America's Most Haunted Houses

Whether or not people believe in ghosts, haunted houses are a huge tourist attraction for those who are interested in other realms or history. Haunted houses act as museums, hosting old relics and fascinating stories. Although interest in them is piqued during Halloween, these houses host guests year round and have become famous for their ghostly stories. Here is a list of thirteen of America's most haunted houses.

The Whaley House (San Diego, California)

Called "possibly the most haunted house in America" by Hans Holzer (http://hauntedhouses.com/states/ca/whaley_house.cfm), the Whaley House has even been declared as being "genuinely haunted" by The United States Chamber of Commerce (http://theshadowlands.net/famous/whaley.htm). Purchased by Thomas Whaley in 1855, the house hosted as a courthouse. Controversy over where the public records should stay resulted in Anna Whaley being held hostage at gunpoint while the house was ransacked while Mr. Whaley was out of town. It also was the location of a hanging, Yankee Jim, a boat thief. Reports of hauntings of Thomas and Anna Whaley, along with their children, Yankee Jim, and even a dog include an account by Regis Philbin. (http://whaleyhouse.org/ghostly.htm) The house is a huge tourist attraction and was recently visited by Hugh Hefner and the Girls Next Door (of Playboy fame).