How to Take a Ghost Tour in Charleston

Charleston in more that just a charming and picturesque Southern town. With a history that dates back centuries, it's also home to a great deal of paranormal activity. Take a ghost tour in Charleston to see the scary goings-on for yourself.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Compass
• Warm coat

1. Carry a coat. It may be a warm night, but when ghosts are present, sudden temperature drops are said to be common.
2. Bring a compass. These devices are good for more than just navigation--they're great for identifying the electromagnetic forces that some say indicate paranormal activity. For best results, choose an old-fashioned compass instead of the electronic kind.
3. Greet the ghouls at 1843 Battery Carriage Inn. This location is reportedly home to a plethora of ghosts, including one that has been descriptively dubbed the Headless Torso Ghost by those who have seen it.
4. Surround yourself with the supernatural by planning a visit to Boone Hall Plantation. This site has been a working plantation for over 300 years. One of its steps is said to eternally bear the bloodstain of a woman who was killed by a spurned suitor.
5. Take in a supernatural show at the Dock Street Theatre. Built in 1809, this building is said to be haunted by an actor named Junius Brutus Booth--best known as the father of John Wilkes Booth, the man who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln. It's also reportedly haunted by the ghost of a prostitute--dubbed Nettie by the locals--who was killed by lightning as she stood on the front porch.
6. See the darker side of justice by taking the Charleston Haunted Jail tour (see Resources below). Charleston's City Jail was home to criminals, pirates and civil war prisoners. This incredibly creepy jail was in use from 1802 to 1939, and is reportedly a hotbed of all kinds of spiritual activity.
7. Take a guided walking tour of Charleston's graveyards, since these sites are typically teeming with supernatural activity. Choose a tour that allows you to actually stroll through the graveyards, instead of merely peering through the wrought iron fence. The Charleston Ghost and Graveyard Walking Tour offers this opportunity (see Resources below).
8. Learn all about Charleston's ghosts before you embark on your tour. Purchase "The Ghosts of Charleston" by Edward B. Macy and Julian T. Buxton on Amazon (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• Buy tickets to your guided ghost tour of Charleston online to reserve your seats early.
• Charleston guided ghost tours are inexpensively priced and tend to last about 45 minutes.