Top Ten Haunted Locations in Birmingham, AL

HOME » BLOG » BIRMINGHAM'S MOST HAUNTED » TOP TEN HAUNTED LOCATIONS IN BIRMINGHAM, AL

Posted by in US Ghost Adventures

In the heart of Birmingham lies a legacy of enchantment and darkness. Before the Magic City’s glittering skyscrapers and bustling streets emerged, these lands were home to indigenous people. As the Europeans set foot upon this mysterious terrain in the early 1500s, they encountered the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, and Upper Creek tribes.

As Birmingham’s history unfolded, tales of specters and phantoms intertwined with the city’s growth. The Magic City’s rich tapestry of history and sorrow has given birth to a shadowy world where the past and present converge, and the spirits of Birmingham’s past still walk among the living.

Follow along as we take you on a haunted journey through some of Birmingham’s most cursed locations and introduce you to the ghosts of its storied past. When you’re ready to see some of these locations in person, book a ghost tour with Birmingham Ghosts!

1) The Jordan Home

The Jordan Residence, known as the Jordan Home, stands as a two-story Greek Revival mansion shrouded in tales of the past. Built between 1906 and 1908 for Mortimer Jordan III and his widowed mother, Florence Jordan, this architectural marvel conceals secrets within its walls.

A Ghost in The Attic

Legend has it that Mortimer Jordan IV, born in the house in 1911, spoke of a ghostly presence that descended from the attic each midnight. With a storied past that includes being divided into apartments, the house has seen various lives.

2) Linn-Henley Research Library

This neoclassical jewel, crafted from Indiana limestone, originally served as the epicenter of the Birmingham Public Library for nearly six decades. But beneath its facade of scholarly tranquility, it harbors a darker tale.

One eerie night in 1977, Archivist Marvin Whiting witnessed the library’s spectral secret. With no one else in sight, the elevator rumbled to life, and a lingering scent of cigarette smoke wafted from within. Despite the reassurance of a solitary security guard, Marvin felt an uncanny presence accompany him on his journey through the third-floor corridors.

In 1989, another encounter sent shivers down the spine of an electrician working in the dimly lit stacks. He sensed a mysterious presence closing in behind him. When he turned, he was shocked to see a shape resembling a man, its spectral form nearly transparent. Later, when shown a photograph of Fant Thornley, the former library director who had passed away in 1970, the electrician could only nod, acknowledging that Thornley’s restless spirit lingered within the library.

These tales of otherworldly encounters extend beyond these encounters. Patrons and staff alike have reported eerie phenomena—pencils seemingly guided by unseen hands, books inexplicably dislodging from shelves, and whispers of conversations in empty rooms.

3) Tutwiler Hotel

The original Tutwiler, a revered hub of Birmingham’s business, social, and political elite, hosted luminaries such as Roy Rogers, Rocky Marciano, Babe Ruth, and Vice President Hubert Humphrey. In 1926, the Dinkler Hotel chain acquired the Tutwiler and attempted to purge it of its eerie reputation, investing in a $15,000 smoke-consuming device designed to combat the smoke that emanated from the building’s chimney.

While some attributed this phenomenon to poorly ventilated fireplaces and heavy smoking, others sensed a more sinister presence. The Tutwiler Hotel’s reputation took a darker turn in 1928 when renowned novelist Jack Bethea checked in. Bethea’s tormented health led him to seek refuge within the hotel’s walls. His stay ended in tragedy, with the cleaning staff discovering his lifeless form, a victim of self-inflicted harm, just an hour after his arrival.

Spirits of the Tutwiler

The present Tutwiler Hotel, despite its modernity, has not escaped its ghostly past. Two prominent spirits, both Tutwilers themselves, are said to linger. Colonel Edward Tutwiler, the man behind the original Tutwiler Hotel, died in 1924, yet his spectral presence persists, often manifesting on the sixth floor, particularly in Room 604. He’s also known to cause the flickering of lights, disturbing bartenders and kitchen staff daily.

Julia Tutwiler, an educator and activist, is said to roam the hotel’s corridors. She neither intrudes nor interacts but rather dissolves into the shadows should curious souls approach. In Room 416, a bodybuilder had a run-in with Julia’s specter, while guests of the sixth floor report midnight knocks, frigid gusts in Rooms 613 and 615, and the giggles of a phantom child skipping down the hallway, her antiquated attire and pigtails bouncing with each step.

Could she be “the knocker” of Room 604, a spectral presence that continues to inhabit the legacy of the Tutwiler Hotel? Kim Johnston of Spirit Communications and Research of Alabama seems to believe so, capturing an EVP of a sweet little female voice saying “knock, knock” during her investigation.

