10 Creepiest Cemeteries in the World

Sunday, May 22, 2016

Graveyards and cemeteries are burial grounds and are mostly considered creepy places. Many of them have spooky stories of paranormal activities and encounters involved. This is quite natural, considering the fact that a burial ground is all about the dead and the unknown. But the spine-tingling creepy factor of burial grounds is not solely tied to spooky sightings. Many are known for their strange decorations, architecture or history that set a haunting ambience that hardly has anything to do with ghostly experiences, but sets a mysterious, scary mood. Let us take a look at some the Creepiest Cemeteries or Graveyards in the World.

Top 10 Creepiest Cemeteries and Graveyards:

10. Chamula Cemetery

The Chamula Cemetery of San Juan Chamula in the southern Chiapis state in Mexico was intended to be a Catholic church in the 1960s when the full-time priest left, with no formal mass held ever since. It has rows of raised graves, with thousands of bodies. A priest from a neighbouring village visits once in a while for baptisms, but mostly, local shamans occupy it to give out potions and advice. Healing ceremonies are held here, and sacrificed chickens lie around in this creepy cemetery.

9. Witches Graveyard

Nestled within the mountains away from Brotherton Mountain Road in Tennessee is the Stamps Cemetery which is known by its nickname, The Witches’ Graveyard, because of the spooky features like the tent-like rock slabs where the body is buried, headstones with stars, pentagrams or strange marks, etc. The local explanations like the illiterate Mr. Stamps who used the pentagram instead of X to sign his name, and similar folklore, do not explain random animal sacrifices found in the grounds.

8. Saint Louis Cemetery

The oldest extant cemetery in New Orleans, Saint Lois Cemetery No. 1, was opened in the 1780s, and is considered the creepiest of all three above-ground cemeteries in New Orleans bearing the same name. It is still home to several burials each year. The dead had to be buried in crypts and vaults above the ground since the water table was close to the surface, thus leaving a haphazard maze of tombs and aisles. Visitors find it preferable not to explore the grounds alone, just to be safe.

7. Old Jewish Cemetery

The Old Jewish Cemetery is located in the Josefov in Prague in the Czech Republic. Lying in a Jewish Quarter, it was in use since the early 15th century, and has an uncertain number of burials, and stories involved, owing to the fact that there are layers upon layers of tombs in this cemetery. However, an estimation suggests that an approximate 12,000 tombstones are there, along with about 100,000 burials. Paranormal activities and ghost sightings have been claimed in the cemetery.

6. Cimitero di San Michele

In the island of San Michele in Venice, Italy, is the Cimitero di San Michel, a cemetery that was set up in the 19th century, when Napoleonic authorities decreed burial of bodies would be prohibited in the historic mainland of Venice. So, the island was dedicated to housing the dead bodies that were brought here by special funeral gondolas. The cemetery is in use even today, and bodies can be buried here on a lease of 10 years. As an island full of the dead, it has attracted many ghost stories.

5. La Recoleta Cemetery

Located in the famous Recoleta neighbourhood of Buenos Aires of Argentina, La Recoleta Cemetery counts as one of the leading tourist attractions of Buenos Aires. The neo-classical gates with tall Greek columns lead to 19th and 20th century funerary art comprising elaborate mausoleums and statues, all in a wide range of architectural styles. The most enticing thing about the cemetery is sectional lay-out, with walkways branching into sidewalks, like city blocks, except for the dead.

4. Gladiator Graveyard

In Ephesus of Turkey lies the Gladiator Graveyard, the first site to be scientifically authenticated as the cemetery for warriors of the Roman arenas. Remains of 67 individuals aged 20-30, with marks of multiple injuries from the repeated fights with wild animals, criminals or each other, in which the athletic gladiators partook just for the sake of entertainment, have been found by archaeologists in this site. It was first identified by the gravestone drawings of individuals in gladiatorial attire.

3. Merry Graveyard

The Merry Graveyard in Sapanta of Romania perhaps derives its name from the intention Stan loan Patras in1930 to create a happy memory of the departed soul, by carving his/her picture on a brightly coloured wooden cross to mark the grave, often illustrating how the person died, and accompanied by a short poem about person. He thus captured memories of the Depression, WW-II and Communist Regime. Upon his, death, he was given the brightest grave marker by his assistants.

