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Top 10 Most Haunted Places in Seattle

Seattle is an exciting place to visit, with so much to see that choosing where to start can be a challenge. Some head straight to Pike Place Market, while others make their way to the iconic Space Needle.

The city is also home to the Seahawks, a famous professional football team. But not everyone visits for sports, shopping, or family trips—some come for a glimpse into Seattle’s darker side.

With its rich history, Seattle is home to many haunted locations. Let’s explore the top ten most haunted places the city has to offer.

Want a deeper look into Seattle’s dark past? Let Seattle Terrors guide you on a thrilling ghost tour!

What is the most haunted place in Seattle?

Seattle may be known for its coffee and stunning skyline, but beneath its modern charm lies a dark and haunted history.

From the eerie Pike Place Market, where spirits still roam the old alleys, to the Sorrento Hotel, where ghostly figures glide through dimly lit hallways, and the Moore Theater, home to restless souls—this city has no shortage of haunted places in Seattle.

But which of these eerie locations was once a mortuary? And which still echoes with the whispers of the past? Read on to uncover Seattle’s most haunted place—if you dare!

10. The Owl N Thistle

This building that houses this pub dates back to the 1930s. The building was first a cafeteria, however, not long after it housed a Cajun restaurant. It wasn’t until 1991 that it was purchased by the new owner and became the Owl n Thistle Pub. After it was bought, the owner had sold it. The next owner decided to keep it as this pub.

Ghost in a bar
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However, if you enter this pub you may hear the piano playing. There is a ghost that plays the piano only when there are a few people inside the pub. Staff also claims that they often feel like someone is around watching them.

9. Grand Army of the Republic Cemetery

Ninth on the list is the Grand Army Republic Cemetery. It is one of the most haunted places in Seattle. There are over 500 graves and it has been around for over 100 years. People often refer to this as the GAR cemetery.

Those who have visited or spent any time at the cemetery have reported hearing shouting and loud crying. It is believed that the sounds are from the soldiers from World War I and the Civil War that have ended up here for their final resting place.

8. Harvard Exit Theatre

This three-story building dates back to the early 1900s and has served many purposes over the years. It was once home to the Women’s Century Club, but today, it is known as the Harvard Exit Theatre.

Despite its elegant appearance, the theatre holds a much darker history. Several ghosts are said to linger here, including a man named Peter. Visitors claim he introduces himself on the first floor and enjoys moving objects—especially film reels. Many also report an eerie feeling of being watched, even when no one else is in the room.

There is also a woman that hangs around the theatre. We do not know her name, however, she likes to wear clothes from the Victorian area. She is often spotted from a balcony and will soon vanish after being spotted.

7. Pike Place Market

Haunted Heavens Gate Tile Pike Place Market Seattle
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Pike Place Market is one of Seattle’s most famous landmarks, drawing visitors from around the world. Since opening in 1907, it has been a bustling hub for fresh seafood, produce, meats, and handmade goods. But beyond its lively atmosphere, Pike Place Market is also known for something much darker—it’s one of the most haunted places in Seattle and even the world.

Many visitors and workers have reported ghostly encounters and strange paranormal activity. Some believe this is because the market was built on a former Indigenous burial ground.

The most frequently seen spirit is Princess Angeline, daughter of Chief Seattle. A member of the Duwamish tribe, she once lived in a small cabin on the market grounds and is said to still roam the area today.

A treaty was made in 1855 that ordered her entire tribe to leave, however, she refused. After she passed away, she never left. People will see her wandering aimlessly around the market like she would have done in real life.

People have also seen Arthur Goodwin in his office. This is now the Goodwin Library located around the market. Another ghost is that of a barber. The barber would sing to the clients and then rob them. This ghost is known as the Fat-Lady Barber.

6. The Canterbury

The Canterbury Tavern dates back to the early 1900s and has served many purposes over the years. It was once the Capitol Hill Food Shoppe and later a café before becoming the beloved tavern it is today.

Despite the changes in ownership, much of the original design remains, from the fireplace to the wood paneling. But there’s something else that lingers here—something not every visitor will appreciate.

In 1978, a man was killed in a violent bar fight, and his spirit is said to remain. His ghost is often seen in the mirror beside the fireplace, the very spot where he died. Bartenders also report the jukebox mysteriously playing songs on its own, especially late at night as they close up.

5. The Moore Theatre

This place has been dubbed the most haunted buildings in the city. There have been Ghost Hunters from the SyFy channel investigating this theatre.

Built in 1907, this theatre has long been a place for live music, plays, and entertainment. While no known deaths have occurred here, that hasn’t stopped the reports of paranormal activity.

