On a hot, humid night in Cincinnati, I joined the Phantoms of the Pig Iron Past: Cursed Cincinnati Ghost Tour for a walking adventure through the “Over-the-Rhine” neighborhood – one of Cincy’s oldest and most haunted.
Our group learned about spirits from unmarked graves that were dug up to build Cincinnati Music Hall, old military hospitals, orphanages, murders, and outbreaks of disease that contribute to the supernatural cloud hanging over this neighborhood.
Haunting Highlights from the Best Ghost Tour in Cincinnati
I’m a big fan of taking a ghost tour to learn more about the history of a city, and this Cincinnati haunted tour was the perfect way to bring history to life.
We met our guide and the rest of the group in front of Memorial Hall. Built on the grounds of an old potter’s field – a cemetery for the poor – this has been the site of many paranormal encounters from mischievous spirits that take control of the building’s freight elevator to apparitions that appear in the ballroom.
We learned that Cincinnati has a ton of tunnels (it was a stop on the Underground Railroad), several buildings with a second basement below the basement, and a plethora of structures that stand on mass graves.
We crossed the street and walked through Washington Park, once a final resting place for forgotten souls. Beneath our feet lay layers of Cincinnati’s past.
We passed Wooden Nickel Antiques, a place I definitely want to go back to in the daylight hours! The owners have amassed a collection of antiques saved from over 3500 buildings.
The bulk of the items were salvaged from long-abandoned buildings. There are stained-glass windows, ornate mirrors, and a wide variety of architectural salvage. You might also find some haunted dolls and talismans – and stories that spirits are attached to these items. Be careful – they might follow you home.
I love a ghost tour that takes you into haunted buildings, so I was excited when we stepped into the Symphony Hotel. Once a music boarding house, it’s now a lovely boutique hotel and restaurant with side of paranormal.
This place felt very eerie to me – I could almost hear the spectral whispers.
Several hotel guests have reported waking up to a woman in a red dress standing over them. A paranormal researcher with no knowledge of the hotel’s past had an encounter that made his blood run cold. Want to learn more? You’ll have to take the tour!
Our experience ended in front of Cincinnati Music Hall, a gorgeous building constructed in 1878 in Venetian Gothic style. It stands on the site of a pauper’s cemetery, fueling its long-standing reputation as one of America’s most haunted places.
Details for Cincinnati Ghost Tours
Ready to discover the haunting legends of Cincinnati? Here’s what you need to know.
- The walking tour lasts approximately 1 hour, but isn’t suitable for those who can’t walk more than a mile or have mobility challenges.
- Tour runs rain or shine and are led by a knowledgeable, local guide.
- The tour is priced (at the time of this writing) from $26 for adults, $17 for children under 13, and free for children under 6.
- There are several parking lots and garages close by with paid parking.
- Book now at Cincinnati Ghosts!
If you’re looking to explore the spectral heart of Cincinnati, this ghost tour offers a memorable, engaging experience. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the night spent among these storied structures leaves you with the unshakeable feeling that history still breaths beneath the city.
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