4) Redmont Hotel

The Redmont Hotel, Birmingham’s oldest hotel still in use, has stood tall since 1925. Over the years, the Redmont has seen its share of illustrious guests and transformations, from its pinnacle as a glamorous hub to its decline in the ’60s and ’70s, followed by a series of renovations under new ownership by Hilton’s “Curio Collection.”

One chilling tale harks back to November 1934, when two criminals barged into the Redmont’s lobby, escaping a Florida robbery. A shootout ensued, leaving one robber fatally wounded and Detective A. C. McGuire injured. While the surviving criminal managed to flee, the deceased felon’s spirit might still linger among the hotel’s otherworldly inhabitants.

Hauntings at The Redmont Hotel

• Doors open and close by themselves.

• The spirit of former owner Clifford Stiles maintains high cleanliness standards, pulling sheets off beds and knocking over cleaning supplies.

• A small phantom dog believed to belong to Stiles trots down hallways before vanishing.

• The hotel is rumored to be haunted by the spirit of Hank Williams Sr., with guests reporting country-style guitar music and sightings of a shadowy figure in a Stetson cowboy hat.

5) Homewood Library

Before it was the Homewood Public Library, it was Homewood Church of Christ, where Sunday school gatherings filled its lower level. However, in 1984, the city acquired the site, transforming it into the current library, casting a veil of mystery and intrigue. Since its opening in 1986, the library has been a subject of curiosity as tales of hauntings swirl around it. This has left residents and ghostly enthusiasts pondering the question: “Is the Homewood Public Library haunted?”

The Flight of The Construction Worker

Reports of women’s voices, books mysteriously flying from shelves, and doors swinging open and shut of their own accord have persisted over the years. The library experienced its most heightened otherworldly activity during the 1990s, which was even chronicled in Alan Brown’s book Haunted Birmingham.

Former Library Director Debbie Fout recalls chilling moments, like doors inexplicably closing and the eerie dance of electrical cords and metal studs. Even a construction crew working late into the night fled in fear, leaving their tools behind when confronted with unexplained phenomena. The library has drawn the attention of numerous ghost hunters and psychics. The library’s story, including these ghostly tales, has even gone viral on TikTok, capturing the fascination of a wider audience.

6) Jim Reed Books/Museum of Fond Memories

Amidst the bustling streets of downtown Birmingham, a hidden layer of darkness shrouds the intersection of 3rd Avenue and Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard. Unbeknownst to many, this corner has been subject to violence and is haunted by lingering spirits.

The early 20th century saw a mix of prosperity and a shadowy chapter of brutality in Birmingham. Between 1919 and 1924, a reign of terror gripped this neighborhood as a series of gruesome axe murders occurred, attributed to the infamous Axe Syndicate.

The exact count of their victims varies, but it’s believed that 18 people met their grisly end, with 16 others suffering injuries. While the Brown brothers, Sylvester and Mack, were arrested for some of the crimes, the horror continued until a botched killing led to the arrest of Frank Owen. But even after his capture, the axe murders ceased mysteriously, leaving behind a chilling legacy.

Harry the Hacker

In the wake of the Axe Syndicate’s reign, another malevolent figure emerged, known as Harry the Hacker. This sinister killer targeted women, leaving behind macabre scenes of mutilation. Despite police efforts, Harry the Hacker eluded capture, becoming a spectral figure in Birmingham’s dark history. Witnesses speak of a shadowy figure in a dark trench coat and wide-brimmed hat, casting a haunting presence over these streets, while some have claimed to hear ghostly whispers believed to be the victims crying out for justice.

7) Hotel Indigo

Long before the Hotel Indigo embraced its current identity as a luxurious retreat, it harbored a diverse history. For a considerable period, the hotel functioned as a medical building primarily housing the offices of surgeons and dentists. It served as a hub for the arts before transforming into the Pickwick Hotel, becoming a lively center for dancing, parties, and entertainment.

It wasn’t until the 1950s that this structure was reborn as the Hotel Highland and, more recently, as the renowned Hotel Indigo.

Hauntings of Hotel Indigo

The Hotel Indigo is widely regarded as one of the most haunted places in Birmingham. One of its spooky stories centers around the ghost of a nurse who once diligently served within its walls and continues her rounds on the eighth floor. In the hotel’s main floor waiting area, guests have often reported the unmistakable sounds of a young girl at play.

Throughout the hotel’s various rooms, ghostly apparitions of both men and women have made their presence known. In some rooms, the friendly spirits of women appear, often engaging with guests. The former morgue, nestled in the basement, holds its share of ghostly phenomena. Visitors have recounted experiencing odd odors, sometimes pleasant, sometimes otherwise, as they ventured into this eerie space. Cold spots, the feeling of an unseen presence, and the distinct impression of being observed have all been reported, leaving no doubt that the Hotel Indigo harbors a realm where the living and the dead walk side by side.

