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The Stanley Hotel - Estes Park, Colorado

Image: Fern M. Lomibao

The majestic Rocky Mountains of Colorado, surrounded by towering peaks and crisp mountain air already set a specific scenario, don’t they? Now, in that already eerie landscape emerges The Stanley Hotel . If the name doesn’t ring a bell already, you can probably recognize it as the one in the novel-based movie "The Shining." But let us tell you, the real-life tales of this place are even more hair-raising than anything King could dream up.

Built by F.O. Stanley, a man with a penchant for the paranormal, the Stanley Hotel is dripping with history and intrigue.

Only a few steps inside it and you’ll feel it, an otherworldly vibe that sends shivers down your spine . Some say it’s the owner’s ghost lingering around. Others swear they’ve encountered apparitions wandering the corridors, lost souls searching for peace. Whatever it is, only the boldest souls will dare to find out, are you one of those?

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Eastern State Penitentiary - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Image: Lance Anderson

Philadelphia is full of spots that witnessed the history of the country’s Independence. Amidst the cobblestone alleyways and colonial charm lies a place shrouded in darkness: Eastern State Penitentiary.

Once hailed as a revolutionary institution for its innovative approach to incineration, the Eastern State now stands as a crumbling relic of the past. But don’t let its dilapidated facade fool you, this place is teeming with ghostly energy.

Step through the iron gates, and you’ll feel it immediately, a sense of unease you can’t just shake. They say the spirits of former inmates still haunt these crumbling halls , trapped between this world and the next.

Eastern State Penitentiary is a playground for the paranormal enthusiast. But beware, for not all who enter emerge unscathed. Are you brave enough to confront the ghosts of the Eastern State? Yours is the choice!

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The Myrtles Plantation - St. Francisville, Louisiana

Image: David Hertle

In the heart of the south, you will find sprawling plantations and moss-draped oak trees. It is a picture-perfect scene straight out of a Southern Gothic novel. But, within the beauty lies a dark secret: The Myrtles Plantation.

At plain sight, this place seems like something out of a fairytale , it has stately columns and picturesque gardens. But that is not all, this place has a sinister side as well and the feeling you are not alone is always there.

But perhaps the most chilling part of all is the infamous "mirror room," where the spirits of the dead are said to be trapped for all eternity . If you are craving a taste of Southern hospitality with a side of spine-tingling thrills, the Myrtles Plantation awaits.

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The Queen Mary - Long Beach, California

Image: Bradley Pisney

The history behind RMS Queen Mary takes different turns, from luxurious to creepy in just one lifetime. Initially, this ship served in the war, and it later transitioned to its opulent role, welcoming esteemed passengers across the vast seas. This first part of its story is not free of tragedy and mystery. For example, one incident involves a sailor who met his end crushed by a door in the engine room , while others recount the loss of children in the ship’s pool.

As of 1967, the Queen Mary belongs to Long Beach which acquired it and transformed it into a hotel that continues to charm guests to this da y. Yet, along with its hospitality, the ship harbors whispers of spectral inhabitants, ghostly remnants of its tumultuous past.

However, they have used it to its favor since the ship offers a visit and guided tours to explore the place around, ghosts and everything!

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Alcatraz Island - San Francisco, California

Image: Rodrigo Soares

The San Francisco Bay, the iconic Golden Bridge, PIER 39, San Francisco is filled with marvelous places to visit . Just as marvelous is the fact that one of the scariest spots, not to mention haunted, is located there as well. Just the name is creepy enough, don’t you think so?

Alcatraz was once the prison where America’s most notorious criminals were sent. And, today, it is home to a thousand ghostly anecdotes. According to them, Alcatraz is haunted by the ghosts of its former inmates, who weren’t necessarily meek as lambs!

The curious thing is that it’s not just the prisoners who refuse to leave, or at least that’s what one can assume. Visitors and park rangers alike have reported eerie encounters with unexplained phenomena, especially inexplicable sounds echoing through the empty corridors.

