Eight of the Most Haunted American Revolution Sites in Virginia

With its early colonial roots, Virginia boasts a rich history marked by iconic presidential figures and notable events that have shaped the country and the world. The Commonwealth’s history also includes two major wars, the American Revolution and the Civil War. 

As the site of many pivotal battles, especially during the Revolutionary War, Virginia’s soil is steeped in the echoes of conflict and loss. This turbulent chapter in history has left more than just historical landmarks; it's given rise to countless legends and ghost stories. 

Today, Virginia is home to numerous haunted sites where the past seems to linger, drawing visitors and paranormal enthusiasts eager to connect with the restless spirits of history. Visit these haunted sites from the Revolutionary War era to find out for yourself if 18th-century spirits still linger.

The Nelson House—Yorktown

The former home of Declaration of Independence signer and Revolutionary War hero Thomas Nelson, Jr., the Nelson House is said to be haunted by spirits connected to the home as well as the war. 

When the British occupied Yorktown, the patriot forces fiercely fought them to reclaim their homes. Local legend says that a cannonball fired by these troops penetrated a secret staircase within the house where a young British soldier was hiding, killing him instantly and resulting in his spirit being trapped forever in the home. 

This is not the only tragic occurrence to happen at the Nelson House. It remained occupied as a residence until the early 20th century and was used during the Civil War to house injured and dying soldiers. Their spirits are also said to roam the corridors of this historic property.

Explore More: As the American Revolution effectively ended in Yorktown with Cornwallis’s surrender, there are many more locations in the area that are said to be haunted by the spirits of both patriot and British forces. Get tickets for the Yorktown Ghost Walks tours to learn more about the spookiest spots in this coastal Virginia town. 

Rosewell Ruins—Gloucester

Gloucester’s Rosewell Ruins are widely regarded as one of the region’s most haunted sites. Built between 1725 and 1738, a three-story mansion once stood at the center of 3,000-acre Rosewell Plantation, but after a massive fire, the mansion was reduced to charred ruins. 

Originally the home of the Page family, who were deeply involved with the transatlantic slave trade beginning in the 1670s, Rosewell housed dozens of enslaved people from colonial times to the end of the Civil War. In addition to members of the Page family, many of the enslaved individuals were buried on the property, and their spirits remained even as their burial sites were forgotten. 

There are rumors of phantom parties and strange lights at the Rosewell Ruins. Echoes of the estate’s centuries-long past linger in ghostly music and apparitions of lantern-bearing men guiding invisible guests through the ruins, as well as a spectral woman descending the steps of the long-gone front entrance. 

Today, the Rosewell Ruins in Gloucester are regularly open to visitors, and many have experienced strange things, from feeling sudden drops in temperature to hearing disembodied voices.

Surrender Field—Yorktown

There have been numerous reports of unexplained phenomena, including spectral soldiers, cannon fire, and disembodied voices, at Surrender Field in Yorktown. This is the site where British forces officially surrendered to the Continental Army, marking the end of the war. 

During the ceremony, the British band played the melancholy tune “The World Turned Upside Down,” a symbolic choice for a defeated empire. Tourists visiting in modern times have reported hearing that very song drifting through the air, sometimes for hours at a time, even when no musicians are present.

Among the apparitions spotted, one ghost is believed to be John Parke Custis, George Washington’s troubled stepson. Known as Jacky, he had a reputation for being privileged, impulsive, and unreliable. Hoping to earn his stepfather’s respect, Jacky joined the Continental Army during the final campaign at Yorktown. The reality of the brutal conditions came as a shock to Jacky, and surrounded by war, disease, and bloodshed, he fell gravely ill and died at just 28 years old. 

Visitors to Surrender Field claim to see a frantic figure running through the fields and hear a man’s voice calling out for guidance—echoes, perhaps, of Jacky Custis, still seeking to prove himself to the stepfather whose respect he craved.

Bruton Parish Church—Williamsburg

Colonial Williamsburg, one of Virginia’s most iconic historic sites, is also known for its chilling paranormal activity. Bruton Parish Church is a perfect example of this haunted lore. Built in 1674, the church sits beside a centuries-old graveyard, where the oldest legible tombstone dates to 1678. 

Among the many eerie tales tied to this area, one of the most unsettling involves a colonial-era reverend and his ill-fated first wife. When complications during childbirth doomed her to an early grave, the reverend vowed eternal love and asked her to wait for him in the afterlife. She was buried in the churchyard — but that wasn't the end of her story.

Just three months later, Reverend Jones returned with a newly carved tombstone for her grave — and with a new wife by his side. Soon after, witnesses began reporting sightings of his first wife’s ghost, appearing in the church pews and wandering the graveyard as if unaware of her own death. Mournful cries and the sound of an organ playing late at night have been heard drifting from the church. 

