Granary Burying Ground
Founded in 1660, the Granary Burying Ground is the third oldest burying ground in Boston. During the Revolution, the area where the Park Street Church now stands had been used to hold grain, which is the reason for the burying ground’s name. Located on Tremont Street, the following famous individuals are buried in the Granary Burying Grounds: Peter Faneuil, Sam Adams, Crispus Attacks, John Hancock, James Otis, Robert Treat Paine, Paul Revere, and members of Ben Franklin’s family.
Haunted Guide to Granary Burying Ground
What Makes the Granary Burying Ground One of Boston’s Most Haunting Places?
Right in Downtown Boston stands the Granary Burying Ground, one of the oldest cemeteries in America. It sits quietly along Tremont Street, surrounded by tall buildings and the steady sound of the city. Inside its gates, the noise fades, replaced by the creak of trees and the crunch of gravel underfoot. The small cemetery holds thousands of graves, some dating back to the 1600s, and it has become one of the most well-known stops for anyone exploring the Freedom Trail.
Visitors come to honor Boston’s early patriots, but many also come for its eerie reputation. Strange flickers of light, cold spots, and whispers have been reported for decades. These stories have turned the Granary Burying Ground into one of the most popular highlights on Boston ghost tours, where guides tell tales of both history and mystery woven into the same ground.
How Did the Granary Burying Ground Become a Part of Boston’s History?
The Granary Burying Ground was founded in 1660, making it one of the earliest established cemeteries in the city. It was named after a grain storage building that once stood beside it, serving the early residents of Colonial Boston. The cemetery quickly became a major burial place for local families, merchants, and ministers. Over the next two centuries, more than 5,000 people were laid to rest here, each representing a piece of the city’s long and often difficult past.
The carved headstones are works of early New England art, filled with skulls, wings, and hourglasses that symbolize mortality and time. Preservation efforts continue to protect these fragile stones, which have survived Boston winters and centuries of visitors. Standing among them, it’s easy to see how the Granary Burying Ground connects the modern city to its Colonial roots. The site remains one of Boston’s most meaningful historic landmarks and one that still holds an unmistakable sense of presence.
Who Is Buried in the Granary Burying Ground?
The Granary Burying Ground is the resting place of some of America’s most recognized historical figures. Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Paul Revere are buried here, and visitors often stop to leave coins or flags by their markers. Their graves draw people from around the world who want to stand where these leaders were laid to rest.
The cemetery also holds a memorial for the victims of the Boston Massacre, one of the most defining moments of the Revolution. The Franklin family tomb marks where Benjamin Franklin’s parents are buried, and the site includes several early governors, ministers, and merchants whose names appear throughout early Boston records. Every visit to the Granary Burying Ground feels like a walk through pages of history, where every headstone tells a story that helped shape the city.
Boston ghost tours often feature this site for both its historical importance and the quiet, unsettling energy that seems to surround it. Even in daylight, many visitors describe feeling that something about this small cemetery refuses to fade from memory.
Why Do People Believe the Granary Burying Ground Is Haunted?
Visitors have described strange and unsettling moments at the Granary Burying Ground for more than a hundred years. Some believe the spirits of Boston’s early residents have never fully left the grounds. Because of its long history and deep ties to events that shaped the city, many people think the energy here has simply grown stronger with time.
One of the most famous ghost stories involves James Otis Jr., a lawyer and political writer who played a key role in sparking revolutionary ideas before the war for independence. After suffering years of hardship and declining health, he was killed instantly by a lightning strike in 1783. Since then, many visitors have reported seeing a tall man in Colonial clothing standing near his grave, sometimes walking between the rows before vanishing.
Other mysterious events continue to draw attention to the Granary Burying Ground. Visitors have captured glowing orbs in photographs and heard faint voices near the old elm trees that border the site. Paranormal investigators often bring cameras and sensors, hoping to detect sudden drops in temperature or unusual readings that might point to unseen presences. Some locals believe these disturbances come from the unrest of early patriots or the victims of the Boston Massacre whose remains lie nearby.
The atmosphere at the cemetery changes with the time of day. In the early morning, it feels calm and reflective, but after sundown, many describe a sense of being watched. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, standing among the tilted stones of the Granary Burying Ground offers a powerful reminder of how much history still lingers in Boston’s oldest corners.
What Happens When You Visit the Granary Burying Ground on Boston Ghost Tours?
At night, the Granary Burying Ground becomes one of the most haunting places in Boston. The stone markers cast long shadows across the uneven ground, and the glow from nearby streetlights creates a soft haze over the site. Joining one of the many Boston ghost tours is the safest and most fascinating way to experience this eerie setting after dark.
Guided tours bring the cemetery’s stories to life. Experienced hosts recount the history of the site, share eyewitness accounts of strange activity, and explain the significance of its most famous graves. These tours often include background on Boston’s early days, describing how the city’s mix of faith, fear, and folklore created a lasting fascination with the supernatural.
