Founded as a beacon of “hope,” Providence Plantations provided refuge from religious persecution, establishing a colony where settlers could worship freely, independent from the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Today, Providence remains a city where history and the supernatural intertwine, from the gravesite of famed horror writer HP Lovecraft to ghostly sightings at centuries-old institutions. Whether you’re a skeptic or a believer, these are the places where Providence’s most notorious ghost stories and eerie encounters come to life.
SWAN POINT CEMETERY
Swan Point Cemetery on Blackstone Boulevard is perhaps best known as the final resting place of horror writer HP Lovecraft, who is said to haunt the cemetery, with reports of his apparition appearing at annual tributes held near the anniversary of his death on March 15. Devotees of his work gather each year, hoping for a sign of his presence. Mysterious phenomena such as strange laughter and unexpected snowfall have been interpreted as manifestations of Lovecraft’s enduring spirit.
PROVIDENCE ATHENAEUM
Edgar Allen Poe visited Providence shortly before his death, courting poet Sarah Helen Whitman, who lived nearby and frequented the Athenaeum. Whether Poe’s ghost lingers because of his fondness for the city or due to the heartbreak of his failed engagement to Whitman is up for debate, but given Poe’s troubled life, many believe the latter explanation is more likely. The ghost of Edgar Allan Poe has been spotted on several occasions at the Providence Athenaeum.
PROVIDENCE ART CLUB
Founded in 1880 as one of the first art clubs to offer equal membership to women, one of its members was RISD student Angela O’Leary, whose tragic suicide in 1921 shocked the community. Several of her paintings are still displayed at the club; however, according to Rory Raven’s Haunted Providence, her ghost is said to occasionally wander the halls – unsettling the artists who work there.
PROVIDENCE CITY HALL
Thomas Doyle, Providence’s second-longest-serving mayor after Buddy Cianci, passed away from a stroke in 1869. His body lay in state at City Hall, where some believe his spirit remains to this day. Reports of moving chairs, whispered voices, and the lingering scent of cigar smoke have persisted for years. City Hall was even featured on a 2012 episode of “Ghost Hunters,” further fueling the legend of Doyle’s restless presence.
BILTMORE HOTEL
Now known as the Graduate Providence, the Biltmore Hotel has a long history of ghostly encounters. One of the most famous stories dates back to Black Tuesday, October 29, 1929, when a stockbroker who was devastated by the stock market crash leapt from his room to his death. His ghost is said to haunt not only the room he jumped from, but also every room he passed on his way down. Guests have reported glimpsing a falling figure outside their windows, only to find no sign of a body on the street below.
OLD STATE HOUSE
In 1843, the murder of prominent citizen Amasa Sprague led to the wrongful conviction and execution of Irish immigrant John Gordon, following a biased trial held at the Old State House on Benefit Street in PVD. Though Gordon was posthumously pardoned over a century later, it is believed his spirit still haunts the building, seeking justice for the wrong done to him in life.
PROVIDENCE ARCADE
America’s oldest indoor shopping mall, the Providence Arcade, is said to be home to the ghost of a woman named Annie. According to Haunted Providence: Strange Tales from the Smallest State, Annie worked at a hat shop in the Arcade and was deeply in love with a poor man. When her wealthy parents disapproved, her beloved set off to sea to earn the fortune required to win her family’s favor, leaving Annie behind to wait for his return. By several accounts, she’s still waiting today. For proof and a ghostly old video, see motifri.com/dareme-i-am-the-ghost-of-the-arcade
BROWN UNIVERSITY
During the Revolutionary War in December 1776, British troops arrived in Newport, prompting the RI Legislature to take over University Hall at Brown University. The building was used as barracks and a hospital for American troops, and it’s believed that some of the soldiers’ spirits never left the hall. Staff members have reported hearing footsteps echoing through the building, even when they were certain they were alone.
THE ANNMARY BROWN MEMORIAL
Built by General Rush Christopher Hawkins in memory of his late wife, Annmary Brown, the mausoleum on Brown Street is their final resting place. Before his death, however, Hawkins warned that anyone who disturbed his wife’s grave would face serious consequences. In the 1960s and ’70s, items were stolen from the memorial, and soon after, staff began witnessing full-body apparitions of Annmary, pacing anxiously, as if distressed by the disturbance.
Providence’s ghosts are woven into the fabric of its streets, buildings, and cemeteries. Its haunted locations offer more than just eerie stories – they provide a deeper connection to the city’s rich history that refuses to stay silent, even years, decades, or centuries later. •
Illustration by Sophie Foulkes
