The Queen Anne Hotel in San Francisco has been a fixture of the Pacific Heights neighborhood for more than 100 years. As the name reveals, this is an old Victorian styled house – a big one! Before it was the boutique hotel it is today, it was a school for girls run by headmistress Mary Lake. Mary loved the place and seems to have returned in the afterlife. She is one of the reasons many feel that this is the most haunted hotel in San Francisco. Join us for the history and hauntings of the Queen Anne Hotel. The Moment in Oddity features the Smooth Head Blobfish and This Month in History features the world’s largest floating dock.
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Tag Archives: Haunted California
We had the chance to visit San Juan Capistrano and the mission there, as well as the Los Rios Historic District in April 2025. The historic district still hosts three original adobe homes, along with quaint shops and distinctive eateries. Much of the mission is in ruins today, but the colorful gardens, swallows and beautiful interior of the Serra Chapel make this a mission not to be missed. And the main downtown of San Juan Capistrano has its bits of history alongside modern businesses. All of these areas have their ghosts. Join us for the history and hauntings of San Juan Capistrano! The Moment in Oddity features Cataphiles and This Month in History features the birth of Mary Mother Jones.
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La Purísima Mission is located in Lompoc, California. The Spanish mission once covered nearly 300,000 acres and was established to evangelize the local indigenous people known as the Chumash. The mission was successful with as many as 24,000 cattle and sheep and over 2,000 people. There was a major earthquake and the Chumash eventually revolted and the mission was abandoned. Eventually it was restored and is today a state historic park with stories of hauntings. Join us for the history and hauntings of La Purisima Mission. The Moment in Oddity features a hidden message found inside the wall of a lighthouse and This Month in History features the signing of the Danish-Icelandic Act of Union. Our location was suggested by Marisa Tull.
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The Bastille is a former jail that dates back to the Wild West and ran as a jail for nearly 70 years. The building has had many iterations after it closed as a jail. This was an art gallery, a restaurant, a bar and a nightclub. Today, it stands empty and in need of major renovations. This may or may not please the current residents of the building, the ghosts. For years, ghost stories have been told about the building. Join us as we explore the history and hauntings of the Hanford Bastille. The Moment in Oddity features a mummified clown and This Month in History features Lake Nyos exploding.
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Old Sacramento is known as Sacramento’s “Front Porch.” The entire sector is protected as a National Landmark and for good reason. Much of California’s early history is seated here. The town saw immense growth during the California Gold Rush and with that came death as well. Cholera epidemics swept through and fire and floods destroyed the place more than once. Old Sacramento had to be raised eighteen feet to prevent flooding, leaving behind underground tunnels. These tunnels are said to be filled with spirits and several of the historic buildings that still remain have unexplained activity. Join us as we explore the history and hauntings of Old Sacramento. The Moment in Oddity features the FLIP Research Vessel and This Month in History features the Cuyohoga River Fire. Our location was suggested by Brian Pertl.
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A region of California north of the San Francisco Bay Area is known as “Wine Country.” Two of the counties within this area are Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley. This section of California is known for world-class wine and food and has a beautiful countryside that wine enthusiasts get to enjoy as they drive from tasting to tasting. There are hundreds of wineries between these two counties. One would not put wine and ghosts together necessarily, but several of these wineries reputedly have some paranormal activity. Join us as we explore the history and hauntings of Wine Country. The Moment in Oddity was suggested by Mindy Hull and features Nadine Earles’ burial and This Month in History features the final episode of MASH.
https://sites.libsyn.com/58064/ep-525-haunted-wine-country
There’s no other way to describe the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego other than magnificent. The structure is unique and easily recognizable with its Queen Anne Victorian architecture and white clapboard exterior topped with red turrets. Much has been added to it through the years to modernize it, but the original 1888 hotel still dominates the scene. A beautiful stranger came to stay in 1892 and she was found dead at the hotel. And now that hotel is famously haunted by her spirit. From the hotel, one can see the Old Point Loma Lighthouse, which also is apparently haunted. Join us as we explore the history and hauntings of Hotel del Coronado. The Moment in Oddity features a gold coin treasure and This Month in History features the Lincoln penny.
https://sites.libsyn.com/58064/ep-501-hotel-del-coronado
The Glen Tavern Inn is located in Santa Paula, California and was a hotel that prospered during the California oil boom. When Prohibition was enacted, the hotel adapted as a speakeasy and brothel. People have died in the hotel and some of their spirits may still be here. A tragic flood in the city left behind spiritual residue as well. Join us as we share the history and hauntings connected to and inside of the Glen Tavern Inn! The Moment in Oddity features Queen Genepil and This Month in History features the birth of Jack Dempsey. Our location was suggested by Anna Frias.
https://sites.libsyn.com/58064/ep-491-glen-tavern-inn
The Pickfair estate was once one of the most lavish properties in Hollywood. This had been the home of old Hollywood stars Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks and was previously a hunting lodge. Pickford would be the first to talk about haunting activity in her home starting in the 1930s. Stories would continue through the years until Pia Zadora bought the property and demolished the historic mansion, claiming that the paranormal activity was getting out of hand. Join us as we explore the history and hauntings of Pickfair! The Moment in Oddity features the USS O’Bannon and This Month in History features the eruption of Mount Pinatubo. Our location was suggested by Jennifer Almond.
https://sites.libsyn.com/58064/ep-489-pickfair
History Goes Bump featured the Whaley House on an episode in 2016 and it has been on our bucket list to investigate for quite a while. We finally had the opportunity to do that in January of 2023 during a quick trip to hang out with family back in California. The Whaley House is the oldest brick structure in southern California and was built by Thomas Whaley, Jr. The home served a variety of purposes and sits on an old hanging ground, so it isn’t surprising that people claim that this is one of the most haunted houses in America. Join us as we share our investigation of the Whaley House! The Moment in Oddity features larger than life balloons and This Month in History features the birth of Andre Michelin.
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