Top Ten Most Haunted Places In San Francisco

San Francisco, at its darkest core, is all but serene. Scenic hotspots lie throughout the San Francisco Peninsula and beyond. But, the most haunted places in San Francisco are bred from years of accumulated death, sorrow, and tragedy.

Founded in 1776, San Francisco’s history is rooted in the gold rush, causing a population boom no one was prepared for. The city became an embodiment of the Wild West, lawless and unsafe. Even as a more contemporary city formed, relics of its wilder days remained behind.

There are many interesting haunted places in San Francisco. Fitting all the spooky ones in on your own is difficult, and it robs you of the history behind the most haunted places in California. Book your San Francisco ghost tour today with San Francisco Ghosts to hear it all!

What Are The Most Haunted Places In San Francisco?

San Francisco’s most haunted places are abundant, and each carries a distinct flavor that is unique to the famed City By The Bay. Here are a few that stand out amongst the many haunted houses, hotels, and places scattered around the city.

Alcatraz is a hotbed for spectral activity. Years of intense energy built up within the island prison has made it one of San Francisco’s most haunted places. Lasting darkness that fuels spirits, phantoms, poltergeists, and malicious entities manifests throughout Alcatraz prison. 

The Queen Anne is a favored stopover for travelers, its Victorian-era aesthetic playing into its status as the city’s most haunted hotel. Guests enjoy a comfortable stay with a unique amenity: the pleasant company of an ethereal headmistress.

Curious groups gather for a hike around Blue Heron Lake, all in hopes of catching a glimpse of the sorrowful mother who lost her baby to the water over a century ago.

Alcatraz Island

Alcatraz Island is a fascinating piece of American history. Even Native Americans avoided it, feeling the land was teeming with evil spirits. That may still be true, but those ghosts of antiquity surely pale next to the true villains forced to make Alcatraz their new home. 

Alcatraz prison was isolated from the world. For many, this foggy island was all they would ever know, even in death. The true ghosts of Alcatraz are the echoed screams, clanging metal, and voices ringing out as if living memories are trying to break through the fabric of our reality. Even while operational, guards spoke of unusual occurrences: apparitions of soldiers, phantom smells, and a horrifying entity they all referred to as “The Thing.”

Angel Island

The Ellis Island of the West promised the same vision of a welcoming and opportunity-laden United States. When immigrants arrived, they were met with something far worse: a disjointed operation vastly unprepared to perform its duties. 

Many unfortunate hopefuls spent years trapped on Angel Island, and at least two never got the chance to leave. A fire ultimately forced the station to close. It may live a much different life today as a museum, but some of its history still lingers. The most known spirit is that of a young bride who killed herself after hearing she’d be sent back to China, leaving her husband behind in California. 

Sutro Baths

A piece of unique San Francisco history, the Sutro Baths were meant to be an aquatic wonderland. Like a naturally-fed water park, guests were meant to enjoy pools of ocean water, safe from the troubles of the sea. Though operational for a spell, the Great Depression and the death of their creator, Adolph Sutro, in 1898 spelled a grim future for the attraction. 

A forlorn lover pacing while she waits for her beau to return from World War I, feelings of uneasiness and links to Satanism mar the bath’s once good name. Unknown to most, Sutro owned real Egyptian mummies, and the baths were constructed near a lengthy tunnel later thought to be the sight of odd rituals.

Blue Heron Lake

Virtually any town with a body of water has a haunting tale about it. Blue Heron Lake, formerly Stow Lake, gets that honor in San Francisco. The local legend dates back to 1908, yet changes a bit depending on the storyteller. 

Some say the Lady in White killed her child. Others believe it was an accident. In all versions, the mother died immediately after and has been looking for her baby ever since. The forlorn specter has been spotted around Blue Heron, calling out to anyone in ear range for help.

San Francisco Art Institute

Is it merely a myth that the San Francisco Art Institute was built over part of a cemetery in the Russian Hill neighborhood? Was it a tall tale shared among students before the school shuttered in 2023? One quick way to find out is to ask one of the many spirits that roam the school grounds.

The bell tower is especially active with hauntings. Phantom footsteps and startling screams from beyond, which started almost immediately after construction was completed in 1927, easily make this one of the most haunted places in San Francisco. 

Queen Anne Hotel

The kindly spirit of headmistress Mary Lake is a welcomed addition to the Queen Anne Hotel, one of the most haunted hotels in San Francisco. She is believed to tuck guests in and carefully unpack suitcases. But do not fear. Her specter is as benevolent as she was when she was still alive.

In fact, her actions in the afterlife have quelled some of the rumors of her personal life while still alive. Whether she was one of several mistresses of Senator James Fair seems unimportant when you realize her spirit exists, as she once did in the flesh, to help others.

The Curran Theater

Eddie Anderson was down on his luck when he allegedly accidentally shot and killed Hewlett G. Tarr at the ticket window. Though  Anderson was apprehended and executed, the young ticket-taker had too much stolen from him for justice to be satisfying. In the years after his death, Tarr’s spirit has been spotted at the Curran Theater. 

Many claim to see the ticket-taker figure in an oversized mirror, dressed to the nines as if ready for the wedding he had scheduled the following weekend. This horrific story has earned the Curran Theater high marks on our list of the most haunted places in San Francisco. 

Neptune Society Columbarium

The stunning architecture of the Neptune Society Columbarium continues to attract the living and the dead since its construction over 120 years ago. Home to more than 8,000 human remains, the beautiful columbarium, restored to its current glory after falling into disrepair, is unsurprisingly very haunted. 

Not all 8,000 souls inhabit the haunted San Francisco Columbarium, but many haven’t found peace in the afterlife. Visitors have felt icy hands and have spoken of echoing footsteps and whispered voices while staff speak of a young girl on the main level.

Haskell House

Senator David Broderick may have thought twice about getting into a duel with State Supreme Court Justice David Terry in 1859 had he known his fate. Today, an ethereal figure tied to the former abode of Leonidas Haskell, Broderick took a round from Terry and returned to the two-story home to recover. 

Broderick never did pull through; today, he remains a fixture of the haunted historic San Francisco house. An angry one, at that, as he’s been accused of pushing a painter out of a window and filling the home with an uncomfortable aura. His aggressive spirit and chilling backstory make the Haskell House one of the most haunted places in San Francisco by a long shot! 

Donaldina Cameron House

During the 19th century, China allegedly sent young girls to the States to work as household slaves. As they got older, they were forced into prostitution. Hoping to save as many of these girls as possible, Donaldina Cameron pushed back against the criminal organizations. Her efforts were fruitful, but she couldn’t save everyone. 

In a sick twist of fate, despite Cameron providing hidden passageways in the reconstructed Mission House after the original was demolished, several girls still burned to death while in Cameron’s care. These sorrowful souls still haunt the Donaldina Cameron House today, a reminder of San Francisco’s darker past.  

Visit Haunted San Francisco

There are many reasons to travel to the City by the Bay. But who would have guessed that San Francisco’s most haunted places would so be high on that list? See this activity for yourself and explore a bounty of very haunted houses in San Francisco by booking a San Francisco Ghosts tour today!

To prep for your visit, be sure to check out our blog and follow us on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram!

Sources:

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