The entire region is known for its historic sites, colonial-era graveyards and centuries-old buildings, some dating back to pre-Revolutionary War days.
What many people don't know is that many of the original residents of historic Philadelphia never left town. The Philadelphia area is among America's most haunted destinations, a region rich with colorful ghostly lore. Here's a look at Philadelphia's scariest spots. Proceed at your own risk.
Philadelphia County
At City Tavern, a historic restaurant in Old City Philadelphia, a former waiter is always on the job. Legend has it that he was the unintended victim of a bar room duel. To this day, proprietor/chef Walter Staib reports that table settings are moved and silverware clatters. A specter in a bloodied white shirt is sometimes seen falling to the floor before it disappears. 138 S. 2nd Street, (215) 413-1443
Eastern State Penitentiary, a grim 172-year-old former state prison, was once home to famous inmates Al Capone and Willie Sutton. Pained former prisoners are said to haunt Eastern State's dark Gothic halls. Halloween staff regularly reports seeing the "Soap Lady" dressed in white in the last cell on the second floor. "Terror Behind the Walls," a Halloween tour of the 12-acre site, is offered by candlelight, with visits to The Asylum, Cellblock of Lost Souls and a Tunnel Escape included in the "fun." Not for the faint of heart. 20th Street & Fairmount Avenue, (215) 236-5111
Cresheim Cottage Café, now a friendly neighborhood café, was the first house built along Germantown Avenue in 1748. Through the years, a young female ghost in pink Victorian clothing with a satin bow and dark corkscrew curls has been sighted; the owners call her Emily. An attic door mysteriously opens and shuts and unexplained thumps in the halls spooked contractors when they were renovating the building several years ago. Visitors can request to be seated in Emily's room. 7402 Germantown Avenue, (215) 248-4365
Perhaps the city's most haunted spot, St. Peter's Church Cemetery has been home to ghosts for more than a century. Some spectators have seen a horse-drawn carriage charging through the center of the graveyard and through the church. Others say restless Native American chiefs roam the grounds and the spirit of a colonial African American man can sometimes be seen walking in the graveyard by moonlight. 4th & Pine Streets
Bucks County
The charming, antiques-filled Bucksville House Bed & Breakfast has several guests who never checked out. Presences have been confirmed in at least one of the inn's guest rooms, when a psychic felt the presence of a man pacing between the fireplace and the window. The former owner's son saw a man wearing a string tie and a flat tipped black hat who sometimes appeared at the foot of the bed in one of the rooms. There are marked "cold spots" in the inn, and items tend to disappear and appear in the most unexpected places. Even the Ghost Hunter's Alliance of Philadelphia recoded voices and found "hot spots" in the inn. 4501 Durham Road, Route 412, Kintnersville, (610) 847-8948
Montgomery County
The Barnes Foundation, the former mansion of Dr. Albert Barnes, is said to also be home to the late doctor's restless spirit. Barnes, whose collection of impressionist and African art is world renowned, was a controversial figure in life and in death. He has been spotted wandering the halls of his eclectic art museum, a shadowy bearded figure forever inspecting his collection. 300 N. Latch's Lane, Merion Station, (610) 667-0290Historic Waynesborough, an 18th-century mansion and home of Revolutionary War General Anthony Wayne, is said to be haunted by one of his descendants, Hannah Wayne. On her way up to the attic with a candle, Hannah got caught in the trap door and accidentally set herself on fire. No one heard her screams, until she threw the candleholder and broke the window. Over the years people have reported hearing the crash of broken glass followed by screaming and crying but no broken glass is ever found. 2049 Waynesborough Road, Paoli, (610) 647-1779