Spooks and Specters in Haunted Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

It’s hard to imagine when visiting the tranquil town of Gettysburg that in 1863 the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War occurred across these rolling hills. Yet, that’s exactly what happened. It was a three-day affair with over 50,000 casualties.

Perhaps owing to the lives lost or perhaps just to our overeager imaginations, Gettysburg has gone on to be regarded as one of the most haunted places in America. This distinction makes it a great place to travel to for a bit of dark tourism.

In this article, I’ll detail some of the best places for a ghostly experience in haunted Gettysburg. I’ll also provide information on a couple ghost tours to try out during your visit.

Even if you aren’t interested in ghosts and haunts, Gettysburg is still a great place to visit. Between the battlefield, numerous wineries and an adorable downtown, you’re bound to find something to enjoy. And just maybe you’ll find a ghost along the way!

Updated November 2023

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Haunted Gettysburg Stop #1 – Gettysburg College

Like much of the town during the battle, Gettysburg College became a makeshift hospital for wounded soldiers. It was in these buildings that many young men suffered through terrible pain before eventually succumbing to their injuries.

Likely owing to the amount of human suffering, Gettysburg College has been the site of many reported ghost sightings over the years. There have been numerous sightings of ghostly apparitions wandering the halls and the screams of wounded soldiers being heard by current students.

If that isn’t enough, the college is home to the creepiest story of any other location in Gettysburg. One night in the 1980s, two faculty members rode an elevator to a lower floor in Penn Hall. When the elevator doors opened, a terrifying scene awaited them: Apparitions in Civil War-era surgical attire stood there attending to wounded soldiers. Then, all at once the spirits looked up at the two faculty members.

The two fled the scene before finding a nearby security guard whom they reported the scene to. When they returned with the guard, everything was as it should be with no evidence of what they saw earlier.

After you’re done being creeped out in Gettysburg, maybe it’s time to consider a more relaxing stay at nearby Omni Bedford Springs Resort.

Haunted Gettysburg Stop #2 – Devil’s Den

The site of some of the bloodiest fighting of the battle, Devil’s Den is now considered one of the most haunted locations of the whole battlefield.

In just one day of fighting there were upwards of 2,600 casualties from both sides. The fighting was intense and often at close range due to the rocky terrain.

Coincidentally, the name Devil’s Den does not come from the battle. Local residents believed that a snake between 8- and 15-feet long lived in the rocky crevices. It’s as if the location was fated to become a haunted location based on this early nickname.

Devil’s Den has many stories of ghostly soldiers being seen throughout its terrain. The most prominent of these is a spirit adorned in the attire of a Confederate Texas soldier. This specter is rumored to appear to lost visitors in the Den offering advice on where they need to be.

Another common phenomenon in the area is for cameras and phones to develop technical issues when trying to take photographs. It’s thought that this occurs due to the presence of a spirit whose corpse was used as a prop by a Civil War photographer. The photographer staged this dead soldier’s body in several different locations to get a good photo. Now, the lingering soul sabotages visitors’ cameras as revenge for what was done to him.

Haunted Gettysburg Stop #3 – The Jennie Wade House

In a battle that saw upwards of 180,000 combatants, it is a wonder that only one civilian died during the three days. That inauspicious award goes to Jennie Wade.

On the morning of the last day of fighting, Jennie Wade was kneading dough to make bread for Union soldiers when a stray Minié ball struck her in her left shoulder blade. The ball went through her heart before lodging itself in her corset.

With such a traumatic event, it’s no wonder that the Jennie Wade house is recognized as one of the best places to see a ghost in Gettysburg. In fact, it’s one of only two places anywhere that I can say I’ve had my own possible ghost encounter. (The other, coincidentally, is in Gettysburg, too, but is not detailed in this article as its no longer open to the public.)

Visitors can tour the house to hear the story of Jennie and see what the house looked like in it’s original state during the battle. The tour will take you into the Wade’s cellar where you can see the bed where her body was placed until it was safe to remove her from the home.

Seeing her resting place in the cellar is creepy enough without the stories of a young female spirit wandering the home.

Haunted Gettysburg is a great destination if you’re looking for a creepy Halloween destination. My post on celebrating Halloween while traveling shares some other tips to enjoy the season if you’re away from home.

