Buzz
San Francisco is celebrated for its stunning architecture, incredible food, vibrant arts culture, and... spirits? Absolutely. This city ranks among the top ten most haunted places in the United States, and it’s easy to see why! With a rich history marked by the Gold Rush, devastating earthquakes, infamous serial killers, and more, it's a location steeped in both triumph and tragedy. If I had the space, I could expand this list to include hundreds of haunted spots. From hotels and restaurants to streets and harbors, you name the place, and San Francisco probably has a haunted version of it that locals swear by.
10. San Francisco City Hall
This iconic building is rumored to be haunted by the spirits of those buried in the Yerba Buena cemetery, which once stood where the City Hall now sits. Although the remains were supposedly relocated to another resting place, many believe that the spirits disturbed by the construction still linger, haunting the halls of this majestic structure.
It’s said that these spirits are known to make noises when no one is around. In 1924, a former City Hall employee claimed to have witnessed these ghostly antics firsthand. Around noon, the employee began hearing tapping sounds on the walls. However, this wasn’t random—there was a distinct rhythm to it: five taps, a pause, then three taps. No one could explain these strange occurrences, which took place daily at the same time.
9. The Presidio Army Base
Located near the Golden Gate Bridge, this former military base is believed to be haunted by a diverse range of spirits—soldiers, Native Americans, and even pets that once lived there. It may seem unusual, but it’s true! The Presidio’s history stretches over two centuries, with its earliest days seeing Native American inhabitants due to its prime location by water and forests. The area later fell under Spanish and Mexican control before becoming part of the Park Service.
It wasn’t until the 1950s that pet grave markers began appearing at the Presidio. Marked by a white picket fence, this pet cemetery belonged to families stationed at the base. At night, visitors claim to hear sounds coming from the cemetery, and they’ve even reported seeing soldiers performing their duties. Some people have also experienced sudden cold spots. If you want to dive deeper into the Presidio’s haunted past, San Francisco’s Halloween Ghost Tours, held every October, offer a spooky exploration of the area.
8. Stow Lake
This artificial lake sits within Golden Gate Park. The history of San Francisco before the 1906 earthquake is a bit elusive, as many records were lost in the disaster. So, the full backstory behind this haunting is somewhat shrouded in mystery. However, it first appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle in 1908. The tale involves a car full of young people speeding away from ‘something,’ racing through the park.
One version of this story goes like this: In the early 1900s, a mother tragically drowned her baby in Stow Lake. Exhausted, she sat on a bench and began chatting with another woman. But in the midst of their conversation, she lost sight of her baby’s pram, which had rolled into the lake, pulling the baby in with it. Some say you can still see the White Lady near the park's exit, where she desperately approaches strangers, pleading for help in finding her lost child.
7. Donaldina Cameron House
Founded in 1878, the Occidental (Presbyterian) Mission Home for Girls offered refuge to female Chinese immigrants—both women and girls—who had secretly entered the United States during a time when Chinese immigration was restricted to men only. In 1897, Donaldina Cameron became the superintendent, dedicating her life to rescuing Chinese girls from human trafficking and forced labor.
Yet, even within the safety of the mission’s walls, danger loomed. Brothel owners and their backers spread rumors about Cameron, calling her the ‘white devil.’ They terrified the young girls in their brothels by claiming she drank their blood to maintain her youth. Other threats came from those who sought to keep the area free of ‘illegal aliens.’
When the original structure was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake, a new building was constructed, featuring hidden rooms in the basement where the girls could seek shelter if necessary. Unfortunately, a fire broke out, trapping the girls inside, where they suffocated in the smoke. To this day, it’s said that the spirits of those girls continue to haunt the Cameron House.
6. The Queen Anne Hotel
This Victorian-style hotel, which originally served as The Mary Lake School for Girls in the 1890s, is believed to be haunted by the ghost of the school's former headmistress, Miss Mary Lake. The building was one of the few to survive the 1906 earthquake and has since been home to various groups, including brothel owners, church caretakers, and even a rumored secret society.
The Queen Anne is renowned as one of San Francisco’s most haunted hotels – yes, one of many in this ghostly city. It has appeared on ghost-hunting shows and is widely featured on ghost enthusiast websites across the globe. However, the ghost here isn’t terrifying; think more along the lines of a friendly, Casper-like spirit. Miss Mary Lake is said to gently tidy up, pick up items, and even help guests with unpacking, particularly in room 410, which is known as the Mary Lake Suite.
