Gettysburg marks the site of the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War, which took place July 1-3, 1863. More than 50,000 men lost their lives in the three-day battle, and thousands more were seriously injured.
The entire town of Gettysburg served as the battlefield–however, certain spots are reportedly more haunted than others. Since 50,000 men lost their lives at Gettysburg, it’s no surprise that the area is filled with paranormal activity and many ghostly sightings. Hotspots of paranormal activity include: The Devil’s Den, Cemetery Hill, Triangular Field, Sachs’ Bridge, and numerous private homes where generals and soldiers were housed.
The Devil's Den — Most Haunted Spot in Gettysburg?
The Devil’s Den is one of the most haunted places in Gettysburg. In fact, more ghosts (of slain soldiers) have been reported in the Devil’s Den than in any other location in Gettysburg. Even without ghosts, the Devil’s Den is an eerie place because of the enormous boulders which cast shadows, and seem to have been piled-up by a giant. Due to its unique layout, the Confederate army made use of a sharpshooter—who hid behind the massive rocks (in blind-spots) and systematically shot-down hundreds of Union soldiers as they passed through the Devil’s Den. Eventually, Union soldiers were able to use mirrors and field glass to determine the sharpshooter’s location and kill the man. After the battle in the Devil’s Den ended, it is believed that a war correspondent/photographer moved some bodies in order to snap a good photograph. It is rumored that the souls of the men who were moved have never found peace—and they continue to haunt the area.
Visitors and paranormal investigators report seeing apparitions and orbs, smelling phantom gunfire, and hearing disembodied sounds. Many visitors report having camera problems in the Devil’s Den. Cameras and electrical equipment stop working, and fully charged batteries are drained—but when visitors leave the Devil’s Den, the cameras suddenly start working again!
Triangular Field
Triangular Field is another area where electrical equipment and cameras often stop working. Photo anomalies are also reported here. When taking photos in Triangular Field, things appear on the developed picture that were not witnessed by the eye of the photographer while taking the picture. Some visitors report that when taking photos in Triangular Field, they will see a very clear day and a grassy field in the background. However, when receiving the developed photo, the background will be pitch black—with no grassy field in sight!
Haunted Cemetery Hill & Sachs Bridge
Cemetery Hill is another paranormal hotspot. During the war, the hill played a critical role in the Union army defense line. Many soldiers were killed on Cemetery Hill, and their bodies were left to await burial on the streets of the town. The smell from the rotting corpses combined with the hot July heat made Cemetery Hill one of the most gruesome places in Gettysburg.
It is reported that after the battle, the ladies of Gettysburg walked down the streets with peppermint scented handkerchiefs pressed to their faces to mask the horrible stench. Many visitors to Gettysburg report phantom smells, including rotting corpses—and when walking down Baltimore Street, the phantom smells of peppermint and vanilla are still present today. Today, Cemetery Hill sits adjacent to the National Cemetery, which has expanded to include a burial ground for soldiers from other wars.
Sachs Bridge is another location with plenty of paranormal activity. The 100-foot long wooden-covered bridge was used during battle as a passageway across the water—and as a makeshift-hospital for the wounded. Visitors to the bridge report the uneasy sensation of being watched, and many psychic photographs and EVP (electronic voice phenomena) have been captured here. Some investigators report having been touched by unseen hands; others report seeing apparitions, smelling phantom smells, and hearing cannon fire. Gettysburg is one of the top destinations for ghost hunters, history buffs, and paranormal enthusiasts. You're bound to witness something unusual during your time here.
Published by Michelle Myers.
Comments on Haunted Gettysburg (Pennsylvania)
I love the history of Gettysburg.
I love this paranormal stuff. I live in Pennsylvania, and I can't believe how many hauntings are going on. It's very interesting.
I love the pics too, they are very interesting.
The ghost stories of Gettysburg are fascinating! It's almost like the civil war is still going on. The civil war being such a bloody and violent war explains why it has left such an imprint on the environment there and so many souls and spirits are still there. I have been to Shiloh, but i have never been to Gettysburg. Would love to go there and ghost hunt.
Casey — Thanks for the kind words. Glad you're enjoying the photos on the site.
Lori & Seaira — Yes, the history and stories from Gettysburg are fascinating. It's one of my favorite places.
my father and i were at a small museum that was the captain's headquarters and as we were walking through, i heard and felt someone walking with us but they were in the attic and no one was there but me, dad, and the lady that owned the place. and get this, the door to the atic was locked. it was the coolest thing ever!
I went on a school trip to Gettysburg and got some photographs with some "shadow people" or what I believe them to be.
My husband and I visited Gettysburg two years ago. While touring the Jennie Wade house, we both had strange experiences. I am very sensitive to spirit energies, and instantly felt odd upon entering the house. Being a sensitive, I tend to attract the energies to me, and the tour guide said that people who are sensitives claim the same experience I had; it is as if the energies are drawn to and circling you. I could feel an electric charge circling my body, felt dizzy, off-balance, and had to sit down.
My husband, however, had a much more profound experience (and I have to admit I'm quite jealous!). A true skeptic up to this event, my husband and our friends were in the front room adjacent to the kitchen where Jennie was killed. There is a picture of Jennie hanging on the wall, and my husband laughed that he felt her eyes followed him around the room. One of our friends joked that she must have been "sweet" on him since he was the youngest male in the room (there were only ourselves, our two friends and the female tour guide). We went to enter the kitchen and my husband was the first through the doorway. He looked at the mannequin of a Union soldier in the room and clearly saw the face of an angry, scowling male glaring directly at him from the side of the mannequin's head. Not the face; the side. He looked away briefly as the tour guide entered behind him, and when he looked back the face was gone. He was really shaken up. Now, remember, he was a complete skeptic up until this event. He refused to discuss it during the remainder of our trip, and I could glean little from him until we were home.
About two weeks later, I printed the photograph of Jennie Wade's sweetheart (Jack "Skelly" Johnston) as well as their childhood friend (Wesley Culp) who were directly involved in the story of Jennie's death. (Learn about Jennie Wade at http://www.jennie-wade-house.com/). I also printed a few random photographs of similar-looking Union soldiers. When I showed them to my husband, he immediately and without any hesitation pointed to Skelly's photo and said that his was the face glaring at him.
My husband is now a believer in the paranormal and is joining me in becoming members of a paranormal investigation team! But, I'm still incredibly jealous of his experience!
I'm into this ghost hunting stuff and I think that Gettysburg will be a good place to check out sometime.
I've been to Gettysburg 2 weeks a year on vacation for the last 3 years. My husband is a reinactor so he goes for the activities, I go for the ghosts! Actually going back this year. My girls and I take thousands of pictues, do evp's, and just walk around and listen. It's AMAZING.
I spent my honeymoon at Gettysburg, in June 2004. While there my wife and I stayed at The Farnsworth House, in the Lincoln Room.. That room is in two parts, with bed, tv and drawers in the front and in the back area shower, old fashioned toilet and jacuzzi.. At around 2am I went out on the patio to have a smoke.. I left the back light on, because of the darkness, with my wife fast asleep in bed.. Okay, when I came back in that back light was out.. My wife didn't turn it off! A few days later, at the Jennie Wade House a chain that goes around one of the beds started going in circles, like someone, unseen, was twirling it.. This truly freaked out the tour guide, a Gettysburg local, I might add.. This weekend, Labor Day weekend, we're going to Gettysburg, this time staying at the Gettysburg Campground, in a cabin, with our, almost, five year old son..