Tourist attractions aside, you'll also come across some truly horrifying estates with dark and oftentimes bloody histories — if you know where to look, that is.
ALABAMA: Dr. John R. Drish House
Located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, this plantation home was built by one of the town's earliest settlers, Dr. John R. Drish. Since the 20th century, the tower has been said to be haunted. Numerous people have reported seeing the third floor burst into flames, when no fire was present, and other supernatural elements.
ALASKA: Jesse Lee Home for Children
Opened in 1926 as a sanctuary for orphaned children, this property was damaged during an earthquake in 1964. According to one urban legend, the spirits of several children still roam the hallways of this home.
Visitors have reportedly experienced "feelings of dread and despair upon entering the building;" heard giggling children, the sound of jump ropes, and bouncing balls; and seen shadowy figures.
ARIZONA: Winnie Ruth Judd House
In 1931, a 26-year-old medical secretary named Winnie Ruth Judd fatally shot two of her friends in this quaint bungalow. Dubbed the "Trunk Murderess," Judd was caught trying to dispose of her victims' corpses in Los Angeles, after she had stuffed their bodies into two trunks and other luggage.
ARKANSAS: Allen House
Built in 1906 by local businessman Joe Lee Allen, this eye-catching home is said to be haunted by several spirits. According to local legend, Allen's daughter committed suicide by consuming mercury cyanide in 1949 and her ghost haunts the upper and lower floors of this mansion.
CALIFORNIA: Winchester Mystery Home
This eerie mansion has an even creepier backstory. The home was built by Sarah Winchester after her husband, the creator of the Winchester rifle, died in 1881. Since then, many have claimed, including Sarah herself, that the building is haunted by the spirits of those killed with her husband's invention.
COLORADO: Henry Webber House
The history behind this quaint building, which is also known as Pioneer Park, is much darker than you'd think. As the story goes, the original owner's wife, Harriet Webber, died of an accidental strychnine overdose in 1881, four years before the home was built. Some say her ghost still haunts the house to this day.
CONNECTICUT: The Seaside
Formerly known as the Seaside Sanatorium, this building was first opened in the 1930s to treat children suffering from tuberculosis. In the 1950s, the property was renamed the Seaside Geriatric Hospital and served as an elderly home for three years. After that, it was reopened as the Seaside Regional Center, a home for the mentally disabled, until it was closed in 1996.
The abandoned spot is a popular destination for paranormal researchers, who claim that they have seen ghostly orbs and other spooky phenomena.
DELAWARE: John Dickinson House
Also known as Poplar Hall, this plantation home was the childhood residence of John Dickinson, one of the Founding Fathers of the US. Local lore says the home is haunted by Dickinson himself, and visitors have reported hearing the "sound of a quill pen writing on parchment paper."
FLORIDA: Riddle House
Located in West Palm Beach, Florida, this private residence was first used as a funeral parlor in the early 1900s. Legend has it that one of the homeowner's employees fell into financial hardship and hung himself in the attic. His spirit is reportedly just one among many that haunt this eerie home.
GEORGIA: Hay House
Also known as the Johnston-Felton-Hay House, or the "Palace of the South," this historic residence was built in the late 1850s. Since then, various sightings of spooky figures and swinging chandeliers have been reported over the years.
In 2010, one photographer even claimed that he captured a ghost on camera — wearing a top hat, no less — while snapping pictures of a wedding at the Hay House.
HAWAII: 'Iolani Palace
Located in Honolulu, Hawaii, this residence was home to the island's last royal family until the monarchy was overthrown in 1893. Since then, visitors and staff members have reported "hearing footsteps, smelling the scent of burning cigars, and seeing the silhouette of a woman standing in the window of what was once the Queen's bedroom."
IDAHO: Standrod Mansion
Built by a judge named D.W. Standrod in 1902, this mansion has a tragic backstory. Both of the Standrods' children died at a young age, and the home is said to be haunted by their spirits.
ILLINOIS: McPike Mansion
Built in 1869 for local businessman Henry McPike, this three-story brick house is said to be haunted by several spirits. People have reported hearing children laughing when no one was present, seeing faces appear randomly in the home's windows, feeling sensations of being touched, and more.
INDIANA: Culbertson Mansion
The former home of William Culbertson, once the richest man in Indiana, this mansion and its carriage house (pictured above) are said to be haunted.
Legend has it the carriage house burned down in 1888 after a lightning strike, killing everyone inside. Some believe their spirits still roam the property today.
IOWA: Villisca Axe Murder House
In 1903, a man named Josiah Moore moved into this residence with his family. On the night of June 9, 1912, Moore, his five family members, and two guests, were brutally murdered in the home. All eight victims, which included six children, were bludgeoned to death with an axe.
The horrific crime remains unsolved to this day, and the home is said to be haunted.
KANSAS: Clutter Family Home
On the morning of November 15, 1959, wheat farmer Herbert Clutter, his wife, and his two teenage children were found bound and shot to death in this home. Ex-convicts Perry Smith and Richard Hickock were later arrested, convicted, and executed for the crime.
