwined.

Mary Whitridge

The first haunting of Unitarian Church Cemetery is that of Mary Whitridge. Mary lived with her husband in Charleston. He was a smoker and had extreme breathing problems. He took a trip to Baltimore to visit doctors to help him. On his trip to Baltimore, he fell ill and died. The story has it that she collapsed and died in her home on the same day that he died.

Mary is laid to rest in the family plot at the cemetery. The plot next to her is said to be for her husband, but it is empty. People say that Mary is the lady in white who roams and haunts the cemetery.

Annabel Lee

Another haunting is that of Annabel Lee. Anna Ravenel fell in love with a man named Edward Allen. Edward was a soldier who was stationed at Ft. Moultrie. Anna would sneak out of her house all the time to visit her love. Her father did not approve of their relationship. Because of his status, he was able to have Edward moved to a new location, Baltimore.

While Edward was stationed in Baltimore, Anna fell ill. Once Edward heard about her sickness, he left to come back to her only to come too late. She had died. Anna’s father blamed Edward for his daughter’s death and he would not allow him to come to the funeral. The father had six different graves dug for her and left her real one unmarked. That way, Edward would not be able to find her grave.

Edward started to drink and found a new calling in life as a writer. He would soon be known as Edgar Allen Poe and go on to write about his love, Anna in a poem called, “Annabel Lee”.

Anna can be seen walking around the cemetery looking for Edward. She appears at her unmarked grave, waiting for her long-lost love.

10. The Powder Magazine

Location: 79 Cumberland St #3112 Charleston, SC 29401

The Powder Magazine was built to hold gunpowder for use during The Revolutionary War. This building was designed to protect itself against an explosion. The roof was used as a funnel to push out the explosion. It was designed with sand on the roof to smother out any fire if it goes out of control. After The Revolutionary War, The Powder Magazine was used as a storage building.

The Haunting of Gabriel Manigault

Gabriel Manigault is from a wealthy family in Charleston. He was a rice farmer and studied law. Gabriel had a love for wine. The Powder Magazine was used as a wine cellar for him. It is said that he spent a lot of his time here with his wine.

People say that they clearly see a man dressed in period-style clothes to match Gabriel Manigault. He walks down the down halls looking for something. More than likely he is looking for his next bottle of wine.

The Haunting of Anne Bonny

Anne Bonny was born in Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland around 1697. She was born as an illegitimate child of her father, William Cormac, and her mother, Marry Brennan, who was his servant. Cormac’s wife went public with the affair of her husband and servant. Cormac left his wife after this. He married Brennan and took her and Anne to America to start a new life. They decided to settle in Charleston.

When Anne was a teenager, Marry Brennan passed away. Anne had to take up the responsibility of helping her father. Anne was said to have a bad temper. On a couple of occasions, she took her temper out on their servants. She stabbed one to death. She also beat and stabbed a man whom she put in the hospital for attacking her.

When Anne was 16, she met and fell in love with a Pirate named, James Bonny. Anne’s father did not agree with the relationship because he knew that James was after the family money. They married anyway and shortly after moved to New Providence Island, Bahamas. Which was a pirate hideout. James could not make it as a pirate and soon turned to work for the Governor. Anne did not like this and soon left her husband.

Anne met another pirate named, Calico Jack Rackham. He would purchase Anne from her husband. Anne and Jack sailed around pirating. Anne met another pirate named, Mary Read. The three of them became a powerhouse on the open seas. Anne eventually was captured and spent time in prison.

We do know Anne did finish out her days in Charleston married to a man named, Joseph Burleigh. She died at the age of 80 in 1782. Anne Bonny can be seen throughout Charleston and The Powder Magazine is the most popular spot.

Haunted Places in Charleston SC recap

Charleston is full of amazing places to see. Go out of your way to see a little more of Charleston, the darker side of Charleston.

There are plenty of ghost tours to take in this city to help you find all the haunted spirits you are looking for.

Bulldog Tours and Morbid Charleston

Besides trying to scare yourself, make sure to check out my post about the What 13 things should I not miss in Charleston SC and 10 Best Places Off The Beaten Path In Charleston SC 2022.

Head out and enjoy yourselves. Look for the creepy, spine-shivering, gasping-for-air, haunted spirits out there. Best of luck in your ghost-hunting adventures!

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