Historic Places

Waverly Hills Sanatorium

Louisville, Kentucky Perched on a hilltop in Louisville, Kentucky, Waverly Hills Sanatorium has become synonymous with ghost stories, urban legends, and paranormal investigations. But long before its reputation as one of the most haunted places in the United States, it was a place of medicine, hope, and tragedy. The original Waverly Hills opened in 1910…
St. Louis Cemetery No. 1

New Orleans, Louisiana Few burial grounds in America carry the mystique and notoriety of St. Louis Cemetery No. 1. Located just outside the French Quarter in New Orleans, this cemetery was established in 1789, replacing the city’s older St. Peter Street Cemetery. It is the oldest surviving cemetery in New Orleans and remains one of…
St. Louis Cemetery No. 2

New Orleans, Louisiana Just a few blocks from its older and more famous counterpart, St. Louis Cemetery No. 2 was established in 1823 to accommodate New Orleans’ growing population. Like No. 1, it was constructed in the distinctive above-ground style, dictated by the city’s high water table and Catholic burial traditions brought by French and…
Fort William Henry

New Harbor, Maine Fort William Henry, located in New Harbor, Maine, was built by the English in 1692 during King William’s War. It stood on the ruins of earlier colonial fortifications, including Fort Charles and Fort Pemaquid, both of which had been destroyed in earlier conflicts between English settlers and French-allied Wabanaki tribes. Commissioned by…
Historic Anchorage Hotel

Anchorage, Alaska The Historic Anchorage Hotel sits in downtown Anchorage as one of the city’s oldest surviving hotel properties. The original wooden Anchorage Hotel was built in 1916. An annex—what you see today at 330 E Street—was added in 1936 as Anchorage grew from a tent city into Alaska’s commercial center. The Annex and its…
Ohio State Reformatory

Mansfield, Ohio The Ohio State Reformatory, better known as the Mansfield Reformatory, was built as an “intermediate penitentiary”—a halfway point between juvenile detention and hard-time prison. The goal was to reform first-time, mostly young offenders through discipline, education, and labor. Cleveland architect Levi T. Scofield designed the complex with a mix of Victorian Gothic, Richardsonian…
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! of St. Augustine

St. Augustine, Florida Nestled in the nation’s oldest city, St. Augustine, Florida, Castle Warden stands as a striking example of Moorish Revival architecture and a monument to mystery. Built in 1887 as a winter retreat for William Gray Warden and his family, the castle has since lived many lives—private residence, hotel, and, since 1950, Ripley’s…
Bobby Mackey’s Music World to be Demolished

Owners Plan New Construction After 45 Years of History and Hauntings After more than 45 years of operation, Bobby Mackey’s Music World, one of Kentucky’s most iconic and allegedly haunted nightclubs, is set to be demolished. The decision comes after Bobby Mackey, the country singer and owner, initially planned to relocate the bar temporarily while…
The John Rutledge House Inn

Charleston, South Carolina The historic home at 116 Broad Street in Charleston, South Carolina, is one of the city’s most remarkable landmarks. Built in 1763 by John Rutledge for his wife, Elizabeth Grimké, the house has witnessed centuries of American history, from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War. Today, it is preserved as the…
Moon River Brewing Company: The End of an Era

Moon River Brewing Company, a beloved institution in Savannah, Georgia, has recently announced its closure, leaving a void in the hearts of locals and visitors alike. Founded in 1999, Moon River quickly became a cornerstone of Savannah’s vibrant craft beer scene. The brewery was housed in a building with a storied past, located at 21…