Charleston
The Holy City is anything but holy after dark. Slave trade, dueling, pirate executions, and earthquakes created countless ghosts. The Dock Street Theatre is home to Nettie and the Man in Grey.
Charleston is one of America’s most haunted cities.
The History
According to historical records, the Holy City was founded in 1670 and became a major slave trade port that endured Revolutionary War sieges, Civil War bombing, and a devastating 1886 earthquake.
The Slave Trade
Charleston’s dark history reveals that 40% of all slaves came through the city via Sullivan’s Island processing, resulting in untold suffering. The ghosts of the enslaved remain throughout the city.
Dock Street Theatre
America’s first theater is haunted by Nettie the prostitute who was struck by lightning and the Man in Grey. The location remains very active, and staff regularly see them.
The Unitarian Church Graveyard
The romantic ghost Annabel Lee, who served as inspiration for Poe’s famous poem, walks the graveyard looking for her lover in a display of tragic beauty.
The 1886 Earthquake
The destruction from the 7.3 magnitude earthquake killed 60 people and caused buildings to collapse, leaving trauma residue and releasing spirits that still linger.
The Battery
This execution site saw pirates hanged and their bodies displayed, with Stede Bonnet among them. Their spirits walk along the water to this day.
Sources
Charleston, South Carolina - Wikipedia provides historical documentation of the city’s haunted past.