Spooky Theater
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One strange mystery lingers in the theatre—the scent of cigar smoke always clings to a balcony chair, no matter how many times it’s cleaned or even reupholstered. Many believe it’s the spirit of the former owner, Mr. Moore, who refuses to leave his beloved theatre.

Paranormal investigators have recorded his singing, heavy breathing, and even the sound of applause echoing through the empty space. Shadowy figures have also been spotted roaming the theatre, adding to its eerie atmosphere.

4. The Cadillac Hotel

This hotel has stood in the city since 1889, originally serving as temporary housing for those who lost their homes in the Great Fire. Among its early residents were loggers, miners, and men seeking companionship from women of ill repute.

Over time, fire safety regulations led to the closure of the upper floors, but the hotel continued to welcome guests for decades. With so many people passing through its doors, it’s no surprise that ghostly encounters have been reported.

Passersby have claimed to see a ghostly figure staring from the windows, while guests have heard the heartbreaking cries of a woman and her child in the dead of night. Legend has it that a mother, devastated after being evicted, took both her own life and that of her child—her sorrow lingering within the walls ever since.

3. West Seattle High School

By 2017, this school had been shaping young minds for a full century. Beyond academics, it offers students a variety of sports and activities, creating a well-rounded experience for generations of learners.

Haunted School
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The students, as well as staff, are able to meet a former student named Rose. She was a student who had hung herself inside the school in 1924. People claim that her spirit roams the halls and that she likes to hang out with her friends from that era as well. They hang out in the park that is located near the school. People have seen and/or heard her on multiple occasions in the hallways or at the park.

2. Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub

This is said to be the second most haunted place in Seattle. Today it is a popular spot to grab a drink and have a nice meal, however, it was once something very less appealing.

Built in the early 1900s, the Butterworth Building once served as Seattle’s first mortuary. Rumors of corruption surrounded its operation, adding to the eerie history. Perhaps the creepiest part? The same door that welcomes guests today was once used to deliver the dead.

Strange happenings are common here. Some say if you look in a mirror, you might see Charlie—though no one knows exactly who he is. A young girl has also been spotted beside bar patrons, and when children are present, she tries to get them to play with her. Glasses slide off tables, mirrors shatter, and chunks of plaster randomly fall from the walls, as if the building itself is trying to tell its story.

1. The Sorrento Hotel

This isn’t just the most haunted place in Seattle—it’s said to be the most haunted spot in all of Washington! Opened in 1909, the building’s eerie design gave people chills from the very beginning. Yet, despite its unsettling appearance, it has welcomed guests for over a century. Some of those guests, however, never seem to leave.

One of the most well-known spirits is Alice B. Toklas, a famous marijuana activist. Staff say she lingers on the fourth floor, often appearing in white, though sometimes in black. She’s been spotted gliding down dim hallways, silently making the lights flicker as she passes. Room 408 seems to be her favorite—perhaps she’s still keeping watch.

 Learn More About the Haunted History of Seattle

Now that you’ve explored some of the most haunted places in Seattle, from the ghostly halls of the Sorrento Hotel to the lingering spirits at Pike Place Market and the eerie Moore Theater, it’s clear that this city’s past refuses to rest.

Some of these buildings, like the former mortuary, have dark origins that only add to their haunted reputations, while others, like the ghost of a princess, leave behind haunting reminders of it. Every historic site holds chilling stories of those who came before—and some who never left.

If you’re craving more spine-tingling tales, check out our blog for more Seattle ghost stories. Or, for an unforgettable experience, book a ghost tour with Seattle Terrors and hear these haunted histories firsthand! Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for more spooky content!

Sources:

  1. https://www.seattlepi.com/seattlenews/slideshow/19-of-the-seattle-spookiest-ghost-stories-210909.php
  2. https://www.seattle.gov/parks/allparks/grand-army-of-the-republic-cemetery
  3. https://www.legendsofamerica.com/wa-pikemarket/
  4. https://www.dailyuw.com/archives/there-was-a-ghost-in-your-mirror-a-deeper-look-into-seattle-s-haunts-and/article_79144862-793b-11ee-9edc-5b460d56fa50.html
  5. https://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/washington/seattle/experiences/news/meet-the-seattle-ghost-who-made-the-weed-brownie-famous

Book A Seattle Terrors Tour And See For Yourself

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From the old Suquamish Burial Grounds to the Northwest’s first elevator for corpses, join us to experience why- and how- the dead persist in haunting our beloved Cloud City.

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