Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum

Haunted Hospital

The Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum

Photo: Tim Kiser\commons.wikimedia.org 

The haunted hospital of Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum is considered to be one of the scariest places on earth! 

In the past, this immense structure of both shadow and light was called“Weston State Hospital”, located in the area of West Virginia. Constructed over the course of several years, and completed around 1881, several hauntings are said to occur in and around the massive building. To date, paranormal investigators and those that are interested in topics that are from beyond the grave are highly interested in the secrets of the haunted hospital. 

In the year of 1864, the building was opened to individuals who suffered serious delusions and other complications of the mind. It is said that awful, unspeakable things took place within the walls of this cold, dark hospital. Initially, cruel and unusual medical treatments were used – with the best intentions, of course. During this era, little was known about diseases of the mind and there was a lot of experimentation done to determine if there were any cures for the diseases. Unfortunately, after a period of time, the staff determined that the treatments were ineffective as far as a cure was concerned, but effective as a means of cruel treatments. 

There were a large number of people who watched, day after day, as people that they resided with were mistreated. Many of these patients were just like you and I, yet maybe they had a small case of depression. They had to sit idle and observe as the people that they came to know and made friends with at the hospital were treated in a severely inhuman way. All the while seeing their friends and people that they shared rooms with being tormented, and even murdered, many knew that they were next – whether they attempted to stop the cruel treatment or not. 

By the time that the 1950’s arrived, the hospital that was designed for individuals with room for two hundred and fifty individuals became so overcrowded that it housed nearly two thousand five hundred people. The infamous Charlie Manson also had a brief stay here. The conditions were not only inhumane, but they were not sanitary or comfortable at all. Many residents became sick and passed away during this time, while others were simply put to their death. This marked the beginning of an end to the emotional and physical devastation experienced by thousands of people throughout the history of the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum.The hospital closed for good in 1994 and was purchased by auction along with its 300 acres of land in September of 2007. 

There is a large amount of paranormal activity that is rumored to occur in this large, ominous, haunted hospital. Many have experienced firsthand apparitions in various locations on the inside of the massive structure, as well as on the grounds surrounding the structure. Then, there are some who have been plagued with unusually frightening sounds while on the grounds, and within the structure itself. These sounds have been described in many different ways. Many claim that they hear people talking when there is no one else available to contribute to the voices heard. Then, there are many who have heard the distant screams and cries of someone who appears to be in a great deal of pain and anguish. 

Several people who have elected to visit the haunted hospital have brought along their cameras, camcorders, and digital audio recorders in an effort to collect evidence that suggests that there are, in fact, hauntings. To date, several ghost pictures, ghost videos, and EVP’s have been caught as living proof that death is evident within the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. There are several different types of tours that are available for individuals who are interested in trying their hand at ghost hunting. If you have a passion for learning about haunted places to go, check out the haunted hospital of Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. 

Famous Hauntings in the United States

The Most Haunted Cities in the U.S

Sherri Granato, Yahoo! Contributor Network

Not everyone enjoys a good scare, but if you enjoy looking for ghosts, the unexplained and the supernatural, look no further then these famous cities that offer just a little more then their wonderful hospitality.

Savannah, Georgia

Not everyone is a believer of things that go bump in the night, but a visit to Savannah, Georgia, just might give you a new perspective on their many ghostly friends. The Kehoe house is a famous bed and breakfast that offers a little something extra for free, haunted rooms. The Hampton-Lillibridge home was considered beyond haunted to the point of being infested by apparitions, so much so in fact that an actual exorcism had to be performed. Savannah offers regular ghostly tours and its lush historical district with displayed ironworks and colonial style homes only add to the city's ambiance and it is considered the most haunted city in America.

