Old Charleston Jail (21 Magazine Street): This jail operated from 1802 to 1939 and housed pirates, Civil War prisoners, and notorious criminals. One of the most famous inmates was Lavinia Fisher, often called America’s first female serial killer. Her ghost is said to still haunt the jail, along with those of former inmates.
The Battery Carriage Inn (20 South Battery): A historic inn dating back to 1843, it’s known for two particular spirits — a “Gentleman Ghost” who appears by bedsides and a terrifying “Headless Torso” apparition. Guests have reported cold spots, flickering lights, and unexplainable sounds at night.
Poogan’s Porch (72 Queen Street): This charming restaurant was once a house. A former resident, Zoe St. Amand, was a schoolteacher who became reclusive and died in the 1950s. Diners and staff have reported sightings of her wandering the restaurant. (Stop in for their Shrimp and Grits and She Crab Soup while in the area!)
The Battery ( 20 S. Battery St) : The cannons of the Civil War are quiet now… but the past still echoes through the Battery. Witnesses claim to hear marching footsteps, ghostly voices, and the distant rumble of cannon fire, even now- especially late at night or during foggy weather.
Mills House Hotel (115 Meeting St): Haunted primarily due to the Great Fire of 1861, and its Civil War connections. Locations are particularly in the rear lobby- guests have reported sightings of a woman dressed in a 19th-century purple gown appearing between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. She is thought to be a victim of the Great Fire. Some visitors have claimed to see ghostly figures of severely burned individuals reflected in mirrors and hallways, believed to be spirits of those who died in the fire.
A notable incident at the hotel involves a former night manager named Phil, who reported seeing the apparition of a young boy engulfed in flames within a stairwell. This sighting is believed to be connected to the tragic events of the Great Fire of 1861, as well.
Things To Do in Charleston, SC 
Leave a comment