Haunted Pittsburgh

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From intimate crimes of passion and dark family ties to a history-changing Civil War, Pittsburgh’s ghosts of the past are still a haunting presence today. Find your favorite spot to haunt around the city - both believers and non-believers are welcome!

Know of a haunted hot spot we missed? Email and let us know and we'll send out the Ecto-1.

Church Brew Works

Some of the ghostly residents evidently weren't happy with being converted into a house of pale ales instead of prayers. Located in a 100-year-old Catholic church, Church Brew Works' haunted stories include a woman in white (was she left at the altar?), unexplained sounds and items moving by themselves.

Travel Channel sent the Ghost Hunters there in 2022 for their "The Haunted Brewery," episode. See the evidence for yourself:

Pittsburgh Playhouse | Point Park University

Iconic stars like Gene Kelly got their start at the Pittsburgh Playhouse, but some celebrities here became more famous after death. After John Johns suffered a heart attack on stage here, he later died in the dressing room, leading to apparitions appearing to visitors from a man in a tuxedo to a Lady in White calling the dead actor's name.

The original Playhouse (featured in the video below) was razed a few years ago, but it's not clear if the hauntings followed the troupe to their new Forbes Ave. location or if those spirits finally moved on.

Allegheny Cemetery

The ghost of Harry K. Thaw, son of coal and railroad baron William Kendall Thaw, is said to wander the grounds of Allegheny Cemetery near his burial site. His infamy, tied to the murder of famed architect Stanford White in 1906 and dubbed “the trial of the century,” involved Thaw’s wife, performer Evelyn Nesbit. He was found mentally insane by a jury and confined to an asylum for years. Schedule a tour of the cemetery grounds to learn more.

Clayton: The Frick Mansion

Clayton, the former family home of millionaire Henry Clay Frick, is said to have the spirits of two women thought to be members of the Frick family wandering its halls. You can book a tour and investigate for yourself at the preserved mansion.

Continue your investigation with a short walk from the house to Homewood Cemetery where many of the Frick family members are buried.

Green Man's Tunnel

You've heard of the Hat Man, but Pittsburgh's legend of the Green Man (perhaps a distant cousin?) is the best type of horror story. This ghost story stems from a true story about a disfigured man who loved taking midnight strolls and morphed into a glowing man who haunts this South Park rail tunnel.

Obviously, use your discretion if you go exploring dark, abandoned tunnels looking for phosphorescent persons; the city uses this tunnel to store road salt and other tales of murder and mayhem follow.

Cathedral of Learning, University of Pittsburgh

The Early American Room at Pitt’s Cathedral of Learning holds a special energy. Within a hidden staircase is a bedroom containing some of the belongings of Martha Jane Poe, a relative of Edgar Allen Poe.

Staff and docents in the Cathedral have noticed odd noises, items moved without being touched and dark shadows shifting around corners. The rooms are often open for viewing and occasional guided tours.

Dead Man's Hollow

We can't make a name like this up; Dead Man's Hollow Conservation Area is its real name, and the Allegheny Land Trust website even notes its ominous origins.

This former quarry and pipe factory have now been reclaimed by nature, with 450 acres of green space and 6 miles of trails, but the legends live on - murder, quakes, fires and mysterious deaths. Take the enchanted staircase and explore the factory ruins, just don't become the next haunted denizen that wanders this path.

Calvary Cemetery

The ghosts of gangster brothers Edward and Jack Biddle may be found on the grounds of Calvary Cemetery, still angry that their lives were cut short after a famous Pittsburgh prison break.

Convicted of several crimes, including robbery and murder, the Biddles were imprisoned and sentenced to hang. But the warden’s wife, Kate Soffel, began a romance with Ed, and helped the Biddles escape prison. The freedom didn't last long, as the brothers were both killed in a gun battle, and Soffel was seriously injured.

The National Aviary

The National Aviary on the Northside was built on the site of the former Western Penitentiary. During The American Civil War, the prison was operated by Union soldiers, keeping Confederate soldiers in lockdown. The prison was overcrowded and unclean. Many soldiers died in captivity, and it’s believed that their spirits still wander the halls of the aviary.

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Eric R.

Author

Eric R.

Visitor Engagement Manager

Eric is the Visitor Engagement Manager with Visit Pittsburgh. Aside from an extensive career of helping people 'have a good time' in Pittsburgh and Los Angeles, he also loves chatting about classic films, classic cars, being a thrift store connoisseur, and learning about your dog's weirdest obsessions.

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