2. Capuchin Catacombs

The Capuchin Catacombs in Polermo of Sicily displays the dead in a dramatic manner, by keeping the corpses mummified and kept in their regular clothing in underground crypts, since the 16th century. Today, about 8000 mummies, including those of monks, the rich and the noble of Palermo, line the walls. The formula for mummification has been changed, the body of two old Rosalia Lombardo, who died in 1920, being an excellent example of how well the new formula can preserve the body.

1. Highgate Cemetery

The Highgate Cemetery is a Victorian era cemetery, set across 37 acres of overgrown woodland of London in England. It has about 53,000 graves with 170,000 people buried there. The cemetery is also noted for de facto status as a nature reserve. What’s chilling about this cemetery is that the spectacular statues of people, animals and angels, all reflecting the Victorian era’s obsession with ancient Egypt, stand in varied levels of decay, highlighting both their fascination with morbidity.

There are several other creepiest cemeteries or graveyards all over the world. And while we are on the subject of graveyards, we might as well touch upon the Aircraft Graveyard of Arizona and the Ship Graveyard of Africa. At the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base near downtown Tuscan of Arizona, US, is the largest aircraft boneyard, the sole one of its kind dedicated to excess military and government aircraft since 1925, owing to the dry climate and alkali soil of the region. It keeps alive the historical memories of WW0I, WW-II, Cold War and even modern era Global War on terrorism. From the west coast of Africa extends a small peninsula named Ras Nouashibou, shared by Mauritania and Western Sahara, where lies the largest ship graveyard in the world. With the first ship being dumped here dating back to 1920s, the region was the harbour where financially challenged ship owners dumped their vessels, and it is now site where over 300 ships stand, rotting away.

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10 Most Haunted Places in New England

New England is a small area compared to the rest of the Unites States, but it is rich with history and culture. From the Native American tribes to the Revolutionary War, the area provides a great learning experience. But besides the history, the area is filled with many ghostly locations. Here are ten haunted places in New England.

Top 10 Scary and Haunted Places in New England:

10. America’s Stonehenge

Throughout the area one can find some interesting tourist spots. This roadside oddity inSalem, New Hampshire consist of 30 acres of stone structures and large rock formations that is claimed to go back 4000 years. While who built these structures and why remain a subject of debate, the area is said to be home to shape shifting ghosts. Many claimed that some of the rocks in the area will transform into spirits of Native Americans and other people.

9. The Sterling Opera House

From music to speeches, the Sterling Opera House in Derby, Connecticut hosted various class acts such as the likes of Bob Hope, Amelia Earhart, and Harry Houdini. Built in 1889, the building currently showcases an array of ghosts, with one ghost being a a young boy named Andy. This particular spirits likes to move items, such as a ball, around the stage area. In 2011, the location was featured on the television show Ghost Hunters.

8. Blood Cemetery

Cemeteries are claimed to be a hotbed of ghosts. Located in Hollis, New Hampshire, the cemetery’s actually name is Pine Hill. It earned the name of “Blood Cemetery” not for any creepy reason but for the prominent family that is buried here. Many ghosts are claimed to reside here. Numerous paranormal researchers have visited this location and have captured voices on recordings and strange anomalies in pictures.

7. The Paine House

Colonial America survives well in New England, both in terms of architecture and the spirits that still roam. Built around 1740’s by Francis Brayton, the house is now a museum and historical society in Coventry, Rhode Island. One of the most active spirits is that of a young girl. Investigations conducted here have captured EVPs and strangle occurrences on video, such as a rocking chair moving by itself.

6. Rutland Prison Camp

Abandon places can be creepy, and this old prison camp is no exception. It was built in 1903 but closed in 1934 with only a few structures still standing, like the root cellar and solitary confinement. A nighttime visit here can be very spooky, filled with odd noises and moving shadows. One ghost is said to be the wife of a former warden that is seen wondering near the ruins of the warden house.

5. College Hall

Higher education can expand your mind, but also give you a fright. Vermont College of Fine Arts in Montpelier started as a seminary in 1831 before becoming a college in 1941. The most haunted location on campus is College Hall, which is said to be haunted by a girl who may have been murdered there. She has a habit of playing the pipe organ in the chapel area.

