Charleston is one of the cities that have been associated with tales of ghosts and mysteries.
Charleston’s beauty has always carried a shadow. Cobblestone streets, wrought-iron gates, and pastel facades conceal centuries of war, fire, disease, and loss, and many locals will tell you the city never truly forgets. Some of Charleston’s most chilling ghost stories aren’t vague legends passed down over drinks; they’re tied to real, walkable addresses that still stand today.
If you find tales of ghosts and mysteries appealing then Charleston is definitely worth a stop.
Photo of the Edmondston-Alston House by DXR
Ghost Stories Tied to Charleston
Edmondston-Alston House
At 101 Legare Street, the Edmondston-Alston House is best known for its grand piazzas overlooking White Point Garden. But staff and visitors have long reported unexplained footsteps, doors opening on their own, and the distinct feeling of being watched. One of the most persistent stories involves a woman in period dress seen near the upper floors, believed to be connected to the home’s 19th-century occupants. Even skeptics admit the house feels different after dark.
The Old City Jail
Just a few blocks away at 29 Rue de Trémé, the Old City Jail casts one of the longest shadows in Charleston. Built in 1802, it once housed pirates, Civil War prisoners, and some of the city’s most notorious criminals. Paranormal investigators and tour guides alike have documented voices, slamming doors, and shadow figures, particularly in the upper corridors. The jail’s most famous spirit is Lavinia Fisher, America’s first female serial killer, who was executed here in 1820. Visitors often report sudden cold spots and overwhelming unease near her former cell.
"I probably didn't appreciate it enough when I was growing up." — Thomas Gibson
Dock Street Theatre
On Church Street, the Dock Street Theatre at 135 Church Street is said to be haunted by two spirits. One is Junius Booth, a 19th-century actor and father of John Wilkes Booth, who allegedly appears in the theater’s balcony. The other is “Nettie,” a former hotel resident believed to have died in the building before it became a theater. Actors and staff frequently report lights flickering, disembodied whispers, and the sound of footsteps during empty rehearsals.
Mills House Hotel
The elegant Mills House Hotel at 115 Meeting Street hides a darker past beneath its polished exterior. During the Civil War, the building served as a hospital, and legend holds that wounded soldiers still linger. Guests have reported children laughing in hallways late at night, doors unlocking themselves, and the apparition of a nurse in period clothing. Rooms overlooking the courtyard are said to be especially active.
The Mills House Hotel Photo by ProfReader
The Powder Magazine
Perhaps one of the most unsettling stories belongs to The Powder Magazine at 79 Cumberland Street, Charleston’s oldest public building. Used to store gunpowder in the early 1700s, it has long been associated with sightings of a headless torso, believed to be the spirit of a soldier killed in an accidental explosion. Employees have reported alarms going off without cause and objects moving on their own after hours.
In Charleston, ghost stories aren’t confined to folklore or campfire tales. They’re etched into real addresses, lived-in buildings, and everyday streets. Whether you believe in spirits or not, standing outside these places after sunset, it’s hard not to feel the past pressing close, whispering that some stories, once lived, never truly end. Rentalz can help you find vacation homes that are near these mysterious places.
The most interesting spots in a city aren't the usual ones where tourists flock, sometimes those are the ones haunted by ghosts.
