Buckingham Palace is probably one of the most well-known royal residences in the world. Today, it is associated with the Queen and the many tourists who gather by the palace gates every day. However, the castle has quite an eerie history. The site of Buckingham palace is where a monastery once stood, and some have reported seeing a ghost of a monk who died in his cell frequent the palace’s rear balcony, cloaked in a brown cowl.
Another unnerving part of the palace’s history, which lead people to believe it’s haunted, was the suicide of Major John Gwynne, King Edward VII's private secretary. Gwynne caused quite a stir when he divorced his wife, a scandalous incident back in the 1900s. The king’s secretary couldn’t handle the scrutiny and rumors and sadly, ended up taking a bullet to his own head in the first-floor office of Buckingham Palace. Palace staffers have reported a strange aura in that room and supposedly a single gunshot is heard coming from there from time to time.
As you might know, the Romanov Family were met with a brutal end. While the Winter Palace was not the Imperial family’s primary residence nor the site of their execution it is connected to quite a few eerie historical incidents.
In 1903 the Romanovs held a grand costume ball, which was "the last spectacular ball in the history of the empire” as recalled later by Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich. The entire family posed in rich 17th-century costumes, in what would be their final photographs together.
Two years later, in 1905 the Winter Palace set the stage for what came to be known as Bloody Sunday. Over 100 unarmed demonstrators were killed by Imperial Guards and several hundred more were wounded, as they marched towards the palace to present Tsar Nicholas II with a petition. These events are considered by historians to be crucial in leading towards the Revolution of 1917, and the eventual downfall of the Romanovs. Today the Winter Palace is home to the Hermitage Museum, one of the most visited art museums in the world.
It is no secret that many deaths accrued between the walls of The Forbidden City in Beijing, China, which served as the home of China’s Emperors for almost 500 years, from 1420 to 1912.
There have been reports of guards seeing scurrying animals or a weeping female dressed in white at the concubines’ quarters during the night. Some people even say that the Forbidden City's haunted activities at night are the very reason why it never stays open to the public in the later hours.
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The Queen is known to spend most of her private weekends at Windsor Castle, which has been the home of British kings and queens for over 1,000 years and has seen it’s fair share of creepy history.
One of the most well-known stories concern King George III. After the monarch descended into madness, he resided in Windsor Castle until his eventual death. His ghost is said to have been seen peering out of the room where he was held. He isn’t alone, though. The castle is the final resting place of 10 British monarchs, some of whom were beheaded or poisoned.
Elizabeth I is said to have been seen by several royal family members to haunt the Royal Library and Charles I haunts a Canon's House in the castle precincts, among other ghosts that allegedly roam the old castle.
La Casa de Poesia, which translates as 'the House of Poetry' is a museum and cultural organization in Bogota, Colombia. The site itself was once home to poet Jose Asuncion Silva, who tragically died of suicide on the property in 1896. Ever since passers-by have reported hearing moans and whispering coming from within the house.
Despite its eerie history, La Casa de Poesia is a prominent destination in Bogota for both tourists and locals. The organization’s goal is to facilitate and encourage the study, understanding, and enjoyment of poetry and they offer services such as guided tours for schools, the elderly, and the blind, and poetry workshops.
If you ever attend a show at New Amsterdam theater in Times Square keep an eye for one extra cast member on the stage. Olive Thomas, a former chorus girl, is said to be one of the most active ghosts in Broadway. She died of mercury poisoning in 1920, although it isn’t clear if it was an accident, a suicide, or murder.
Ushers and security guards often feel someone is tapping them on the back but when they turn around no one is there. Thomas also allegedly threw a stack of DVDs across the room when staffers discussed whether or not she would’ve liked the Oscar-winning film “The Artist.” She is such a persistent presence at the theater that when staff members arrive each day they wave or blow kisses to the framed photo of the starlet which hangs at the entrance.
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The Hollywood sign is one of the most visited landmarks in America and it can even be said it’s a cultural symbol. But there is a dark story related to the iconic site that many visitors are unaware of. In 1932 a struggling 24-year-old actress named Peg Entwistle climbed to the top of the letter H and jumped to her death.
The ghost stories started circulating in the 1940s when that same H toppled over. In 1990 a young couple hiking the Griffith Park trails reported seeing a disoriented blond woman dressed in 1930s clothing before their eyes, who vanished as they approached her. They knew nothing of Entwistle’s suicide. The ghost story received a few nods in pop culture.
The Eiffel Tower is an extremely popular spot for marriage proposals, being one of the most romantic landmarks in one of the most romantic cities in the world. But according to an urban legend, one unsuccessful proposal left the Parisian monument haunted.
In the mid-1920s, one couple climbed the top of the tower with very different intentions in mind. He was planning to propose, while she wanted to break up and hoped the gorgeous view would soften the blow. The man got on one knee before his partner had the chance to tell him how she felt, and as you might suspect the proposal was rejected. He then proceeded to push the woman off the side of the tower in a fit of rage. Many tourists report having heard nervous giggles or screams while visiting, which are believed to be of the woman’s ghost. Several suicides at the famous tower have also led to speculations of paranormal activity.
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