Chicago, Illinois

If you happen to be traveling through Chicago, Illinois, you may want to avoid picking up female hitchhikers wearing white party dresses and dancing shoes. Many men have been fooled by this beautiful blond lady that requests a ride home only to be led to Resurrection cemetery where she simply vanishes. The young woman is believed to be the ghost of Mary Brgovy and she has been seen by dozens of passersby traveling on the lonely road that Mary frequently haunts. Allerton Park houses a haunted mansion with beautiful gardens and a permanent houseguest. A woman in white haunts the house and the grounds. She is often seen walking in the garden and visitors claim to hear footsteps in the mansion of what appears to be a lady pacing. Chicago has many haunted cemeteries and some are neglected and forgotten. The Bachelor's Grove Cemetery is considered amongst one of Chicago's most haunted spots. It is likely to see a ghost car or one of the many apparitions that have made this cemetery their home. Chicago has many haunted mansions and famous documented haunting locations for tourists to enjoy.

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

You wouldn't expect to run into a Civil War soldier while out and about, but if you are visiting Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, then the chances of this occurring are more then likely. If you don't get the chance for this kind of ghostly encounter while shopping or dining, then a Candlelight tour through some of Gettysburg's most haunted sites just might do the trick. Many of the beautiful hotels are reported as haunted by restless ghosts who walk the halls and rooms aimlessly. The Farnsworth House Inn has documented reports of ghostly visitors. The Gettysburg Battlefield is the most famous place in town for spotting an apparition, and there have been many reports of ghosts' roaming in blue and gray military attire at this bloody battlefield. Many tourists have reported seeing the ghost of Abraham Lincoln in various locations.

Salem, Massachusetts 
You can run, but you can't hide once you have made your presence known to the occupants that reside at Gallows Hill in Salem, Massachusetts. This dark and gloomy resting place is considered home to the ghosts of the accused witches of Salem. When evil is lurking, you may come in contact with the ghost of Giles Corey. This alleged warlock is often seen near the old jail when something terrible is about to take over the town. The House of Seven Gables is an eerie mystery in itself. It has a secret passageway that is believed to have once been used to free slaves. Tours of the house are always a frightening event, as you never know what may pop out from behind a hidden wall or pass by you in the hallways of this haunted mansion. The historical district of Salem also offers tours for ghost hunters to get a feel for the unknown and revisit the horrors of 1692.

New Orleans, Louisiana 
Another famous haunted city is New Orleans, Louisiana. Many tourists travel from all over the world to this one of a kind city to participate in the festivities of the Mardi Gras. Little do they know that the hotel that they have reserved is probably already booked with visitors from the other side. Almost every hotel in the city has some type of ghostly story or reported sighting from guests. The Provincial hotel is located in the heart of the French Quarter. It was once a hospital for Confederate soldiers. It is not abnormal to see a soldier, surgeon or bloodstains appearing and disappearing right before your eyes. The city offers regular history tours of actual documented hauntings from the Garden District to the Lafayette cemetery and onto the spine tingling French Quarter. There isn't much of New Orleans that hasn't been touched by ghosts or Voodoo, so if you are looking for a haunting experience, chances are you will find it in this historical city.

San Antonio, Texas

The fight at the Alamo accounted for more then 1,700 deaths and most of these men were not given proper burials. These active souls appear to be looking for eternal life and locals claim that these lost ghosts walk the streets of San Antonio, Texas. Theodore Roosevelt is said to haunt the Menger Hotel along with 37 other ghosts. The Bexar railroad tracks are known to be haunted by children killed in a bus accident and the Bexar bridge will have you in fear of your life as ghostly hands seem to pull at your legs while crossing the bridge. Don't expect to get much sleep if you stay at the Emily Morgan Hotel. Guests claim that the ninth floor is very active as doors open and close all night long. This hotel once housed wounded soldiers during the battle of the Alamo.

San Francisco, California 
If ghosts aren't your thing then staying at the Mansions hotel in San Francisco, California, is definitely out of the question. Ghosts come out of the woodwork for many witnesses to see. The hotel has documents of ghostly photos and transcripts of séances. An old buried cemetery at Russian Hill which is now an Art Institute gets many reports of ghostly sightings as witnesses hear doors slamming and what sounds like foot steps. The Whittier Mansion not only survived an earthquake, its original owner, William Franklin Whittier apparently survived as well, at least in spirit. Unsuspecting guests have felt his icy presence and have seen dark shadows in the basement of the mansion. Many visitors come to the Moss Beach Distillery and through the years they have caught sight of a wounded lady dressed in blue. Legend has it that her jealous lover stabbed her to death. She is often seen walking the beach aimlessly.

