There are numerous well-known hauntings in the state of Missouri. Including the famous tale of demonic possession. This served as the inspiration for the well-known movie “The Exorcist.”
Numerous intriguing stories of paranormal activity are emerging from the “Show Me State,” and if you have the courage to visit, many of the sites are accessible to the general public.
Let’s take a closer look at Missouri’s top 5 haunted locations.
Missouri State Penitentiary, Jefferson City
The Missouri State Penitentiary, with its intimidating walls and historic past, has earned a reputation as one of the most haunted locales in America. This imposing institution, which has stood watch for more than 168 years since it opened in 1836, has witnessed a turbulent history of death, bloodshed, and hopelessness.
Time Magazine dubbed it “The Bloodiest 47 Acres in America.” Its history includes infamous riots, horrific stories of executions of prisoners, and the rumors of those who perished there too soon.
The penitentiary’s air is heavy with the echoes of its dark and turbulent past, from the eerie seclusion of Death Row to the terrifying finality of the Gas Chamber, where 40 prisoners breathed their last.
The penitentiary’s eerie reputation has only grown as a result of eyewitness reports and paranormal investigations.
Spectral figures spotted walking the halls, disembodied voices echoing through abandoned cell blocks, and unexplained phenomena have become a key part of the Missouri State Penitentiary’s fascination.
It is thought that these hauntings are the restless ghosts of guards and former prisoners who are still bound to the location of their earthly struggles.
The events claimed by visitors range from the subtle—sudden temperature changes and unexplainable sounds—to the scary, involving full-bodied apparitions and physical interactions with invisible entities.
The Missouri State Penitentiary, a location of great historical and paranormal significance, never fails to enthrall and frighten those who venture to explore its mysteries.
Knob Noster, Johnson County
Whiteman Air Force Base is near the small Missouri community of Knob Noster. The word knob is an old word for a hill or small mountain, as you may or may not know. The town’s name originates here.
This is also where the local eerie legends are concentrated. There was a hermit who lived up on the hill and avoided the rest of the town as much as possible, you see.
He actually had a slave who would do all of his errands while he was in town. The slave was well-liked by the locals, so when he went missing, they got anxious, especially when the hermit came into town to do his own errands.
Some of the locals asked him about the slave, but he scowled and stormed off, triggering a rumor that he had murdered the young man.
Witnesses saw a lantern moving up the hill just before lightning struck during a terrible storm a few days later.
The Hermit’s body was found on the hill the next day, his face frozen in horror!
Jesse James Farm, Kearney
Almost everyone has heard of Jesse James, so it will be no surprise that the James Family’s property has been the scene of a tremendous deal of misery and tragedy.
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Visitors can take public tours of the farm to learn about the upbringing of Frank and Jesse James, as well as how Union soldiers beat and nearly hanged Jesse while they were looking for his brother Frank.
Guards looking for Jesse and Frank also threw a bomb on the farm, killing his half brother.
After his death, Jesse was actually laid to rest on the farm, and his mother would charge guests to come see his grave and remove some pebbles. But later on, his earthly remains were moved to Mount Olive Cemetery.
That surely hasn’t stopped the hauntings. Around the farm, people have claimed to hear gunshots, horse hooves, and even whispers and disembodied voices!
Ravenswood, Bunceton
Nadine and Charles Leonard constructed the opulent house known as Ravenswood around 1880. The Leonards were a couple that liked nothing more than entertaining.
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They would frequently invite all of their friends to dance the night away, hire an orchestra, and string lanterns through the trees.
Until her death at the age of 90, Nadine stayed in her cherished house, and it appears that her spirit may have never left.
When a family servant attempted to go into Nadine’s bedroom to get some clothes after her passing, the door was locked from the inside!
Although it was decided that the lock would need to be broken, the door was already open when the servant came back with the necessary equipment!
Christmas ornaments are often tossed down the stairs, a damaged music box randomly plays music despite not having operated for years, and some visitors believe they can hear music and laughter from the gardens, reminiscent of Nadine’s spectacular parties!
The Governor’s Mansion, Jefferson City
Since 1872, Missouri governors have resided in the Governor’s Mansion; Thomas Crittenden and his family were among the first to do so.
Caroline, his cherished daughter, was born there in 1873 but tragically passed away at the age of 10 from diphtheria. Following her passing, Governor Crittenden was never quite the same.
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The first claims of paranormal activity began to surface around a century later. One worker was up in the attic, where the home was being renovation.
While he was working, he went downstairs and asked the housekeeper who the young girl was playing with.
He was the only person in the house, according to the housekeeper! He refused to go back to the mansion after discovering that his companion was a ghost!
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