Whaley House

Officially designated as haunted by the U.S. Commerce Department, the Whaley House is one of only two haunted houses in America to receive this distinction.

Built on a Gallows

Thomas Whaley knew the land’s history when he built his home in 1857. Just three years earlier, James “Yankee Jim” Robinson was hanged on the very spot where the house would stand.

Robinson’s death was slow—the gallows were too short, and he strangled for over 15 minutes. His heavy footsteps have been heard ever since, along with the sensation of a noose tightening around visitors’ necks.

The Whaley Family

Thomas and Anna Whaley raised their family here, experiencing tragedy after tragedy:

• Their son Thomas Jr. died at 18 months
• Daughter Violet committed suicide after a failed marriage
• The family was driven from their home by litigation

Both Thomas and Anna have been seen throughout the house:

• Thomas in a frock coat and top hat
• Anna in the garden or near her bedroom
• The sound of Anna’s perfume
• Thomas’s cigar smoke with no source

Paranormal Activity

Yankee Jim’s Territory

• Heavy footsteps on the upstairs landing
• The feeling of a rope around the neck
• A shadowy figure in the archway where he died

The Children

• Baby Thomas is heard crying
• A young girl is seen in Victorian dress
• Children’s laughter from empty rooms

The Courtroom (Former Theater)

• A woman in a long dress glides across the floor
• Whispered conversations
• The feeling of being watched from the stage

Modern Investigations

The house has been investigated by every major paranormal group:

• Full-bodied apparitions captured on camera
• EVPs in multiple voices
• Temperature fluctuations of 20+ degrees
• Objects moving during tours

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The Whaley House Museum offers tours, including after-dark ghost hunts.