4. The Captain Grant’s 1754

There are many haunted bed & breakfast establishments in the USA, and this one in Preston, Connecticut is no exception. Named after Captain William Grant, who lived here with his wife Mercy, the inn is said to have many spirits. The Adelaide room is believed to be the most active, with keys being moved and footsteps being heard. The location has been featured on the paranormal show, Psychic Kids.

3. Elder Ballou Cemetery

Located in Cumberland, Rhode Island, the cemetery is one of the creepiest around with its crypts and old tombstones. Once home to a religious meeting house, the cemetery today has been heavily vandalized. However, all forms of paranormal activity have been reported. Voices have been heard, shadow figures have been seen, and UFO’s have been reported in the nearby field.

2. SK Pierce Haunted Victorian Mansion

Ghost Hunters, Ghost Adventures, and My Ghost Stories have all featured this 1875 mansion located in Gardner, Massachusetts. It was once the crown jewel for millionaire SK Pierce, but time has taken its toll on the location. Many spirits is said to haunt the mansion, some friendly and others no so much. Children have been seen running around and furniture on the tops floors has moved. The activity has become so bad that the current owners no longer live there.

1. The Lizzie Borden House

On August 4, 1892, this house in Fall River, Massachusetts was the site of two brutal murders of Abby and Andrew Borden that captivated the nation. Andrew’s daughter, Lizzie, was charged but later acquitted of the murders. Now, her home is a bed & breakfast and is New England’s most famous haunted spot. Guest have reported seeing a woman standing at the edge of their bed and others have been have touched. It has been featured on many television shows, and has become a must-see place for ghost seekers.

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10 Places That Are Off-Limits To Ordinary Public

Even in a free country with all the freedoms an ordinary citizen can hope to have, there are places that are for some reason off-limits to ordinary public. These places are highly secured and can get you in real trouble if you ever decide to storm in. Take a look at the 10 places that are off-limits to ordinary public:

Places That Are Off-Limits To Ordinary Public

10. Svalbard Global Seed Vault, Norway

In number 10 position of places that are off-limits to ordinary public is the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. It’s a secure seed bank located in the remote Norwegian island of Spitsbergen. Conservationist Cary Fowler and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) together built this bank to preserve seeds on occasion of a global crisis. It all began in 1984 when frozen seeds were being stored in an abandoned coal mine. Over the year there accumulated 300 different species of seed in the place. Construction of the vault was funded by the Norwegian government. Now it is managed by the joint efforts of Norwegian government, the Nordic Genetic Resource Center (NordGen) and the Global Crop Diversity Trust (GCDT).

9. Metro-2, Russia

In number 9 position of 10 places that are off-limits to ordinary public is the Metro-2. It’s a secret underground metro system located in Moscow. Under the codename D-6, the system was supposedly built and functional during the time of Joseph Stalin. It is believed to run parallel with the public Moscow Metro but its length exceeds that of the public Metro. According to rumours the metro connects to all the significant government places. Though several people have suggested its existence no one has said for sure that its there. Attempts to look for it is not allowed however in 2004 an urban explorer’s group claimed to have found its entrance.

8. The Jiangsu National Security Education Museum, China

In number 8 position of 10 places that are off-limits to ordinary public is the Jiangsu National Security Education Museum. It’s a spy museum located in the eastern city of Nanjing states. It’s off-limit to everyone who is not a Chinese citizen. From guns disguised as lipstick to maps disguised as a deck of cards, there a number of intriguing stuffs in that museum including Chinese security equipments dating back from 1927. Whoever doesn’t look Chinese is turned back from the door.

7. Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center, U.S.

Also known as the High Point Special Facility (HPSF), the facility is made for protecting the most important people in the country in case of a sudden disaster like a nuclear attack or something. Naturally the place is equipped with the highest level of security and standard of living condition. According to The Washington Post, after the 9/11 attacks many leaders were evacuated to Mount Weather. The success of the programme largely depends on how far in advance the warning of the attack is received. Having this mysterious air around a place has caught the imagination of several people. Mount Weather has been extensively depicted in novel, television series etc.

