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Do you want to hear about astonishing ghosts in St. Paul? The St. Paul Ghost Tour leads you through ten intriguing locations along Summit Avenue, a historic street known for hosting the longest stretch of Victorian homes in the United States. While not every house is haunted, many hold captivating stories and mysterious histories waiting to be uncovered behind their curtains. Ready to explore the spooky and fascinating side of this beautiful neighborhood? Let’s check it out!
Many believe that the ghosts of children still linger around this old fountain, creating an eerie yet touching atmosphere. In the past, children would gather and play near the fountain, a lively spot filled with laughter and joy. The statue depicts a Native American and his dog. The neighborhood children loved to play here.
However, before the advent of vaccines and modern medicine, diseases that are now easily prevented or eliminated took the lives of many, including some of those young ones. Legend has it that their spirits return at night, continuing to play around the fountain just as they did in life—a haunting reminder of the past and a poignant glimpse into history.
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By the way, here’s the link to another post about hauntings in Atchison, KS. The town claims to be the most haunted in Kansas, with numerous reported haunted locations. (I’ll include the link again at the end, so don’t go there now. I just wanted you to know about other haunted places!)
The ghost tour begins
Let’s dive into the tour experience. Our guide began by asking if anyone had personal encounters with hauntings. One attendee shared a chilling story about her childhood home, which she believed was haunted—though no one else in her family admitted to seeing ghosts. She recalled one particular incident when a friend stayed over and went to take a shower. Upon entering the bathroom, the friend found all the clothes from the hamper mysteriously piled in front of the heat vent. The friend confessed, “Every time I’m in this bathroom, I feel like I’m being watched!” Initially skeptical, the woman’s mother only became convinced after she herself encountered a ghost while visiting a friend’s house.
If you’re intrigued by these kinds of stories, be sure to check out this link to learn more about the astonishing ghosts of St. Paul before booking your own tour.
Our guide emphasized that every story shared on the tour came directly from people who had experienced these supernatural events firsthand. Along the way, she also gave us a brief history of Summit Avenue, explaining how it became a wealthy neighborhood. The Great Depression hit many homeowners hard, but by the 1960s, a wave of restoration efforts began, preserving the stunning Victorian homes that line the street today.
What makes the tour even more captivating is the way the guides bring Summit Avenue’s history to life, blending eerie tales with fascinating facts. They also carry lanterns—not just to add to the atmosphere but to ensure everyone’s safety while crossing streets, making the entire experience both thrilling and secure. Whether you’re a believer in the paranormal or simply love history, this tour offers a unique way to explore one of St. Paul’s most iconic neighborhoods
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Haunted Houses with the Astonishing ghosts in St. Paul!
The tour starts here. Too bad it wasn’t raining with a thunderous lightning storm! The dark, along with the flashes of lightning, would be a perfect introduction!
Our tour guide gave us the full story about the Forepaugh Second Mansion.
Mr. Joseph Forepaugh moved from Pennsylvania and quickly became wealthy. He married and had five children. Molly, the maid, helped keep the household running smoothly.
The initial ghost is Molly, a maid for the Forepaugh’s who had an affair with Mr. Forepaugh. When Mrs. Forepaugh found out, she gave him an ultimatum. He chose to remain with his wife, and Molly killed herself by hanging from the third-floor balcony.
Joseph fell into a deep depression and eventually shot himself. You’ll have to take the tour for the whole story. Now, Joseph’s ghost also roams the mansion. Reports of both Molly and Joseph appearing continue to this day. The house now contains apartments, and residents report on these wanderings. They report that Molly and Joseph seem happy to be spending time together!
The Stewart House
The Stewart House stands next door to the Forepaugh House. It holds the distinction of being the oldest house on Summit Avenue. David Stewart, who amassed a considerable fortune, unfortunately passed away before he could ever move in. After his death, his widow and children made this impressive home their residence. The house boasts 10,000 square feet of space, including nine bedrooms, thirteen bathrooms, and several additional living areas.
Prominent members of the St. Paul Society lived here. During the 1800s, even President Grover Cleveland visited the house! In the 1900s, an elementary school took over.
