The historic City of Annapolis is home to many landmarks, buildings, and locations that are centuries old. While the city itself was incorporated in 1708, Annapolis’ origins date back even farther, at least half a century, to the founding of the small Puritan village.
Today, this coastal city within Chesapeake Bay offers plenty of recreational opportunities for tourists to enjoy, from parks and nature trails to an array of shopping and fine dining options. It is a pleasant and carefree place where one can relax and unwind. But the history of the town and the darkness intertwined within the haunted places in Annapolis linger in the shadows, waiting to be discovered.
Creepy and Chilling Tales of Haunted Locations Throughout Annapolis
Annapolis, Maryland – Public Domain Image
There are several places throughout Annapolis where spooky happenings and ghostly encounters have been reported. Here are some of the most popular locations for paranormal activity within America’s Sailing Capital.
The Governor Calvert House
The Governor Calvert House is a part of the prestigious Historic Inns of Annapolis. It was built around 1727 for Governor Charles Calvert and his family as a one-and-a-half-story brick residential home. It featured an 18th-century brick hypocaust (heating system), which was rare at the time. But that wasn’t the only impressive feature of the home. Governor Calvert’s prized possession was said to be the greenroom, where oranges and other tropical fruits could be effortlessly grown in the lower level of the house.
However, the most talked about amenity inside this 18th-century home had to be the glass floor where guests could peer down into the enigmatic greenroom.
Lightning Strikes the Calvert House Twice
The original Calvert House was struck by lightning in 1752 and later in 1764, leading to a destructive fire. The home was later remodeled into a two-story Gregorian-style building that was used as barracks by the State of Maryland until 1784.
The property exchanged hands over the years but remained in the Calvert family following the governor’s death. It was later used as a private residence by the mayor of Annapolis, Abram Claude, throughout most of the 20th century.
The Haunting of the Governor Calvert House
As we already mentioned, the glass floor above the greenroom was one of the most popular attributes of this historic home. It would easily catch the eye of any visitor as they gazed down into the house’s lower level. But to their surprise, sometimes those who looked into the glass floor saw something strange and unusual staring back at them.
There were reports of people seeing smiles and distorted faces in the glass, as if there were spirits trapped inside. It was an unsettling and disturbing occurrence that caused many people to stay away from the Calvert house.
But the ghostly faces aren’t the only entities that haunt the former governor’s home. There are several stories of spirits, such as a man dressed in 18th-century apparel often seen in the lobby. Many believe it is the spirit of Governor Calvert making sure his former residence is taken care of.
There is also the spirit of a man named Dominic who refuses to move on to the afterlife. Psychics have been known to contact him and share that he was a disgruntled staff member who took his own life in the 1940s. He’s been known to spy on hotel guests when they believe no one else is around.
Reynolds Tavern
Reynolds Tavern is the oldest tavern and inn located in Annapolis. It was built in 1747 by William Reynolds and meant to serve as his private residence and hat shop. The license to convert the building into a tavern was taken out by Miss Mary Funnereau, who later married Mr. Reynolds.
The tavern passed hands a few times, once to William Reynold’s son-in-law, who used it as a boarding house. It was later taken over by the Farmers Bank of Maryland, who used it as a private home for the cashier of their bank.
The Standard Oil Company once considered tearing it down to build a service station in its place, but locals saved the tavern and converted it into a library. In the early 1970s, it was renovated once again back into a tavern and inn, as it was years ago.
The Haunting of Reynolds Tavern
With so many people using the building since it was first constructed, it is no surprise that there are a few souls who have decided to stick around for eternity. For many years it was believed that the tavern was haunted by a ghost, but after a group of paranormal experts held an investigation there in 2004, a medium discovered that there were at least five spirits who are active in the home.
According to reports, paranormal activity was picked up using various monitors strategically placed throughout the building. During the investigation, dishes were broken in the kitchen when no one was around. The owners of the tavern also discovered imprints of an adult human on a bed in the upstairs rooms. Several other experiences have been reported since the investigation, including the haunting occurrence of a ghost getting into the holiday spirit by singing Christmas carols.
The Maryland Inn
The Haunted Maryland Inn – Copyright US Ghost Adventures
The historic Maryland Inn was built around 1776 by a merchant and respected civic leader named Thomas Hyde. Today, it is considered to be an important part of Annapolis’ history, serving as one of the oldest continuously operating hotels in the nation. The building was once described as an elegant brick house within a dry and healthy part of the city. A tavern was opened at the house around 1784 by the then manager, Sarah Ball. It later became a popular lodging location throughout the 19th century until it was acquired by the Maryland Hotel Company in 1868.
According to local lore, there have been ghosts from every era spotted at the Maryland Inn over time. Some have even been spotted in the basement that actually predates the building. Staff members and guests of the inn have mentioned seeing apparitions of ghostly figures dressed in soldier uniforms within the iron-gated wine cellar of the basement. Employees have shared tales of hearing disembodied voices inside the dining room while it appeared to be empty or catching the sudden strong aroma of pipe tobacco. They have also noticed objects being moved around without a valid explanation, or hearing footsteps in guests’ vacant rooms.