6. Ise Grand Shrine, Japan

In number 6 position of 10 places that are off-limits to ordinary public is the Ise Grand Shrine. Located in the city of Ise, there is a shrine so sacred that people are not allowed to go inside to offer prayers. The Ise Shrine actually consists of over 123 Shinto shrines. The shrine is taken care of a chief priest or priestess who comes from the Japanese imperial family. Believed to be established in 4 B.C.E, the Ise Shrine is one of Shinto’s holiest and most important sites. The shrine is literally hidden behind fences and anyone standing outside can only see the thatched roofs of the central structures.

5. Poveglia, Italy

It’s a small island located in northern Italy between Venice and Lido. The island has long been inhabited by people and therefore has a long history of human suffering. However around 1379 in fear of an attack, Poneglians left the place and the island was practically uninhabited for centuries after. Around 1776, ports were built on the island as checking point for ship and from 1793 ships infected by plagues were docked in that port while the sick were being taken care of in the island. In the 20th century the island was transformed into an asylum for the mentally ill but years later it was completelyabandoned. Due to a number of deaths, the island is said to be haunted and kept off-limits to citizens.

4. Vatican Secret Archives, Vatican City

In number 4 position of 10 places that are off-limits to ordinary public is the Vatican Secret Archives. Located in the Vatican City, The Vatican Secret Archives is said to hold some of the darkest secrets in the world. Over the years, correspondence, papal account books, the state papers and several other documents of worth have accumulated in the Archives. Very few people have access to the place which is practically owned by the Pope. On occasion of his death or resignation, the ownership is passed down to the next successor. It was only since 1881, that few researchers are allowed inside each year to examine the old documents. In 2012, an exhibition showcasing 100 original documents dating from the 8th to the 20th century was organised.

3. Lascaux Caves, France

The Lascaux caves are famous for its Paleolithic cave paintings.  Estimated to be 17,300 years old, they are part of the Upper Paleolithic art. The caves were discovered in 1940 by an 18-year-old boy named Marcel Ravidat. The painting primarily depict large animal whose fossils have been found around the area. The caves were not always off-limit to public. In 1955, it was opened to outsiders but contaminations caused it to shut down in 1963. Today listed among the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Lascaux caves are facing many problems due to the uncontrollable microbial and fungal growths.

2. Snake Island, Brazil

In number 2 position of 10 places that are off-limits to ordinary public is the Snake Island. Originally known as Ilha da Queimada Grande, the island is located off the coast of the state of São Paulo. Its home to one of the most deadly snake on the planet, theGolden Lancehead Viper or Bothrops. The vipers’ existence was at risk and it was the only snake species on the island. Therefore the island was made off-limit to ordinary citizens. Only scientist and researchers are allowed into the area. In 1909 a lighthouse was constructed and for a long time the lighthouse keeper was the only inhabitant of the island. In 2015 a documentary on the Discovery Channel stated presently the population is stable with around 4000 Golden vipers living on the island.

1. The Sentinelese People, Andaman Island

Located in a tiny island in the Bay of Bengal is a group of indigenous last known isolated tribe. The Sentinelese has reportedly lived on that island for over 60,000 years resisting any approach from the outside world. Repeatedly researchers have tried to established contact with this tribe but they have reacted with sheer violence. Ranging in population between 50 to 400, in 2006 they murdered 2 fishermen who had lost their ways and landed on the island. During the 2004 tsunami, observation data revealed that the group had moved to high ground before disaster struck as if they knew what was coming. Agriculture is unknown to them, they are largely hunter-gatherers.

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10 Terrifying Tales of Pittsburgh Haunting

Although the “smoky city” of Pittsburgh is best known for its prestigious hospital systems, devout sports teams, and handful of higher learning institutes, Pittsburgh is not without its fair share of macabre stories. Besides bearing strong ties to the makeup wizardry of Tom Savini and George Romero’s Night of the Living Dead, Pittsburgh also boasts its fair share of haunting. What follows are ten terrifying tales of Pittsburgh haunting!