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The Whaley House - San Diego, California

Image: Phil Hearing

In 1857, against the backdrop of San Diego’s burgeoning landscape, Thomas Whaley built up his family house on the historic ground of the city’s original public gallows. Now, legend has it that as soon as they settled into their new abode, Whaley began to experience mysterious phenomena , to say the least. He reported hearing the echoing footsteps of "Yankee" Jim Robinson, a notorious drifter, who met his end at the very site four years prior to the construction of the house.

However, the haunting tales did not cease with Robinson’s spectral presence. Tragedy seemed to shadow the Whaley family, with a series of untimely deaths and suicides befalling several members of the family inside the house. To this day, whispers persist of apparitions roaming the halls, often accompanied by the unmistakable scent of cigar smoke and heavy perfume.

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San Fernando Cathedral - San Antonio, Texas

Image: Priscilla Fraire

San Fernando Cathedral stands as the oldest church in the state, it hosts the unique El Mariachi Mass every Sunday. Its Gothic Revival architecture is a sight to behold. However, as darkness falls, the atmosphere around it takes on a creepy aura and only the bravest souls are willing to venture onto its myth-laden grounds.

In 1936, during structural renovations, construction workers made a chilling discovery near the altar: bones, nails, and tattered military uniforms, believed by some to have belonged to three soldiers of the Alamo.

Since the unsettling event, reports of shadowy futures and orbs appearing in photographs have circulated among visitors, along with sightings of ghosts within the church itself. Among these spectral sightings are accounts of mysterious men dressed in black and hooded figures reminiscent of monks, adding to the cathedral’s mystique.

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Sheffield Island Lighthouse - Norwalk, Connecticut

Image: Randy Laybourne

This lighthouse was erected in 1868 and it served as a beacon for ships navigating the waters to reach Sheffield Island , a mere 45-minute ferry journey from South Norwalk. This historic landmark harbors a somber history.

In 1972, tragedy struck when the lighthouse’s original keeper passed away under mysterious circumstances while scanning the horizon with a spyglass, his demise shrouded in unanswered questions. Nearly two decades later, in 1991, an archaeologist conducting preservation work on the site uncovered unsettling occurrences. Eerie melodies, distant pleas for assistance, and the unmistakable sound of a foghorn.

Legend has it these phenomena are attributed to the relentless spirit of Captain Robert Sheffield, the enigmatic figure who acquired the islands in the early 1800s and reputedly possessed a penchant for peculiar musical instruments, adding an aura of mystique to this maritime marvel.

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Winchester Mystery House - San Jose, California

Image: Kelly Zhang

The Winchester Mystery House stands as a testament to Sarah Winchester's unique response to tragedy. After losing her husband and child, Sarah was convinced by a seer that her family's demise was orchestrated by vengeful spirits seeking retribution for deaths caused by Winchester rifles.

Intending to keep these spirits at bay, she embarked on an elaborate construction project that resulted in the eerie mansion known today . Among its unsettling features are staircases leading to nowhere, doors opening onto solid walls, and windows revealing hidden passages, all perpetuating the house's mystique and intrigue.

Exploring this enigmatic abode offers a glimpse into Sarah Winchester's profound grief and her quest for solace among the paranormal.

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Emily’s Bridge - Stowe, Vermont

Image: Xiaocong Yan

In picturesque Stowe, Vermont, located among the charming covered bridges that dot New England’s landscape, there is one that harbors a chilling tale: Emily’s Bridge.

It is only 50 feet long, but this bridge has become synonymous with a tragic legend dating back to the mid-1800s.

As the story goes, a young woman named Emily was meant to rendezvous with her lover there for an elopement, but he never arrived . Devastated Emily took her own life, by hanging herself from the rafters. Yet, her spirit is said to linger, casting a sinister presence over the bridge. Locals tell Emily’s ghost allegedly torments passersby by clawing at their cars and leaving behind scary scratches.