Haunted Gettysburg Stop #4 – Sachs Covered Bridge

Located just outside of Gettysburg, Sachs Covered Bridge is reportedly one of the most haunted sites in town. Legend has it that three Confederate troops were hung from the rafters of the bridge.

The reason for these individuals being executed is unclear. One theory is they were Confederate deserters who were caught and made an example of. Another theory holds they were Confederate spies who were caught and hung by their Union adversaries. Regardless, if true, these three men certainly suffered a grisly fate.

People report several paranormal occurrences at the bridge. There have been reports of people smelling cigar smoke when no one is around. Some hear cannons being fired and disembodied voices in the woods surrounding the bridge. Growing up in Pennsylvania, gunfire in the distance is not unusual, but cannon fire? That’s definitely a little more odd.

If you’re lucky (or not so lucky) you may even see the apparitions of Civil War soldiers whose spirits still remain at the bridge.

Regardless, a trip to Sachs Covered Bridge is worthwhile even if you don’t spot any ghosts as it is widely considered to be one of the most scenic bridges in the state. And who knows? Maybe some of your photos of the bridge will reveal something from beyond the grave!

Haunted Gettysburg Stop #5 – The Children’s Orphanage

Here’s a haunting that is not directly linked to the lives lost during the three days of fighting. The children’s orphanage was created in 1866 as a way to care for the orphans left behind as a result of the war.

The history of the orphanage is like something out of a horror movie. Things started out well at the orphanage but quickly took a terrible turn when the first headmistress was replaced by Rosa Carmichael.

Rosa was a cruel headmistress, transforming the basement into a type of dungeon to punish children. In the dungeon, children would be shackled to the wall or forced to stay in “the pit.” The pit is essentially a small hole in the wall that children had to sit in alone in the dark.

Rumors went through town that something was amiss at the orphanage. However, it took several years for investigators to remove her from the orphanage while children continued to be tortured. Sadly, some children even went missing and were never found.

With these horrific details in mind, it is no wonder that the orphanage is considered one of the most haunted places in Gettysburg. Some of the things that people report are seeing the ghosts of children in the basement or hearing chains rattling on the basement walls.

Ghost Tours in Haunted Gettysburg

It’s been awhile since I’ve been on a ghost tour anywhere let alone in Gettysburg. In fact, I’ve only been on one, and that was in Gettysburg when I was about 13.

Personally, I’m not a huge fan of any type of group tour. I like to do my own research and be able to take my time when visiting places. That said, I know ghost tours in places like Gettysburg are very popular, so I want to provide some info on two of the more popular tour companies in Gettysburg.

Gettysburg Ghost Tours

Gettysburg Ghost Tours currently offers several different types of walking ghost tours throughout haunted Gettysburg. Their tours range from $10 to $18. Each tour lasts for an hour except for one exception: their Craft Beer and Spirits tour. The Craft Beer and Spirits tour includes two drinks supplied by a local craft brewery and it lasts for 1.5 hours and costs $21. They also offer private tours by request.

In addition to their ghost tours, they offer five different ghost hunts where you take on the role of a paranormal investigator. These range from $45 to $57 per person and can last from two to three hours. They provide all the equipment needed, so don’t worry if you don’t have your own ghost hunting cameras.

Ghostly Images of Gettysburg

Ghostly Images offers three different walking tours in haunted Gettysburg. Each tour lasts 90 minutes and cost $14 to $16. Their tours either focus on the Jennie Wade House or the children’s orphanage as well as some of the areas around those buildings.

In addition to the three walking tours, they also have a 2-hour bus tour for $28. They do note that the tour still includes some walking, but it is less than the walking tours if that’s an issue for you. Among the stops on the tour are Gettysburg College and Sach’s Covered Bridge.

Like Gettysburg Ghost Tours, Ghostly Images offers paranormal investigations. These experiences cost $250 for groups up to ten people. They last two hours and occur at either the Jennie Wade House or children’s orphanage. Unlike Gettysburg Ghost Tours, though, they do not provide any free equipment. You either have to purchase your own ahead of time or purchase equipment directly from them.

Resources to Book Your Trip to Gettysburg

Whether you’re looking for tours, hotels or flights, here are some tools to help get you started planning your trip to Gettysburg!

Look for activities and tours offered through GetYourGuide or Viator!

Still can’t find what you’re looking for? Check out my travel essentials pages for more of my recommendations.

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