10. Byers-Lyons Mansion

Constructed in 1898 by Alexander Byers, the site of the former Byers-Lyons mansion is located on the same avenue as the Congelier mansion. The location is now Byers Hall, which serves as a student union building and administrative office for the Community College of Allegheny County.

While Byers resided in one wing of the mansion, Byer’s daughter Maude and her husband, John Lyon, resided in the other wing. In 1902, the Lyons’ nanny dozed off while watching the Lyons’ daughter. The Lyons’ daughter managed to crawl atop a skylight and plummeted to her death when the window broke. The following day, overcome by guilt, the Lyons’ nanny wrote “please don’t blame me” in dust and then hung herself.

Many have sighted the Lyons’ daughter. Some have even heard the nanny’s sobbing or the loud thud of the girl’s body hitting the ground. Others have seen an apparition of the nanny roaming the building’s staircase. In 1990, the Community College of Allegheny County removed the building’s skylight but paranormal encounters continued.

9. The Congelier Mansion

Also on Pittsburgh’s north side in the quiet residential neighborhood of Manchester is 1129 Ridge Avenue, the former site of the Congelier Mansion, a site whose veracity of paranormal occurrences is often debated. Those who believe paranormal events occurred at the site have gone so far as to refer to the former mansion as “the house that hell built.”

Allegedly, Charles W. Congelier, a carpetbagger, constructed the mansion. In 1871, Congelier’s wife, Lyda, is claimed to have discovered that her husband and the family’s maid were having an affair. Congelier’s wife stabbed Congelier to death and decapitated the maid. Railroad workers are said to have been driven out of the house by ghostly screams. Later, a Dr. Adolph C. Brunrichter is claimed to have performed experiments at the location on the severed heads of young women. In 1920, Thomas Edison announced his plans to invent a machine to communicate with the dead upon visiting the address.

In 1927, one of Congelier’s heirs is claimed to have inherited the house. Ultimately, on November 14, 1927, the house is reported to have mysteriously exploded. While the story is remarkably eerie, the real tale is likely a combination of fact and fiction. Various parts to the story are pure fiction: (1) no records exist of Charles W. Congelier or his wife, (2) no records of the 1871 murders exist, (3) the house at the location was not a mansion but a simple row house, (4) no records exist of Dr. Adolph C. Brunrichter, (5) no record exists that Edison ever visited the residence, and (5) while the explosion of gas storage tanks at the Equitable Gas Company occurred on November 14, 1927, the house only suffered minor damage from the explosion.

8. Western State Penitentiary

Pittsburgh’s National Aviary is located in Allegheny Commons West, a municipal park located in Pittsburgh’s north side. From 1826 to 1882, the National Aviary was the Western State Penitentiary where 118 officers of General John Morgan’s Confederate Cavalry were incarcerated. Six men died at the location and another man was killed trying to escape. After hours at the National Aviary, the apparitions of Civil War Confederates have been seen drifting through the location. Additionally, the sound of phantom footsteps has been heard resonating through the building in addition to sounds emanating from the location’s basement. In July 2009, paranormal investigators contacted spirits in the Aviary’s kitchen who admitted playing with a radio to gain a staff member’s attention. The spirit further mentioned that six other spirits haunted the Aviary and that each spirit loved the Aviary’s birds.

7. Troy Hill Fire House

Troy Hill, a neighborhood in Pittsburgh’s North Side, is home to Engine House #39. Constructed in 1901, Engine House #39 was the last station to use horse-drawn fire carriages. Firemen who worked at Engine House #39 were subjected to a variety ofparanormal encounters. Blankets were yanked off sleeping fire-fighters. Window shades randomly raised and lowered. The sound of phantom footsteps echoed throughout the building. The apparitions of fire-fighters were seen sitting around table playing cards. The ghost of Queenie, the firehouse dog, was even seen running around the station. Forced to close due to budget cuts in 2005, Engine House #39 lies abandoned in Troy Hill except for its various spectral inhabitants.

