Haunted Places and Halloween History
Sep 19
Perched on a hill above the railway town of Junee in New South Wales, Monte Cristo Homestead looks like a house created for a ghost story. Its red-brick walls, ornate cast-iron verandahs, shadowy rooms, antique furnishings, and sweeping position over the surrounding countryside give the Victorian mansion an atmosphere that has fascinated visitors for generations. …
Sep 18
In the rugged landscape of Rajasthan stands a ruined city with a reputation far larger than its crumbling walls. Bhangarh Fort has become one of India’s most famous supernatural destinations—a place associated with curses, forbidden nighttime visits, mysterious sounds, doomed romance, black magic, and generations of ghost stories. Its atmosphere certainly encourages the imagination. Empty …
Sep 16
Perched above Estes Park, Colorado, with the Rocky Mountains rising dramatically behind it, the Stanley Hotel looks almost too perfectly designed for a ghost story. Its brilliant white façade, red roof, long corridors, sweeping staircases, and more than a century of history have helped make it one of America’s most recognizable supposedly haunted hotels. Its …
Sep 03
Few Halloween sights are more recognizable than a glowing jack-o’-lantern. With its carved grin, flickering light, and bright orange shell, the pumpkin lantern has become an unmistakable symbol of October 31. But the jack-o’-lantern did not begin with pumpkins—and its history is far stranger than the cheerful faces glowing on modern front porches might suggest. …
Aug 31
In the heart of Old Town San Diego stands an elegant two-story brick home with a history far darker than its graceful Greek Revival architecture might suggest. Built for businessman Thomas Whaley and his family in the 1850s, the Whaley House has served as a family residence, general store, courthouse, theater, polling place and gathering …
Aug 15
There’s something wonderfully strange about lining up for a race next to witches, skeletons, superheroes, vampires, and the occasional inflatable dinosaur. A Halloween 5K takes an ordinary 3.1-mile run or walk and transforms it into a festive fall event filled with costumes, decorations, music, treats, and plenty of spooky fun. Whether you’re chasing a personal …
Apr 25
Halloween may officially arrive on October 31, but devoted spooky-season fans know there’s no reason to wait all year to celebrate. Halfway to Halloween is the perfect excuse to bring out the pumpkins, ghost stories, horror movies, creepy treats, and costumes months ahead of schedule. Celebrated around April 30 and May 1, Halfway to Halloween …
Oct 18
Few images capture Halloween quite like a glowing orange pumpkin. Whether it wears a jagged monster grin, a friendly smile, or an elaborate carved design, the Halloween pumpkin has become one of the most recognizable symbols of October 31. Yet pumpkins were not the original jack-o’-lanterns, and the story of how they became associated with …