The Captain and the Ide
One of the most popular ghost tales from the Maryland Inn is about a spirit on the fourth floor known as “The Ide.” According to the story, the Ide traveled to Annapolis from North Carolina in 1817 to marry her beloved, a Navy captain named Charles Campbell.
After they were engaged in 1805, the captain went to sea in hopes of earning enough funds to settle down with her and live on a farm together. During this time, Great Britain was at war with France, and the U.S. Navy began recruiting a few good men to take on special tasks. Campbell took a commission as an officer and rose to command his own vessel.
But his new responsibilities made it impossible to make port long enough to marry the Ide. He wrote her a letter in 1817 when he was released from service, asking her to travel to Annapolis to meet him there and get married.
The Ide promptly packed her things and left her small country town behind for the big city of Annapolis. The captain told her to stay at the inn and requested that the staff take care of all her needs until he arrived. The Ide stayed in the same guest room the captain would book while in the city and waited for him there.
Some versions of the story say she waited for weeks; others say it was only a matter of days. When his ship arrived at the entrance of the harbor, he sent word to the inn for the Ide to be prepared. She got dressed for the ceremony and waited for hours for his arrival. She paced the floor of the guest room nervously as the moment grew closer. She went to lean out the window. Gazing at Main Street below in the springtime, hoping to see the captain in the crowd, but he didn’t show.
A few hours had passed, and the Ide went to look out the window again. She heard a horrible crash, causing her to shriek and run out of the room. Her maidservant looked outside and saw that a tragic car accident had occurred in the street below, hitting a man wearing a naval uniform. When the Ide reached the street, the crowd moved aside as she raced over to hold her beloved in her arms one last time.
It’s been said that both the captain and the Ide haunt the halls of the Maryland Inn. The ghost of the captain has been seen in the basement taproom, enjoying a cold beer, while the Ide is often seen in her guest room, waiting impatiently for him to join her. Guests claim that she has an unpleasant attitude and isn’t known for partaking in peaceful interactions. Those who have stayed overnight in that room have experienced a variety of haunting phenomena, such as hearing the sound of phantom footsteps or noticing the window in the room opening and closing on its own.
The Hammond-Harwood House
The Hammond-Harwood House – Public domain image
During the late 18th century, Annapolis was an exciting and energetic place to be. It was considered a hub for the New World where elite Americans could gather to appreciate the arts and culture while discussing important matters such as politics. Most of the wealthy citizens of Annapolis were plantation owners with massive homes built by enslaved people. Matthias Hammond was one of the wealthiest Annapolis residents, owning a staggering 54 tobacco plantations and a total of 63 slaves.
Hammond desired to own a mansion that could show off his wealth, a home that would be admired by all those who lived in the city. He began making plans for his dream home, but once the immaculate mansion was completed, Hammond refused to move in.
The Haunting of Hammond-Harwood House
Throughout history, no one has been able to pinpoint exactly why Hammond refused to move into his new home. Some believe it was because many people disagreed with his stance on patriotism, and he was not re-elected to public office in 1776. Others believe that a tragic love story was the cause of his refusal to move in.
It’s been said that Hammond was engaged while the house was being constructed, but his feelings turned cold as he began ignoring his bride-to-be while the house was being built. His fiancée later broke off their engagement, and Hammond never married after that.
Some believe that the spirit of Hammond’s heartbroken fiancée now haunts the house. The apparition of a woman dressed in a fine colonial-era gown has been seen gazing out the windows. Some say she’s looking outside, waiting for Hammond to return, while others claim that she is simply enjoying the view, the one she had hoped to see during her lifetime. Others have also said they believe her spirit is attached to the house because she was buried within a secret crypt inside. Staff members have said that isn’t the case, but you never know when it comes to mysterious legends and old haunted houses.
Ram’s Head Tavern
Ram’s Head Tavern – Copyright US Ghost Adventures
Ram’s Head Tavern has a rich history that dates back to the early 18th century and the birth of Annapolis’ tradition of brewing. In 1703, an English brewer by the name of Benjamin Fordham was granted a charter from Queen Anne to establish one of the first breweries in the city, at the location where the Ram’s Head stands today.
Almost a hundred years later, in 1792, a silversmith and clockmaker named William Faris purchased the same location and opened his own tavern and boarding house known as The Crown and Dial. A short time later, in 1794, the tavern’s name was changed to Sign of the Green Tree.
The Ram’s Head took on several more names and uses over time. Throughout the 1800s and the early 1900s, it was used for several commercial and residential purposes, including a bank and a boarding house.
Today, the Ram’s Head Tavern is owned and operated by the Muehlhauser family, who bought the property in 1989 and transformed it from the modest 30-seat pub it was into the bustling restaurant and bar it is today. But there is something in the air from the tavern’s past that has stuck around for centuries that no one can quite explain.