5. The Fairmont Hotel
The Fairmont Hotel was conceived by two sisters—Theresa Fair Oelrichs and Virginia Fair Vanderbilt—who dreamed of opening a boutique hotel in San Francisco's exclusive Nob Hill. But just weeks after the hotel’s grand opening, it was severely damaged in the 1906 earthquake. Refusing to give up, the Fair sisters oversaw its reconstruction, and it reopened just one year after the disaster. The luxury hotel is now said to be haunted by multiple spirits, including the Fair sisters themselves, who are believed to look after their guests, even caressing them as they sleep.
Another ghost frequently spotted at The Fairmont is known as 'the friendly prostitute.' This woman was murdered in her room, and her spirit is said to wander the hotel, chatting cheerfully with guests. Some visitors also report seeing the apparitions of World War II soldiers walking the halls.
4. Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary
Alcatraz, the infamous former prison, is believed to be haunted by the restless spirits of former prisoners and guards who died on the island. The U.S. Army first used the rocky island as a prison in 1859 and later built a large, concrete-reinforced facility that was completed in 1912. It became home to its first inmates—the very laborers who had built the structure itself.
In 1933, the Federal Bureau of Prisons took over the island, transforming it into a facility for the most notorious criminals. Some of its infamous residents included Machine Gun Kelly, Birdman Stroud, and Al Capone. With its remote location and a history of violence, it’s no surprise that Alcatraz is believed to be haunted. During its operation, eight inmates were killed by others, five committed suicide, and fifteen died of natural causes.
During tours, visitors have often reported hearing sobbing and screams, along with the sensation of distinct cold spots inside the old prisoner cells. The most haunted of these is Cell 14-D, which includes 'The Hole,' a grim punishment area where the most unruly inmates were sent to suffer.
3. The Whittier Mansion
In 1894, William Franklin Whittier built a grand 30-room mansion as a gift for his wife. Tragically, she died in a carriage accident before the home was completed. As if that weren't sorrowful enough, William passed away just a year later within the mansion itself. Their son eventually sold the home to the German Reich, and it is believed to have served as a base for German spies during World War II. The mansion is said to be haunted by William, who is often seen sitting in a chair, waiting for his wife to return, and by the mysterious spirits of the German spies who once occupied the home.
2. The Sutro Baths
The Sutro Baths were constructed in the 1890s by millionaire Adolph Sutro, a man also responsible for designing other notable properties, including the second Cliff House. Initially, Sutro built an ocean-pool aquarium, later expanding the project with a three-acre public bathhouse. His vision was to create a recreational space that was healthy, affordable, and open to all San Franciscans. Additionally, Sutro used the baths as a sort of museum, displaying exhibits of natural history, sculptures, paintings, tapestries, and various artifacts from regions like Mexico, China, Asia, and the Middle East—Egyptian mummies being among the most popular.
The Sutro Baths are said to be haunted by multiple spirits. Among them is Frank Denvin, a 16-year-old boy who tragically fell head-first from a water slide ladder into an empty cement tank, resulting in his death in 1896. But Frank isn't the only ghost to roam the baths. Some legends say that if you enter the tunnel at Sutro Baths with a lit candle, a woman will appear and throw your candle into the sea.
1. The Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge is a world-famous symbol of San Francisco, known for its striking red color and impressive stretch across the Golden Gate Strait. Despite its beauty and iconic status, however, rumors abound that the bridge is haunted.
There are numerous accounts of eerie and paranormal occurrences on the Golden Gate Bridge. From ghostly figures of people who jumped to their deaths, to the sounds of unexplained footsteps and distant voices. Some even claim to have seen the apparition of a woman in a white dress, believed to be the spirit of a bride who died in a car accident on the bridge.
Among the most famous hauntings on the Golden Gate Bridge is that of Larry, a construction worker who was working on the bridge in the 1930s. Tragically, Larry fell to his death from one of the towering steel structures. Since that fateful day, numerous witnesses have reported seeing his ghost near the spot where he fell, often in the form of a faint, ethereal figure.
Another ghostly presence on the Golden Gate Bridge belongs to George, a sailor who served during World War II. Deeply in love with his wife, George’s ship was tragically sunk, and he was lost at sea. His spirit is said to linger on the bridge, often spotted in his sailor’s uniform, gazing out toward the water as though still searching for his lost love.
Despite the unsettling stories of hauntings, the Golden Gate Bridge remains a beloved landmark, drawing both tourists and locals. While some may prefer to avoid the bridge at night, when the spirits are believed to be most active, others are fascinated by its eerie past and the possibility of encountering the restless souls who met their end there. Whether or not the hauntings are real, they only serve to deepen the bridge’s intriguing legacy.