8) Alabama Theatre

The Alabama Theatre, a cinematic gem built in 1927 by Paramount Pictures, initially showcased silent film. Beyond its ornate façade and timeless charm, the Alabama Theatre conceals a realm of eerie occurrences and ghostly visitations.

A construction worker’s ghost is said to still haunt the balcony since his fatal fall during the theater’s construction. A mysterious Lady in Black is said to vanish into walls as if drawn by an unseen force in the lobby. A spectral figure that traversed the stage, surprising organist Cecil Whitmire and a singer during rehearsal, is believed by some to be the ghost of Stanleigh Malotte, the former organist.

The presence of unidentified entities, their unseen footsteps, and unseen hands felt by paranormal researchers on the balcony stairs, where the specific identities of these lingering spirits remain shrouded in mystery, transforming the Alabama Theatre into a stage where the departed may make their spectral appearances.

9) Sloss Furnace

Sloss Furnace, a national historic landmark, was pivotal in transforming coal and ore into steel, which fueled the industrial revolution from 1882 to 1971. This Birmingham icon rapidly turned the city into “The Magic City,” contributing to the construction of skyscrapers and automobiles nationwide. However, this notoriety came at a cost.

Working conditions were grueling, with temperatures soaring above 120 degrees during summer. The graveyard shift, manned by desperate workers, was a relentless ordeal, forcing laborers to toil in these harsh conditions. “Slag” Wormwood’s reign was marked by harsh directives and accelerated production, leading to numerous accidents, injuries, and a devastating explosion in 1888.

Horror at Sloss Furnace

This tragedy resulted in 47 workers losing their lives and many more left incapacitated. In 1906, Wormwood’s alleged fall from the highest blast furnace, known as Big Alice, led to his instantaneous demise, as his body melted into the molten iron ore pool below. Rumors abound that the workers may have pushed him into the furnace, yet none faced trial. Following his disappearance, reports of an eerie presence and encounters with a badly burned man who barked commands at workers emerged.

Over the years, stories of the haunting intensified, with employees being pushed, attacked, and even burned, attributed to the relentless spirit of James “Slag” Wormwood. Numerous investigations and studies have tried to unravel the mysteries of Sloss Furnace, confirming that this industrial monument is indeed a hotspot for ghostly activity, with encounters that challenge rational explanation.

10) Oak Hill Cemetery

Dating back to the city’s earliest days, Oak Hill Cemetery has gathered its fair share of spectral tales. Among the many restless souls rumored to wander its hallowed grounds, one name stands out — Catherine Erswell, the enduring specter of a love-struck wife. As the story goes, Mrs. Erswell desired to rest eternally in the fashionable Elmwood Cemetery, a wish that clashed with her husband Edward Erswell’s decision to have a family vault within Oak Hill.

While Edward initially came to Birmingham to ply his trade as a cabinet maker, the tragic Birmingham Cholera Epidemic of 1873 steered him toward a more macabre craft — coffin-making. When Edward’s time came in 1910, he was laid to rest in the Erswell Vault at Oak Hill, seemingly fulfilling his wish. However, the lingering whispers that reverberate from the Erswell Vault late at night suggest that Catherine’s longing remains unquenched. Those who have ventured near her resting place have reported hearing muted conversations, possibly echoing the grievances of a wife who found herself interred in the wrong cemetery.

Haunted Birmingham

Are you ready to embark on a journey into the heart of Birmingham’s haunted history? Book a spine-chilling ghost tour with Birmingham Ghosts! Keep checking our blog to discover more of Alabama’s most haunted locations, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

Sources:

https://frightfurnace.com/hauntings/haunted-history-of-sloss-furnace/

https://alabama.travel/article/the-most-haunted-places-in-alabama

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linn_Park,_Birmingham,_Alabama

https://www.nps.gov/ruca/learn/historyculture/trail-of-tears-alabama.htm

https://birminghamwatch.org/lewis-houston-nov-24-1883-linn-park/

https://www.bhamwiki.com/w/Linn-Henley_Research_Library

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfyKegC2c2A

https://www.bhamwiki.com/w/Fant_Thornley

https://www.bhamwiki.com/w/Tutwiler_Hotel

https://www.bhamwiki.com/w/Edward_Tutwiler

https://www.ozarkalabama.org/the-tutwiler-hotel-in-birmingham-alabama-is-said-to-be-haunted-by-the-ghost-of-julia-tutwiler/#google_vignette