San Diego, Calif.
This two-story brick home was constructed in 1857 by Thomas Whaley, who arrived in California during the Gold Rush, and parts of it also served as granary, court house, and theater. Once a grandly appointed residence, it was also the site of hangings (before it was built), a suicide, and endured several periods of vacant disrepair before its incarnation as a museum today.
It is said to be quite haunted, with the earliest-appearing ghosts being the hanged man “Yankee Jim” while the Whaleys were still living in the home. Thomas Whaley has also taken his turn appearing from the afterworld, according to some witnesses, and some have also seen his wife Anna. For those who want a go at spotting these and other apparitions–including the ghost of the Whaleys’ dog–the museum offers a range of paranormal-themed tours and events, including Halloween and Dia de los Muertos ($6 – $50).