Famous Ghost Photos and the Stories Behind Them
Across decades, countless photographs have claimed to capture spectral figures. Are these images genuine, or clever fakes? Viewers decide for themselves.
The Brown Lady of Raynham Hall: Raynham Hall in England is home to the ghost known as the Brown Lady, a figure associated with Lady Dorothy Townshend who reportedly died in 1726 and may have endured years of confinement by her husband within the mansion before her final passing. A photograph taken in 1936 shows what appears to be her spirit descending a staircase. The image has sparked ongoing controversy. Some say it was faked, while others insist it is authentic. Regardless, it remains one of the most widely circulated images claimed to depict a ghost.
The Traveling Ghost: This is another famous ghost picture. A woman photographed her husband in their car shortly after her mother’s funeral. In the backseat, what appear to be glowing eyes and a silhouette suggest a figure believed to be the recently deceased mother, ready to accompany the family home.
Dead Man’s Float: The SS Watertown was on a voyage to New York in December 1924 when two crew members died. The bodies were said to be buried at sea, yet their floating faces and figures seemed to accompany the ship on the voyage home, captured in photographs taken by the captain.
The Church: A warped image of a ghostly monk appeared in a photo taken by the church vicar in the 1960s. He had gone to snap an altar scene, not a haunting, but the image revealed a spectral monk. Tests have been cited as not proving forgery, though skepticism remains.
The Tulip Staircase: A 1966 photograph taken at the National Maritime Museum in England shows a hooded figure ascending the rail. No unusual activity was visible to the eye at the time, and the apparition emerged only after the photo was developed. The image sparked enduring debate among enthusiasts and skeptics alike.
The Burning Building: The Wem Town Hall in Shropshire, England, features the ghost of a young girl believed to be tied to a fire that destroyed the building in years past. The figure has drawn visitors and investigators who seek to understand the events surrounding the tragedy.
The Madonna of Bachelor’s Grove: Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery near Chicago is widely regarded as haunted. In 1991, a ghost researcher captured a photo showing a young woman seated on a tombstone, an image not visible at the moment the picture was taken, according to the photographer.
The Auto Accident: In one photograph of a wrecked car, a figure stands among the debris. Some viewers interpret the figure as an angel stepping in to spare the people inside, while others see merely a trick of light and memory.
The Toy Store: At a Toys R Us store in Sunnyvale, California, toys appear to fall from shelves and packages open on their own. A spirit believed to have died in that location years ago is said to linger, with witnesses noting a figure leaning against a wall as employees watch.
The Little Girl: A photo taken at the New York house associated with the Amityville murders appears to show the spirit of a young victim near the scene, a figure not seen by the naked eye at the moment the shot was made, according to the photographer.