Welcome To Newport Ghosts
Haunted mansions, forsaken churches, abandoned parks, and misty bridges make Newport a cornerstone of Haunted New England. The oceanside town holds pieces of history and tragedy in every corner of the ancient city. Join us tonight to hear authentic accounts of the bone-chilling encounters that occur nightly in Rhode Island’s most haunted city.
Lighthouse Beacons Reveal Newport’s Gruesome Past
Newport may be famous for its ideal summer destination, but while some spend their vacation months here, the souls of visitors and residents past are bound here forever. Mass executions, suicides, and mysterious tragedies are just the beginning of this city’s haunted past. Uncover a treasure trove of dark and grisly well-documented tales that will reveal the darker side of this haunted New England settlement that has endured centuries of tragedy, pain, and suffering.
Fresh seafood, prime sailing, and picturesque lighthouses may be what travelers look forward to on a visit to Newport, but when the sun begins to set, a darker reality comes in with the evening tide. Lost souls born of these tragedies continue to roam Newports many forsaken bridges, ports, and haunted lighthouses
Experience a dark sea of hauntings
The tour begins in Washington Square at Eisenhower Park, one of the oldest parks in America which also happens to be the exact spot where at least 42 public executions took place. And it’s just the start of what is guaranteed to be an entertaining and gruesome look into this incredibly haunted town.
Discover why ghost ships such as The Palatine Light continue to attempt to sail into the harbor, always showing its presence but never making it to shore. Uncover the heinous truth about the town’s part in slave trading and why this dark part of history isn’t the only reason for Blood Alley’s name or its terrifying hauntings. You’re about to embark on a fascinating and spine-tingling adventure where you’ll hear more than just the backstory of Newport – you’ll hear an entire history of horror.
You’ll visit the site of the Rose Island Lighthouse, a navigational aid built in 1868 in the same area as the fort that was once used as a hospital, and where bodies were often stolen leaving only their spirits behind. Keep your camera ready as you just might meet the apparition of the lighthouse’s former keeper, Charles Slocum Curtis, just as the team from TVs Ghost Hunters did. That is, of course, if the spirits don’t drain your devices first.
Grim Realities and Eerie Encounters
Disease, death, and despair are the grim reality of the founding of Newport. The remnants of such a gruesome time are what continue to give the city its reputation for being the most haunted in the state. From unexplained mists that cover the buildings with no notice to full-body apparitions and even sightings of lost and abandoned ghost ships, the echoes of Newport’s dark history will be heard on this ghost tour when you encounter the tragic figures of its past.
Another eerie place normally considered a sanctuary harbors centuries of spirits and unexplained activity. The oldest Episcopalian church in Rhode Island, Trinity Church has been a place of worship and a place of farewells since 1698. It’s not uncommon to catch orbs floating through the graveyard or to even catch a glimpse of someone staring at you from the church’s windows – someone who no longer walks the earth in human form.
Why Newport’s History Won’t Stay in The Past
Historic buildings, quaint homes, and gorgeous seaside views serve as the backdrop for this quintessential town, but they also mask a horrific time in history that has cemented Newport’s otherworldly status.
Known as the oldest neighborhood in Newport, Easton’s Point was once the site of the largest public mass execution in American history beginning in 1673. The crew of one of the most ruthless pirates in history met their end at this very site following their capture by the 20-gun British warship, HMS Greyhound. Following their execution, their tared bodies were left hanging throughout the summer to send a message to other pirates that they were not welcomed in Newport.
This popular getaway spot is also home to sites where war soldiers never made it out of battle alive, and where immigrants were tragically struck down with disease or murder. Newport even claims America’s oldest military organization still operating under its original charter. The Artillery Company, which also operates as a museum, contains historical artifacts like a letter from George Washington in 1794 and several authentic uniforms worn by prominent military leaders. It’s no wonder ghosts of Newports battles continue to roam the museum and reports of shadowy figures that have been seen standing at its windows at night are commonplace.
Vices and Violence of the Vanderbilts
A Newport ghost tour would be incomplete without a stop at The Vanderbilt, the former home for Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt, a member of the prominent Vanderbilt railroad family. A millionaire by age 22, Alfred squandered his inherited wealth living a tumultuous and scandalous life that included the suicides of four women. His final act was a noble one, giving his life to save the lives of women and children during the attack of the Lusitania. Today, The Vanderbilt Grace Hotel remains his home with frequent sightings of Alfred strolling through the halls wearing his top hat.
Alfred isn’t the only Vanderbilt that continues to make themselves known well after their time on earth came to an end. His mother, Alice Vanderbilt, is said to frequent her favorite spots in her former mansion, The Breakers, which is open to the public. If you see a woman in period clothing just remember, you’re in her home.
Newport at Night: Otherworldly Destination
There is almost no end to the haunting stories you’ll hear on the Newport Ghost Tour. Each location has its own place in history, as well as its own set of spirits that are there to stay. From the Artillery Company of Newport which is still inhabited by the poor soldiers that died in battle to the Newport Bridge which is surrounded by an unnerving amount of darkness due to the number of deaths directly connected to it, Newport Ghost Tour will take you on a chilling stroll through a painful and infamous past.
* This is a walking tour and we do not enter privately-owned buildings or private property *