The Haunting of the St. Augustine Lighthouse in Florida

St. Augustine, St. Johns County, Florida

Photo: Wikipedia

 

Photo: St. Augustine Public Record

Standing tall against the ocean’s edge, the St. Augustine Lighthouse is one of Florida’s most iconic and haunted locations. Built between 1871 and 1874, this 165-foot tower has become a beacon not only for ships—but for spirits.

The current lighthouse replaced a coquina tower that had eroded into the sea. Since then, countless lighthouse keepers, workers, and visitors have experienced unexplainable happenings. It’s said that the spirits of those who died during its construction still linger among the shadows.

One of the most well-known tragedies occurred in the 1870s, when the daughters of Hezekiah Pity, a man who was helping build the tower, drowned while playing in a rail cart that flipped into the water. The giggles and footsteps of little girls are still heard by staff and tourists alike—especially near the spiral staircase.

Another spirit often reported is that of Joseph Andreu, a lighthouse keeper who fell to his death while painting the exterior. Visitors claim to see a shadowy figure high in the tower, or feel his presence brush past them on the stairs.

The lighthouse has been featured on paranormal investigation shows such as *Ghost Hunters*, where crew members captured evidence of strange voices, movements, and unexplained noises. Staff have witnessed furniture moving on its own, doors slamming without wind, and cold spots lingering in warm Florida air.

Despite the eerie activity, the St. Augustine Lighthouse is open to the public and offers ghost tours year-round. Many claim it’s one of the most active sites in the nation—and one of the most beautiful.

Whether you're a history lover, thrill seeker, or spirit chaser, a visit to this historic tower promises a glimpse into the paranormal—and a chilling walk through Florida’s haunted past.

Coquina Tower after its conversion to a lighthouse. Photo: St. Augustine Public Record

Address: 100 Red Cox Dr, St. Augustine, FL 32080
Phone: (904) 829-0745
Website: www.staugustinelighthouse.org
Tour Options: General admission, ghost tours, and behind-the-scenes paranormal investigations are available.

The Haunting of the Doll Named Robert

Robert Doll – Monroe County, Key West, Florida

Photograph ©Haunted America Tours

The historic Artist House, home to the infamous Robert Doll, was constructed in 1898 by Mr. Thomas Otto and his wife. This charming residence, however, hides a dark past, as the Ottos were notorious for mistreating their servants. Among them was a young servant girl reputed to possess skills in the mysterious art of voodoo.

Legend has it that this servant girl presented a doll to Gene, the Otto's son, a doll that allegedly bore the weight of a voodoo curse. This cursed doll, Gene named "Robert", became an eerie companion to the young boy, and a harbinger of strange occurrences that would plague the house for years to come.

 
As Gene carried Robert everywhere, engaging in conversations that seemed to involve two distinct voices, the Otto family began witnessing unsettling events. Gene's mother, disturbed by the inexplicable conversations, would burst into the bedroom only to find Gene cowering in fear while the doll, perched on the bed or in a chair, seemed to gaze malevolently down at the frightened boy.

 
A series of inexplicable incidents followed, each attributed to the doll by Gene, who would simply say, "Robert did it." Locked-out servants, dishes thrown in the dining room, torn clothing and bedding, and even mutilated toys—all became part of the strange tapestry woven by the reported actions of the cursed doll.

 
Family members and close friends became convinced of the doll's sinister influence. Giggles from the doll, fleeting glimpses of it running up the stairs, and even sightings of the doll peering out of windows, fueled the growing belief that Robert was possessed by a malevolent force.

 
As Gene matured, he clung to the doll and his childhood home. Even after his parents' demise, Gene and the doll remained inseparable, earning them the dubious distinction as the talk of the town. Gene's wife, whose mental state deteriorated during their ill-fated marriage, is rumored to haunt the Artist House to this day, as well.

 
Following Gene's death, the doll, alone in the house, was sold to new owners. Despite being relegated to the attic, Robert's discontent manifested as he began appearing in various areas of the house. The situation escalated when an owner discovered the doll at the foot of their bed, clutching a knife. Fearing the eerie presence, the tenants hastily vacated the premises.

 
Robert's journey didn't end there; he found a new residence in the East Martello Museum in Key West, Florida. Guarded closely, the doll attracts tourists from across the country. Witnesses claim Robert has smirked at them, and strange phenomena persists, such as cameras malfunctioning or capturing blank images, fueling the mystique surrounding this eerie artifact and the Artist House, with its haunted history, continues to captivate those who dare to explore its chilling secrets.

