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Family Handyman published a list of 50 buildings, one in each U.S. state, associated with ghost stories and local lore. The buildings’ histories and visitor access are described, but reported apparitions and unexplained activity are not independently verified in the supplied material.
Family Handyman has published a list of 50 buildings, one from each U.S. state, tied to reports of ghosts, strange sounds or other unexplained activity. The roundup presents the stories alongside brief histories of hotels, homes, prisons and other sites, many of which still receive visitors; it does not establish that paranormal claims are factual.
The article frames the collection as a way to pair local history and seasonal ghost stories. Its examples span buildings with markedly different pasts: the St. James Hotel in Selma, Alabama, dates to 1837; the Red Onion Saloon in Skagway, Alaska, opened in 1898; and the Rosson House in Phoenix, Arizona, was built in 1895. Family Handyman connects these places to stories about former occupants, unusual sounds or other reported events.
Several entries involve institutions whose documented histories are part of their public identity. Fort Delaware, built in the 1850s, served as a military prison during the Civil War, according to the roundup. Boise’s Old Idaho Penitentiary opened in 1870, while Old Joliet Prison in Illinois opened in 1858 and is now open for tours. The former Missouri State Penitentiary, described as having operated for 168 years, is also presented as a site for history and paranormal tours.
Other sites are hotels, homes and cultural landmarks. The Mark Twain House in Hartford became the Clemens family home in 1874; Florida’s Don CeSar Hotel opened in 1928; and ʻIolani Palace in Honolulu, built in 1882, served as the residence of Hawaii’s last ruling monarchs. The source says stories associated with the palace include apparitions attributed to Queen Liliʻuokalani and reports of unexplained sounds. These are presented as accounts and lore, not verified events.
Historic Sites Meet Local Lore
The roundup’s appeal lies in bringing together 50 recognizable local landmarks and the stories that have accumulated around them. For readers planning seasonal visits, it offers a starting point for finding sites that combine architecture and documented history with folklore. The reported visitor access varies by property, so the list is not a guarantee that every building is open to the public at all times.
That distinction matters: a building’s age, former use or association with a notable person can be documented, while claims of apparitions or unexplained activity remain anecdotal in this source. Treating the two categories separately lets readers explore the history without mistaking a ghost story for independently established evidence.
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From Civil War Forts to Hotels
Family Handyman’s selection ranges across different periods and uses, rather than focusing on one kind of haunting or one region. Some entries are former prisons or hospitals; others are residences, caves, inns and hotels. The report’s short descriptions link each site’s reputation to a particular piece of its history, such as a famous crime, former occupants or years spent serving travelers.
The examples supplied include the Villisca Axe Murder House in Iowa, built in 1868 and associated with the 1912 killings, and the Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, Massachusetts, built in 1845 and later connected to the 1892 murders. The report also names the Stanley Hotel in Colorado, which opened in 1909, and Kentucky’s Waverly Hills Sanatorium, which opened in 1926. Historical events and dates provide context for the locations; they do not verify later paranormal reports.
““Each state is home to unexplainable stories, whether that’s at historic hotels, residences, prisons, and more.””
— Family Handyman
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What the Ghost Stories Establish
The source does not provide independent investigations, named witnesses, records of specific incidents or evidence confirming paranormal activity. Descriptions such as reports of footsteps, apparitions, strange sounds or shadowy figures should therefore be understood as claims and local stories. The article also does not explain how it selected the 50 buildings or whether the list is intended to be exhaustive.
Access is another open point. Although Family Handyman says many buildings welcome visitors and identifies some as tour destinations, it does not give a current schedule, admission details or access conditions for each location. Readers should check directly with a site before making plans.
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Check Each Site Before Visiting
Family Handyman’s roundup serves as a published guide, not a notice of a new investigation or a change in the status of the buildings. No further reporting, event or update is specified in the supplied material. Anyone interested in visiting should confirm current hours, tour availability and visitor rules with the property or its operator, especially for former prisons, private residences and historic sites with restricted areas.
For readers assessing the stories themselves, the next step is to consult the buildings’ historical records and any site-specific documentation. The report provides a set of destinations and associated lore; whether individual paranormal accounts can be substantiated remains unresolved.
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Key Questions
What is the Family Handyman report about?
It lists 50 buildings, one in each U.S. state, with histories and ghost stories associated with them.
Does the report prove that the buildings are haunted?
No. The source recounts reported experiences and local lore, but does not offer independent evidence confirming paranormal activity.
Can visitors go to the buildings?
Family Handyman says many of the locations still welcome visitors and notes that some offer tours. Access varies; check with each site for current hours and rules.
What kinds of places are included?
The roundup includes hotels, historic homes, prisons, a fort, caves and a palace, among other buildings.
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