The Campbell House

Posted: 06.23.2024 | Updated: 06.23.2024

The Campbell House is a beautifully preserved mansion slash museum that gives visitors a glimpse into what Eastern Washington looked like in its heyday. It is listed on the registry of National Historic Places and was built in 1898 originally for a silver baron and his family. With five live-in servants and a dining room draped in silk and velvet, the Campbell House is wealth incarnate.The Campbell family adored the home, raising children within its walls, living and dying there. Could it be possible that members of the Campbell family still reside within the home in the afterlife? Keep reading to find out!Want to visit the most haunted locations in Washington? Book a Seattle ghost with Seattle Terrors tonight! 

History of the Campbell House

 The Campbell House was built in 1898 by renowned architect Kirtland Cutter for Amasa Campbell and his wife, Grace. Amasa made a fortune in the mining exploration and operations in the Coeur d'Alene mining region in the northeast area of Spokane. Mr. Campbell was born in Salem, Ohio in 1845 and went to school until he was about fifteen. He began his work by taking on the Wool and Trade Commission. By 1867, he'd begun working with the Union Pacific Railroad in Omaha. While in the West, he gained his first mining experience in Utah. In 1887, Amasa came to Spokane and began a formal partnership with John Finch. The resulting firm was Finch and Campbell, and they soon became synonymous with success in mining in the northeast.Amasa Campbell and his partner, Mr. Finch, founded the Standard and Mammoth mines in Wallace, Idaho. They became so successful there that by 1903, they sold both mines for $3,000,000 to a joint venture backed by the Gould and Rockefeller families.All that glittered seemed to be gold for the company. However, in 1892, Mr. Campbell made front-page news when he was caught up in a labor dispute between union and non-union miners. During the strike, Mr. Campbell brought in non-union miners from Northern California, ignoring the pleas of union miners for better working conditions.The Campbell family lived on First St. -- this was the home for him, his wife, and their daughter. Mr. Campbell passed away on February 16th, 1912. After his passing, this was said of him:

'He judged his fellow men not by wealth, but by individual worth and true worth on the part of anyone could win his friendship and regard.'

The Campbell house was finished in 1898 and cost just about $70,000. Renowned architect Kirtland Cutter designed the home and furnishings. One of the highlights of the house is the gold reception room. The men's game room was another staple of the Campbell house, hosting parties for billiards and cards -- a 19th-century man cave if you will.The home was later restored by the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture. They aimed to bring the home back to its original glory, even replacing the original furniture after it had been sold. In 1924, the home was donated to the Eastern Washington Historical Society. Guided tours of the home are available for those who want to take a peek at the home's stunning decor or perhaps catch a glimpse of the spirits who are said to reside there still. 

Hauntings of the Campbell House

 It's said that the Campbell home is one of Washington's most haunted. Mysterious stories from the home speak of apparitions, strange occurrences, unexplainable voices, and objects moving independently. Truly, it just sounds like members of the Campbell family going about their daily lives in death. For quite a while, perhaps decades, rumors have existed that the Campbell house is haunted—but why?There hangs a portrait of Amasa Basaliel Campbell in the home that is said to follow visitors with its eyes, keeping a watchful eye on them as they wander about the home, admiring it. While it's easy to think that eyes moving in a portrait only happens in the movies, this creepy happening has been reported multiple times at the Campbell house. There are also stories circulating that three of the Campbell children who lived in the home in the early 1900s were murdered by an intruder, and a fourth child was kidnapped, only to never be seen again. This story doesn't hold much weight, as reportedly, the Campbells only had one daughter.Regardless, strange occurrences do happen inside of the home. Staff and guides report seeing a child playing in the house's bedrooms, unexplainable giggling, voices, and bangs. Some have even seen Mr. Campbell, recognizing him from his portrait, only to see him wandering through the home halls.We can't blame him—who would want to abandon such a breathtaking home? After all the time and effort it took to acquire it, it's no wonder that he is said to still be in the house. 

Haunted Washington

 Do you think Mr. Campbell or perhaps his child remains in the home? Would you want to stick around your mansion after death? Regardless of who the spirits are, the staff is sure that there are ghosts in the home. 'Everyone has had their own experience here, even our guests.' says one guide. Others report nothing more than a random unsettling feeling as they enter the home, while some say they saw a full-bodied apparition on the stairwell.Would you be willing to visit the Campbell House? Sources:https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMTJYQ_Campbell_House_Spokane_WAhttps://spokanehistorical.org/items/show/289

https://toandfrofam.com/campbell-house-spokane/