 
Address:
534 Eaton Street
Key West, Florida 33040
(305) 296-3977
Website

The Haunting of the Polk County Historical Museum

Historical Museum – Polk County, Bartow, Florida

Photograph © Polk County Board of County Commissioners

Address:
100 East Main Street
Bartow, Florida 33830
(863) 534-4386

As the radiant sunlight bathes the exterior of this majestic museum, one would be utterly oblivious to the haunting tales that shroud its history. Little would you fathom the eerie incidents that have unfolded within its walls. A paradox of appearance and reality, for looks can indeed be deceiving.

Nestled on the very ground where an ancient courthouse stood in 1883, the museum's origin tells a haunting tale. In 1886, the notorious Marshall Silas Campbell met his demise just outside the courthouse, a victim of a gruesome act. The accused Mann brothers never saw the halls of justice; a ferocious lynch mob claimed them, dragging their lifeless bodies to the old courthouse, displaying their twisted notion of justice to the town's inhabitants. Adding to the macabre history, a devastating explosion in the basement boiler room claimed the life of an unfortunate employee.

The passage of time ushered in a new courthouse, now the renowned Polk County Historical Museum. Yet, the specters of the past refused to be banished, as the museum became a canvas for paranormal activities.

Descend into the basement, accessible only via the elevator, and the air is thick with the echoes of blood-curdling screams, reminiscent of someone in agonizing pain. Investigations reveal an empty space, suggesting the relentless replaying of the boiler room worker's tragic demise.

On the first floor, within the criminal courtroom, unexplained cold spots chill those who enter. A chamber that once saw the passage of numerous criminals leaves an indistinct impression of spirits that linger.

Journey into the Native American display room, where visitors navigate through mysterious cold spots and witness lights flickering on and off autonomously.

The third floor unfolds a spectral narrative, with sightings of a full-bodied female apparition adorned in a white, antique dress. Her identity remains elusive, leaving an enigmatic presence confined to this floor.

The Rotunda area hosts an air of melancholy, accompanied by inexplicable cold spots. Two apparitions, believed to be the lynched Mann brothers, roam, casting shadows on the chilling history of the museum.

Thus, within the seemingly benign facade of the Polk County Historical Museum, an intricate tapestry of the paranormal weaves through its halls, each corner holding the echoes of a bygone era's unsettling tales.

The Haunting of the Herlong Mansion

Herlong Mansion Bed & Breakfast– Alachua County, Micanopy, Florida

Photograph © John Bradley

This gorges, southern home was built in 1845 and was occupied by the Simonton family who were also one of the founding families of Micanopy, Florida.

In 1910 the house was sold to a Mr. and Mrs. Herlong who refurbished the home and turned it into a stately mansion. The Herlong’s had six children who spent their childhoods running and playing in the home and the surrounding property. When these children grew up and the Herlong parents died, the six siblings loved the house so much that they spent eighteen years fighting over ownership of it.

Finally, at the age of sixty-eight, one of the Herlong children, Inez, had saved up enough money to buy the house. Inez intended to renovate her childhood home but died shortly after purchasing the estate. Apparently Inez was a diabetic and must have gone into insulin shock. It is thought that she died in her childhood bedroom because quite a bit of paranormal activity seems to happen in this room.

After Inez’s death, her son took over the estate and he let it go down hill even further. The house was finally sold again in 1986 and after that it changed hands several times. Luckily, each person who bought it, did their share of renovating and remodeling and now the home is in pristine condition and just as lovely as it once was in the early 1900’s.

The Herlong Mansion, now a bed and breakfast, has six spacious guest rooms, three beautiful suites and three cozy little cottages for its many overnight guests.

Many believe that Inez is responsible for most of the oddities that go on in the mansion. She is said to haunt her old third floor bedroom and some have even seen her apparition in the mirror there, floating through the room behind them. When they turn from the mirror to look behind them, she is no where to be seen.

Many who have visited this home have also reported the door to Inez’s room, as well as other guestroom doors, opening and closing on their own.

Several people have reported hearing footsteps on the stairs and seeing a fast-moving mist going up or down the steps.

On the second story veranda, one guest was enjoying her coffee and watching the sun come up when suddenly she felt she was being watched. She turned to find a woman staring at her in the doorway. Within seconds the woman vanished into thin air!

Maybe Inez just decided that, after enduring an eighteen year battle for the home, she has the right to stay as long as she wants. Whatever the reason, she seems to be harmless and she doesn’t usually bother guests.

Address:
402 Northeast Cholokka Boulevard
Micanopy, Florida 32667
(800) 437-5664