The Clutter tragedy was eventually immortalized by American author Truman Capote in his non-fiction best-seller, "In Cold Blood."
KENTUCKY: Loudoun House
A shining example of Gothic Revival architecture in Kentucky, this elegant home was built in 1851 for Francis Key Hunt. According to local folklore, a mysterious black cat lives inside the building, and some have reported seeing two ghostly women in Victorian-style clothing. Visitors have also claimed to smell floral perfume and hear the faint sound of "old-fashioned" music in the home.
LOUISIANA: Myrtles Plantation
According to local legend, a slave at the Myrtles Plantation accidentally poisoned the homeowner's wife and children and was cruelly hung for her mistake.
Since then, the plantation is said to be one of the most haunted homes in the US, and a man was even murdered on its front steps in the 1800s.
MAINE: Wood Island Light
The eleventh oldest lighthouse in the US, Wood Island Light was built in 1808 under the orders of then-President Thomas Jefferson.
According to one urban legend, the lighthouse is haunted by the ghost of a fisherman named Howard Hobbs. As the story goes, in 1896, Hobbs shot and killed his landlord, Frederick Milliken, before turning the gun on himself. Visitors claim you can still hear moaning in the building to this day.
MARYLAND: Hager House
Built by German immigrant Jonathan Hager, the founder of Hagerstown, this stone house dates back to the mid-1700s.
The property is said to be haunted by as many as 13 ghosts of former residents who allegedly died in the home. Visitors have reported hearing disembodied voices and footsteps, seeing objects that move by themselves, and other paranormal activity.
MASSACHUSETTS: Jonathan Corwin House
Known as The Witch House, this structure is the only building left that has direct ties to the Salem witch trials. It is the former residence of the infamous Jonathan Corwin, who served as a judge during the hearings that led to the executions of 20 innocent people, falsely accused of witchcraft.
MICHIGAN: Bruce Mansion
Built by Scottish immigrant John G. Bruce in 1876, this creepy building is a popular destination for paranormal investigators. Legend has it that the mansion survived a fire that destroyed the entire town of Brown City in 1881 — and it gets weirder from there. As the story goes, several others died mysteriously in the home over the years, and visitors have reported hearing growls and eerie voices, seeing ghostly figures, and more.
MINNESOTA: Glensheen Mansion
On June 27, 1977, an 83-year-old millionaire heiress named Elizabeth Congdon and her nurse, Velma Pietila, were murdered in this massive mansion.
Roger Caldwell, the husband of one of Congdon's adopted daughters, Marjorie, was later arrested and convicted of the crimes. Marjorie herself was charged, but acquitted, of aiding and abetting and conspiracy to commit murder.
In 1982, Caldwell's conviction was overturned based on new evidence introduced during Marjorie's trial. Although Caldwell was offered a new trial, he confessed to the murders after prosecutors cut him a deal.
However, Caldwell only served a little over five years before he was released from prison. He later committed suicide in 1988.
MISSISSIPPI: The Longfellow House
Also known as Bellevue, this building was built in 1850 as a private home for slave trader Daniel Smith Graham. According to local legend, the building is haunted by the ghosts of the men, women, and children who were abused by Graham, who is said to have been particularly sadistic and cruel.
MISSOURI: Epperson House
Now part of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, this four-story building is known for its many secret passageways and alleged hauntings. People have reported hearing music coming from the house's empty living room, seeing the ghost of a former student, and other paranormal activity.
MONTANA: Daly Mansion
This mansion was bought in 1886 by businessman Marcus Daly, one of the three "Copper Kings" of Montana during the Gilded Age.
Today, the property is often reserved for events, although staff members have claimed to see paranormal activity such as a gold picture frame that is repeatedly removed from the wall and placed on the ground.
NEBRASKA: Fort Sidney Advertising
Legend has it that this historic building is haunted by the ghost of a young officer's wife, who broke her neck in 1885 after falling down a staircase.
NEVADA: Bowers Mansion
Built in 1863 by millionaires Lemuel "Sandy" Bowers and his wife Eilley, this historic building is said to be haunted by Bowers himself.
NEW HAMPSHIRE: Ocean-Born Mary House
According to legend, this home is haunted by a woman named Mary Wallace, a folklore figure more commonly known as "Ocean-Born Mary," whose spirit protects an alleged treasure hidden on the property.
NEW JERSEY: Seabrook-Wilson House
Also known as the Spy House, this property dates back to 1650, when it was a popular drinking spot for both British and Colonial soldiers.
Now, some say the old tavern is home to as many as 22 different ghosts, from a "devil-worshipping sea captain" to a "blood-thirsty pirate" in the basement.
NEW MEXICO: Luna Mansion
Now a steakhouse, the Luna Mansion is said to be haunted by as many as three or four ghosts. The most famous one is Josefita, who was once the lady of the opulent home.