The Ghost of Amy
Because the tavern has been around for hundreds of years and has been used for a variety of purposes, there are many reasons why it could be haunted. One spirit who has often been seen by staff members and patrons of the tavern is the ghost of a young woman named Amy.
Like most ghost tales and urban legends, there are several versions of Amy’s story. Some of them say she was a prostitute who worked at the tavern when it was known as the Sign of the Green Tree. Other stories claim she was the daughter of a madman who met her tragic end and now haunts the building, seeking revenge.
In the tale that is shared most frequently, a young sailor visited the Sign of the Green Tree sometime during the late 1700s. He headed upstairs with Any to her room that was located right above the bar. Not long after, the patrons who were seated at the bar began hearing a lot of commotion coming from the room upstairs.
Dust began to shift and fall from the rafters overhead. The patrons scrambled to move out of the way as the entire bed fell through the floorboards and crashed into the bar below. The impact from the fall killed Amy. It’s been said that one of the bedposts from her bed is still stuck above the bar as a reminder of her unusual yet unfortunate death.
The staff members of the Rams Tavern have reported seeing Amy’s ghost over the years. The apparition of her spirit has also been captured in photographs taken by paranormal investigators.
Several people have claimed that Amy’s ghost likes to prank people, especially any female customers who are at the tavern with their boyfriends or husbands. Women have mentioned feeling their hands being pushed as they hold their drink, causing them to spill it on themselves.
Once, while the tavern was being reconstructed, crew members claimed that someone had moved their equipment and wrote their name on it in wet cement. When the owners of the tavern went to investigate the issue, they found the equipment with the name “Amy” drawn on it in dry cement.
The Maryland State House
The Maryland State House – Copyright US Ghost Adventures
The Maryland State House is an important historic landmark in Annapolis and in the United States. It is the oldest state capitol building in America that is still in use by the government. And it is the only state capitol that has also served as the nation’s capitol building from 1783 to 1784, when Annapolis was the capital city of our country.
Another significant factor about this landmark is the 94-foot-tall, 50-foot-wide wooden dome that sits atop the building. It is the largest dome made entirely of wood in North America, and it was made without using nails. It is securely held together by wooden pegs that were imported from England. The dome also had a lightning rod that was designed by Benjamin Franklin, which was installed when construction of the building was completed. Today, the 28-foot-tall lightning rod is considered a historic artifact and is held by the Maryland State Archives.
There have been several historic events that have occurred at this building over time. General George Washington addressed Congress there and resigned from his commission as Commander in Chief of the American Revolutionary Army. It is also where the Treaty of Paris was ratified, which ended the Revolutionary War. And the Maryland State House is where Chief Justice Thurgood Marshall was confirmed as the first African American justice on the U.S. Supreme Court in 1965.
The Ghost of Thomas Dance
Along with all of its grand historic events, the Maryland State House is also home to a popular ghost story, known as the story of Thomas Dance.
It was in 1793 when Thomas Dance was commissioned to plaster the interior of the dome inside of the capitol building. He was situated on a scaffolding plastering the top of the wooden dome when the scaffold suddenly collapsed, causing Dance to fall 94 feet down to the hard marble floor below him.
Thomas died a gruesome, tragic death, and it was a horrifying scene for everyone inside the building, one that was sure to linger in their minds for years to come. But just like that sight that was hard to forget, the ghost of Thomas Dance has also stayed around the capitol building and remains there today, as visitors and staff members can still feel his haunting presence.
Thomas Dance left behind a widow and several children, who had no other type of income upon his death. His employer refused to pay any owed wages to his family, telling his widow that “Dance was dead, and dead men don’t get paid.” The employer also refused to give back Dance’s personal tools that he used so that she could sell them. Sadly, the widow and the children were deported back to England not long after Thomas’ death.
Those who have worked at the capitol building over the years have mentioned feeling a sudden gust of wind or blast of cold air in rooms where the doors and windows were sealed shut. They’ve heard disembodied voices whispering in the distance, particularly from the chamber where a statue of George Washington stands. Pitchers of water have been known to topple over on their own, and furniture has been moved without any notable assistance. Many believe that it is Thomas’ ghost causing mischief throughout the building because he’s still angry about his family not receiving his payment.
It has also been said that a ghostly figure can be spotted in the dome after hours, walking the balustrade inside it and even walking outside the dome. There have been some reports of people seeing a ghost walking the grounds of the capitol in the early morning hours, yet their footsteps never make an imprint on the ground. Many believe it is Thomas’ ghost looking for his tools so that he can finish his work.
If you have enjoyed these tales about the most haunted places in Annapolis, you should book a ghost tour with the knowledgeable and talented crew at Annapolis Ghosts. Their guided tours will take you on a journey throughout Annapolis as you visit some of the most historic and haunted sites in the city. Check out their website today for more details.
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