6. Point State Park

In an extraordinary case of Pittsburgh haunting, Point State Park is the original site of Fort Duquesne upon which brutal and torturous acts were committed. A particularly gruesome battle, The Battle of Grant’s Hill was also fought on the site. In the 1750’s and 1760’s, the French along with the Delaware and Seneca Indian tribes captured British soldiers and hoisted the soldiers by the fort on pillars along the Ohio River Bed. The soldiers were further tortured by having wet leather straps placed around their necks, which slowly shrank thereby slowly strangling the victim. Later, in the early 1970’s, a re-enactor participating in a war re-enactment was murdered. Now called the Fort Pitt Museum, security guards at the location have seen apparitions floating around the location. Objects are said to have vanished or been found in unusual locations. Even strange sounds have been claimed to emanate from empty areas of the museum.

5. Papa J’s Centro

More strange events have occurred at a long abandoned building, which is located on the Boulevard of the Allies, a four lane road connecting Downtown Pittsburgh with the Oakland district. While most recently an Italian restaurant, the building, which dates back to 1860, was also previously an upscale brothel. The location is the site of at least three murders. In one of the building’s bathrooms, a jealous husband caught his wife working in the brothel and shot her.

In an extraordinary case of Pittsburgh haunting, in the building’s front room, another woman was stabbed to death by her boyfriend when he discovered she was employed by the brothel. The paranormal events rumored to occur at the building are myriad. Children, who are depicted along a hall in old photographs, are said to haunt the location. Washing his hands in the restroom, a customer is said to have seen the reflection of an elderly woman in a babushka. The ghost of a girl who once lived in the building is said to tip over food trays. Glasses are even claimed to fly off the shelves. After a priest blessed the location, the amount of paranormal activity was said to increase.

4. Shiloh Grille

Nestled on the hill of Pittsburgh’s Mount Washington is the Shiloh Grlile, home of Katherine Soffel. In 1902, Soffel, the wife of the Allegheny County jail warden, fell in love with Ed Biddle, an imprisoned criminal who was part of the “Chloroform Gang” and awaiting execution. After smuggling a gun into the prison, Soffel and Biddle were eventually caught at a farmhouse on the outskirts of Pittsburgh. While Biddle died, Soffle spent several years in the Allegheny County jail. Later released, Soffle died in the house which later became the Shiloh Grille and is said to haunt the property. The 1984 movie, Mrs. Soffel, starring Diane Keaton and Mel Gibson further depicts the events.

3. The Lady in White

Point Park University’s performing arts center, the Pittsburgh Playhouse, boasts three theaters including the Hamlet Street Theater. While the Playhouse holds a handful of ghost stories, the most famous tale concerns The Lady in White, who is believed to be the spirit an actress who performed during the 1930’s at Hamlet Street Theater. On her wedding day, the woman discovered her husband was having an affair with a woman from a local brothel. In a passionate rage, the woman shot her husband and the husband’s lover then ascended the Hamlet Street Theater balcony before jumping to her death. Years later, a stage tech was fixing a lighting rig when he saw the ghost of a woman dressed in white aiming a gun at him. The stagehand promptly ran out of the Playhouse and never returned.

2. Thaw Mansion

The Thaw Mansion located in Pittsburgh’s former Allegheny City was built by William Thaw, who gained his fortune in the railroad industry. Thaw’s son, Harry, fell in love with Evelyn Nesbit, a beautiful woman who Harry convinced to marry him. After the dissolution of the marriage, Nesbit moved to New York City where she commenced a relationship with the famous architect, Sanford White. During a 1906 dinner theater presentation, Harry shot White three times, exclaiming “You ruined my wife!” Harry and Nesbit later divorced. Some visitors to the Thaw Mansion have seen a gray silhouette of a woman, which some is Nesbit. Pittsburghers have taken to affectionately calling this spirit, “the gray lady.”

1. Slag Pile Annie

Situated a few miles south of Pittsburgh’s Monongahela River, the former Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation mill is home to Slag Pile Annie. Annie is said to be the ghost of a World War II era woman who worked the mill collecting slag that dripped from the furnaces and died in an accident. In the most well known story about Slag Pile Annie, in the 1950’s a Jones and Laughlin steel worker was in one of the mill’s poorly lit tunnels when he noticed a woman dressed in a red bandana and work clothes. When the man said “Lady, you better get out of here before you get killed,” the woman answered “I can’t get killed. I’m already dead.” Strangely enough, there are no reports of Slag Pile Annie since the furnace was demolished.

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