The hauntings go back to the Stewart family. Mary, his wife, became obsessed with the occult after David died. She spent much of her inheritance on ways to summon her deceased husband back to the living world. The story continues that she successfully brought back his spirit, which is now chained in the wood and mortar of the house. The school children there in the mid-1900s reportedly experienced a spirit rubbing against them as it passed.
Is this one of the astonishing ghosts in St. Paul?
Although this is in Cochrane Park, like the pond above, it’s another ghost story.
This is a statue of Nathan Hale, a Connecticut-born American patriot. Hanged at the age of 21 for spying for the Americans against the British, his last words survive history. “I only regret that I have one life to give for my country.”
The Daughters of the American Revolution placed it here.
People report a sense of being watched. Some of them who have “no good” on their mind don’t like it. Others just passing by feel a sense of safety because the ghost of Nathan Hale wanders the area, serving as a lookout and protecting the neighborhood.
The tour continues, featuring a statue of a woman, Nina Clifford, who built a brothel and amassed a fortune, as the police often looked the other way. She opened a “chain” of brothels with at least six sex workers in each. She stood up as a wealthy woman, and her spirit lives along this street, watching over her business!
Another ghost story
This house has another ghost story. You can take the tour to learn all about it. Part of the story is that the side window above, as shown in the picture on the right, is always open. When anyone closes the window, it mysteriously opens again as soon as no one is watching! The house has a reputation as being the most haunted house in Minnesota. I can’t tell you more! We need some mystery for the tour, right? Take the tour!
As we approach the end of the tour, you’ll see another house where a Minnesota author once lived. It’s called the Lemon Meringue House because of the color. The story continues that he hid an incomplete manuscript that revealed secrets about the St. Paul elite that they would not want published. When someone enters the house to search for the manuscript, they are mysteriously held back by forces that seem to scratch at them and make what sounds like voices in their head. Anyone entering the mansion for any other reason has none of the same effects. The author grew up in “small-town” Minnesota, and you’ll learn more about him on the tour.
F. Scott Fitzgerald
The last stop on the tour is the F. Scott Fitzgerald row house. F. Scott Fitzgerald was born in St. Paul and split time between here and New York. In 1908, his parents moved back to St. Paul and lived here. He returned to this area in 1919 after attending Princeton University and serving in the Army during World War I.
His parents lived at 599 Summit. He lived with them for a while as he rewrote his first novel, This Side of Paradise, for its eventual publication. The book became a cultural sensation, cementing his reputation as one of the eminent writers of the decade. After his success, he returned to New York and then spent some time in New Orleans. He eventually settled in Los Angeles. He died in 1940 at age 44 from an “excessive” lifestyle.
F. Scott Fitzgerald may be said to haunt the house, but it’s more famously known for a mysterious Marfa Light, named after a strange phenomenon first spotted near Marfa, Texas. Unexplained green lights flicker on and off, seemingly moving throughout the house. These lights represent scenes from The Great Gatsby. In the novel, Gatsby’s love, Daisy, is married to someone else, and every night Gatsby gazes across the bay at her dock marked by a green light, longing for her. But how much of this story is actually true?
Ultimately, the truth behind these tales remains uncertain. Still, the tour shares many fascinating stories, all recounted by people who claim to have witnessed these eerie events firsthand.
Final thoughts on the tour
Take this tour to discover the astonishing ghosts of St. Paul. US Ghost Tours offers this tour every night with only a few exceptions for holidays and extreme weather. Here’s the link to this tour: https://usghostadventures.com/st-paul-ghost-tour/
When traveling to other parts of the US, consider checking out ghost tours in various cities. US Ghost Tours offers tours in nearly 200 locations! Here’s another haunted place I visited. It’s in Atchison, KS. Link here.
Why is this heading here?
Here’s yet another link to this location coming from a “Lizzie Borden” link. US Ghost Tours owns the Lizzie Borden location in Fall River, MA. https://lizzie-borden.com/ghost-tours/st-paul/
I visited the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast a few years ago. Here’s a link to that post if you want more information about what Lizzie Borden “supposedly” did!
Classic Rock Recollection
“Haunted House” by Jumpin’ Gene Simmons
I just moved in my new house today
Movin’ was hard but I got squared away
Bells started ringin’ and chains rattled loud
I knew I’d moved in a haunted house
Written by: Bob Geddins
(Note: This is not the Gene Simmons in the band KISS.)
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