St. Augustine, Florida 
Don't be surprised if you are greeted at the entrance to St. Augustine, Florida, by a ghostly sight named Elizabeth. This friendly apparition died of yellow fever in the eighteen hundreds. Many travelers have witnessed Elizabeth waving at them. The St. Francis bed and breakfast serves up more then good food. They have a floating ghost dressed in white gracing their hallways. The Spanish Military Hospital has been certified as an actively haunted building by paranormal specialists. Tours of the hospital have made nonbelievers into believers of the spiritual world. Active spirits can be seen often at The Old Drug Store, which happens to be built on top of an old Indian burial grounds. The Old Jail is listed on the Florida and National hauntings register. Many prisoners were hung at this jail they came to know as home and some of them have refused to leave their home.

Charleston, South Carolina 
Charleston, South Carolina, may just have some of the nations most haunting ghosts. The city has a famous Lowcountry Ghost Walk that was featured on CNN's travel guide and there are just too many ghosts roaming the streets, beaches and homes of this lush city to ignore. If you are visiting Charleston and happen to come across the gray man while at the beach you may want to think about packing quickly and heading home. His ghostly presence forewarns of potentially dangerous storms looming in the very near future. Evil lurks in the St. Philip's graveyard as the ghost of Sue Howard attacks pregnant women out of anger from losing her own baby. This ghost has been caught on film by researchers. Apparitions with a patch covering one eye are seen frequently at White Point Gardens. These ghostly pirates seem to be searching for their executioners. The Battery Carriage Inn is home to a flirtatious ghost that lies in bed with female guests. Charleston offers many different ghost tours to visitors.

Nashville, Tennessee 
There is more then country music in Nashville, Tennessee, as bothersome ghosts favor a part of the city that is known as Music Row. Capitol Records, once the sight of the Jacob Schnell mansion is bombarded with phantom footsteps, cold spots and loud noises that may be a former owner of the property who has come back to claim it. The Ryman Auditorium also has spirits that like to show off and make their presence known. Hurricane Mills, the home of Loretta Lynn has a colorful past and its previous owners and servants don't seem to want to leave. There have been many ghostly encounters in the home and Confederate soldiers are known to be buried on the grounds. The Hermitage, once the home of Andrew Jackson has had many reports of ghostly sightings from visitors and workers who have attempted to renovate it. Many famous mansions in the area are reported as haunted like the Belmont Mansion where a former owner watches over her home and scare's students half to death by her surprise visits. Ghost tours are held every year and start in front of the haunted State Capitol building.

Washington D.C.

The Washington, D.C. area is rich in history, famous haunting's and some of the most outrageous ghost lore that history has witnessed. One of the most recorded haunting's is that of Lincoln's ghost. It has been reported by many different sources that Lincoln is active in the White House as he has been seen walking the hallways and knocking at the door of his former bedroom by both staff and heads of state by such people as Winston Churchill. He also visits the Ford's theatre from time to time, sometimes in the company of his assassin, John Wilkes Booth. The Renaissance Mayflower Hotel has many guests, but one of the more popular guests isn't even alive, but don't tell him that. Calvin Coolidge visits the hotel in January of every year still trying to attend the Inaugural Ball that he missed in 1925. Guests report that lights flicker and an elevator will not budge from the 8th floor where Coolidge's holding room once was. Washington D.C. has a host of ghost tours for seekers of the unknown, and the best one begins at the McPherson Square Station where guests will be led on a tour that covers the area across the White House and many other noted haunting sites.

Home made IR Booster Light

Some how to Ghost Hunting Equipment. Credit to those who came up with the designs.