In a final twist, Reverend Jones arranged for his second wife to be buried between himself and his first wife. To this day, all three remain interred in the Bruton Parish Church graveyard, forever bound by love, betrayal, and lingering unrest.

Kenmore—Fredericksburg 

Built in the 1770s, Kenmore is the only remaining structure of the original Kenmore Plantation. It was the home of George Washington’s younger sister, Betty Washington Lewis, and her husband, Colonel Fielding Lewis. 

Local legend says that ever since Colonel Lewis died in the 1780s, his spirit has never left Kenmore. He is reportedly seen in the upstairs bedroom, dressed in Revolutionary‑era attire and poring over financial papers as if still fretting over his debts. Witnesses also say they hear footsteps, catch whispers, and even find doorknobs being turned when no one is there. 

The former plantation house now operates as a museum, open for tours almost every day.

Cornwallis' Cave—Yorktown

Tucked along the banks of the York River lies Cornwallis’ Cave, the site of one of Virginia’s most interesting Revolutionary War-era rumors. Though reports are unconfirmed, the cave is believed to have sheltered either British troops or Yorktown citizens during the relentless artillery bombardment leading up to the British surrender in 1781. Later repurposed by Union forces during the Civil War, the cave’s dark recesses have absorbed centuries of conflict, secrecy, and whispered lore. 

Cornwallis’ Cave has been sealed off to visitors due to safety concerns, but that hasn’t stopped peculiar phenomena from stirring. Locals report eerie whispers, ghostly moans, and even the unsettling sound of reverberating chants echoing from within. This haunted hollow stands as a grim echo of the horrific events that unfolded in Yorktown during the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, marking the strange collision between history and the supernatural.

Historic St. John’s Church—Richmond

St. John’s Church in Richmond’s historic Church Hill neighborhood is best known as the site where Patrick Henry delivered his iconic “Give me liberty, or give me death!” speech in 1775, sparking revolutionary fervor throughout the colonies. But beyond its vital place in American history, this 18th-century church is also one of Virginia’s most quietly haunted Revolutionary War-era landmarks. 

Visitors and staff alike have reported unexplained experiences within its centuries-old walls, such as phantom footsteps, disembodied voices, and the chilling sight of a tall, shadowy figure in colonial dress believed to be the ghost of Patrick Henry himself. Most often seen near the pulpit where he once rallied his fellow patriots, the figure is said to appear and vanish without a sound, as though caught between the past and present.

Although Patrick Henry is buried elsewhere, his presence is felt strongly here, particularly in the churchyard cemetery, where Revolutionary War soldiers lie beneath weathered stones. Some visitors walking among the graves report sudden cold spots, strange light anomalies, or the sensation of being watched. Inside the church, muffled conversations have been heard in empty rooms, and faint echoes of an impassioned speech too distorted to understand have sent chills down the spines of even the most skeptical guests. 

Whether it's Henry’s enduring spirit or the lingering energy of a moment that helped shape a nation, St. John’s Church remains a powerful and haunting reminder that some voices from the past refuse to be silenced.

Ambler Mansion—Jamestown

The haunting ruins of the Ambler Mansion are steeped in centuries of tragedy, loss, and ghostly legend. Built around 1750 by Richard Ambler, a wealthy merchant who married into the prestigious Jaquelin family, the once-grand Georgian-style home bore witness to the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and three devastating fires, which left it in ruins. 

But it's not just history that draws visitors today. The spectral presence of Lady Lydia Ambler, whose tragic story echoes through the crumbling foundations, brings visitors looking to experience the supernatural side of the historic site. After marrying Alexander Ambler in 1776, Lydia was left behind as he went to war. When no word came, her grief turned to suspicion and rage as she believed she'd been abandoned. Her despair led to her death by suicide, and legend holds that her anguished spirit has never left.

Visitors to the Ambler Mansion ruins often report a heavy emotional presence, including feelings of sorrow, fury, and dread that seem to radiate from the site itself. Some claim to have seen swirling mists or flickering lights among the ruins, while others have encountered the apparition of Lydia herself, walking toward the James River in what may be a replay of her final moments. 

Adding to the mansion’s eerie atmosphere is the unsettling discovery that it was built atop a Colonial-era mass grave, possibly contributing to the layers of eerie energy tied to the land. Now maintained by the National Park Service, the ruins stand as a haunting reminder of Jamestown’s turbulent past and the ghost who still waits for answers.

While Halloween is a great time to explore these reportedly haunted historic sites, they are open year-round, and the paranormal occurrences are not limited to the spooky season. Not scared yet? Virginia's haunted history extends beyond the Revolutionary War. Check out 12 more haunted sites with true ghost stories.