Many guests say that hearing these tales while standing only a few feet from the graves themselves changes the way they think about history. Some report chills or flickering lights near the Franklin family tomb, while others describe feeling an invisible tug on their clothing. Boston ghost tours highlight these moments, blending storytelling with firsthand experiences that make each visit unique.
For travelers interested in exploring beyond the surface, these tours are more than an evening activity. They are an opportunity to stand in one of the oldest burial grounds in the country and sense the weight of time that still hangs in the air.
What Role Does the Granary Burying Ground Play in Boston’s Haunted Legacy?
The Granary Burying Ground is not only one of the most haunted sites in Boston but also a centerpiece of the city’s larger ghostly reputation. Alongside other historic cemeteries like King’s Chapel and Copp’s Hill, it forms part of what locals sometimes call “the triangle of unrest.” Together, these places connect directly to Boston’s earliest struggles, from epidemics to revolutions.
Generations of storytellers, historians, and spiritualists have kept the legends of these grounds alive. In the 1800s, writers published accounts of candlelight seen flickering through the iron gates long after midnight. In the 1900s, newspapers occasionally printed reports of tourists fainting or feeling overcome with emotion after entering the site. Today, those stories continue to spread through Boston ghost tours, where guides recount the centuries of mystery that surround the cemetery.
Because of its mix of fact and folklore, the Granary Burying Ground has become a symbol of how Boston blends its proud history with its darker, more mysterious side. It serves as a bridge between the living and the past, reminding visitors that even in a city filled with modern life, echoes of its earliest residents still seem to whisper from the stones.
Why Does the Granary Burying Ground Continue to Fascinate Visitors?
The Granary Burying Ground remains one of Boston’s most remarkable landmarks, both for its historical importance and its haunting reputation. Thousands of people visit every year to pay tribute to the figures who shaped America’s independence and to feel the quiet, lingering energy that fills the site.
Every headstone tells a story of courage, loss, and legacy. The worn carvings and crooked rows remind visitors that time moves forward, but memory endures. Whether explored under bright daylight or by lantern light on Boston ghost tours, the cemetery continues to inspire awe and curiosity. Its mix of real history and supernatural mystery makes it one of the most unforgettable places in the city.
FAQs
Is the Granary Burying Ground really haunted?
Many locals and visitors believe the Granary Burying Ground is one of the most haunted places in Boston. Reports include ghostly figures, sudden drops in temperature, flickering lights, and the sound of footsteps when no one is nearby. Paranormal researchers have recorded electronic voice phenomena and unexplained shadows across the grounds. Boston ghost tours often feature these accounts, allowing guests to experience the same eerie atmosphere that has fascinated investigators for decades. Whether these stories are true or simply born from imagination, they continue to keep the site’s mysterious reputation alive.
How can I visit the Granary Burying Ground at night?
The Granary Burying Ground closes to the public at dusk, but the Ghosts & Gravestones® Frightseeing® Tour is the only tour allowed inside after dark. Guests can explore the grounds by lantern light as knowledgeable guides share ghostly tales and the fascinating history behind the graves within. Other Boston ghost tours may pause outside the gates to share stories, but only Ghosts & Gravestones offers the rare chance to step inside and experience the site firsthand. The tour blends history, storytelling, and local legend, giving guests a safe and unforgettable way to see the Granary Burying Ground after dark.
Who is buried in the Granary Burying Ground?
The Granary Burying Ground is home to many of Boston’s most influential figures. Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Paul Revere all rest here, along with victims of the Boston Massacre and the family of Benjamin Franklin. Several early governors and prominent ministers are also buried among the thousands of graves. The cemetery captures more than two centuries of Boston’s past and stands as a centerpiece of both the Freedom Trail and Boston ghost tours. Visitors who come to honor these names often find themselves moved by the atmosphere of reverence that still surrounds the site.
What paranormal activity has been reported at the Granary Burying Ground?
Over the years, the Granary Burying Ground has been linked to hundreds of reported encounters. Guests describe hearing faint hymns or whispers, seeing lights that drift between the stones, and feeling unexplained cold currents near certain graves. The most frequent sightings involve James Otis Jr., the lawyer struck by lightning whose restless spirit is said to walk the paths at night. During Boston ghost tours, like Ghosts & Gravestones, guides often mention that paranormal devices used by investigators tend to react most strongly near his resting place. Even skeptics admit there is something about the cemetery that feels heavy with memory.
Why is the Granary Burying Ground important to Boston’s ghost stories?
The Granary Burying Ground sits at the heart of the city’s haunted history. It connects the courage of the Revolution with the lingering mysteries of the past. Because so many major events and figures are tied to this small plot of land, it has become a cornerstone of Boston ghost tours. The cemetery’s mix of historic fact and unexplained legend captures what makes Boston’s ghost stories so powerful.