Patrons of the restaurant have claimed to see a seemingly empty rocking chair move back and forth as Josefita appears and watches them eat.
NEW YORK: Amityville Horror House
In 1974, this expensive estate became the site of a horrific mass murder when 23-year-old Ronald J. DeFeo Jr. fatally shot his parents and four siblings.
One year later, George and Kathy Lutz moved into the home with their three children. After only 28 days, however, the Lutz family left, claiming that they had been terrorized by paranormal phenomena such as strange odors, slamming doors, and a voice that screamed, "Get out."
Their claims eventually became the subject of Jay Anson's best-selling and controversial book, "The Amityville Horror: A True Story."
NORTH CAROLINA: Biltmore Estate
The largest private home in the US, the massive 8,000-acre Biltmore Estate is said to be haunted by its original owner, George Washington Vanderbilt II, of the wealthy Vanderbilt family.
Although Vanderbilt passed away in 1914, his ghost has reportedly been spotted in the mansion's library, especially when the sky darkens before an oncoming storm.
NORTH DAKOTA: Chateau De Mores
Some believe this historic building is haunted by a female spirit. Visitors have claimed to see and experience paranormal activity such as strange lights, uneasy feelings, and cold spots.
OHIO: William C. Mooney House
According to a local urban legend, a man decapitated his wife and hung himself and his two children in this historic home, also known as the Mooney Mansion.
OKLAHOMA: Skirvin Hotel
While Oklahoma has its fair share of allegedly haunted homes, the Skirvin Hotel is perhaps one of its most famous. Over the years, many of the hotel's guests — including several NBA players — have claimed to see a ghost named Effie who is said to have died at the hotel.
OREGON: Asahel Bush House
Now a museum, this mansion was built by American newspaper publisher Asahel Bush in the 1870s. Legend has it that Bush's youngest daughter, Eugenia, still haunts the home, along with several other spirits. Visitors have claimed to hear female voices and described random cold spots and shadows.
PENNSYLVANIA: The Farnsworth House
This bed and breakfast is famously said to be haunted by the ghosts of Confederate soldiers, a nurse named Mary, several other women and children, and even some cats.
RHODE ISLAND: The Breakers
This home is in Newport, Rhode Island.
The second Vanderbilt property on this list, this opulent mansion is often reserved for weddings, events, and more. However, the estate — which served as a summer home for Cornelius Vanderbilt II in the late 19th and early 20th centuries — is said to be haunted by his wife, Alice.
Visitors and staff have reportedly seen Alice's spirit roam the hallways of the mansion and watch over her family's descendants when they come and stay on the third floor.
SOUTH CAROLINA: Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
Various reports of creepy voices, growls, and the sound of music have shrouded this Charleston plantation in mystery over the years.
SOUTH DAKOTA: Bullock Hotel
Some believe this building is haunted by its original owner, Seth Bullock. Guests have reported feeling a "ghostly presence" on the second and third floors of the hotel. Others have claimed to smell a cigar burning, hear the sound of boots and ragtime music, and see floating glasses.
TENNESSEE: Carnton Mansion
This plantation served as a field hospital during one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War on November 30, 1864. The site is said to be haunted by the ghosts of fallen Confederate soldiers.
TEXAS: Menger Hotel
Legend has it that this historic hotel is haunted by several spirits, from a murdered maid named Sallie White to famed riverboat captain Richard King.
UTAH: McCune Mansion
This popular wedding venue is said to be haunted by two spirits: a man wearing a black cape who is often seen around Christmas, and a young girl who enjoys dancing and giggling.
VERMONT: Hartness House
This small hotel, which dates back to 1904, is said to have a number of underground tunnels that are home to several ghosts.
VIRGINIA: Ferry Plantation House
Built in the 1640s, this plantation is reportedly home to 11 spirits. Chief among them is a so-called "Lady in White," who is said to have died in 1826 after falling down a flight of stairs and breaking her neck.
WASHINGTON: Thornewood Castle
A photo of the home in 1910.
Local urban legends claim that this estate, located in the town of Lakewood, is haunted by the ghosts of several former residents. Interestingly enough, in 2002, the castle was featured in Stephen King's mini-series, "Rose Red," as a haunted mansion.
WEST VIRGINIA: West Virginia State Penitentiary
This prison is in Moundsville, West Virginia.
This creepy site operated as a prison for the state of West Virginia from 1876 to 1995. The Gothic-style building is said to be haunted by the ghost of a maintenance worker known as the "Shadow Man."
WISCONSIN: Brumder Mansion
This charming bed and breakfast is also a popular destination for ghost hunters and paranormal investigators. The property is said to be home to as many as seven spirits, and visitors have claimed to see shadowy figures and moving chairs.
WYOMING: Occidental Hotel
Over the years, this historic hotel has been home to gold miners and criminals, and even served as a brothel at one point. Various sightings of a female ghost on the upper floor have been reported by guests as early as the 1880s.