Among the tales of spectral hauntings, sightings of a ghostly figure in white and inexplicable sounds echoing from the tunnel only add to the bridge’s macabre mystique.

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Rotary telephones

Rotary telephones became common in America around the 1920s. In contrast to the push-button models that would come about in the 1970s, rotary telephones required a bit more work to dial a number. As the name suggests, users would have to place a finger in a numbered hole on the dial and then rotate it to a metal stop and release it — repeating this process with each number.

Dialing a long number could take quite some time , especially if you had many 9s and 0s, because these required the dial to travel the longest distance. It was normal to see these phones connected to the wall by a cord with a sturdy handset that rested on top of the base. Making a phone call was a completely different experience.

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Tube television (CRT TVs)

When you see how thin and sleek TVs are nowadays, it’s almost impossible to imagine them as massive and heavy objects. CRT TVs became common after World War II , and the ownership boom happened throughout the 1950s.

These bulky cubes became the centerpiece of the typical family’s living room , where they gathered to watch TV. At first, images were black and white until the 1960s and 1970s, when color television would transform the viewing experience. Early televisions also didn’t have remote controls (something we now take for granted), so viewers would have to walk across the room to change channels or adjust the volume.

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VCRs

It’s almost strange to remember that there was a time when people couldn’t watch movies at will, and their main choices were to wait until they aired on television or to buy theatre tickets. But this changed with the 1977 introduction of the VHS (Video Home System) players, aka VCRs, which revolutionized the way folks watched movies. The rise of VHS led to the explosion of video rental stores (such as the once-ubiquitous Blockbuster chain), which became a staple during the 1980s and 1990s.

Before returning a rented movie or in order to rewatch it, users had to rewind the tape , and many rental stores charged an extra fee if the tapes weren’t rewound. VCRs were later phased out after the rise of the DVD player.

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Cassette Tapes and Cassette Players

Philips changed the world in 1963 when it released the compact cassette player, which became one of the most popular ways to listen to music from the 1970s through the 1990s . Cassette tapes made music portable, and suddenly people could listen to their favorite albums in the car or on a walk once Walkmans were introduced in 1979.

There are so many memories attached to cassette tapes, but homemade mixtapes are worth highlighting. This made it possible for listeners to create their own custom playlists on a cassette to share with friends and family, and making someone a mixtape was considered a very thoughtful and personal gift.

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Telephone Directories

What would you do today if you wanted to find phone numbers, addresses, and local businesses? Probably Google. But not so long ago, you had to resort to The Yellow Pages. We all remember the large, thousand-page phone book; every family needed one if they wanted to be connected to the world. In some ways, phone books were the internet before the internet.

They included everything from residential phone numbers listed alphabetically to business directories organized by category. Whether you needed to reach a doctor or a plumber or even a school classmate, the phone book was the way to go.

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Typewriters

The "click-clack" of the keys, followed by the familiar "ding" at the end of each line is likely one of the most recognizable sounds of the 20th century. Before personal computers, the only way to craft professional-looking documents was with typewriters — you could find them in schools, businesses, and homes.

Commercial typewriters came about in 1874, unlocking a new era of written communication. So many famous novels, newspaper articles, letters, and school assignments were written on typewriters before the digital era kicked in. Typewriters became a symbol of the art of writing , and we still use the QWERTY keyboard layout, introduced with them, on our modern computers and iPhones, too.

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Encyclopedias

Instead of asking Google for the answer, a few decades ago, one of our only trusted sources of information was encyclopedia sets . Whether you were trying to find information on any topic for research, a school project, or simply out of curiosity, you had to go through the 20 to 30 hardcover volumes and find the one that contained the portion of the alphabet you needed to look into.

One of the most famous sets was the Encyclopedia Britannica, and having any set was considered a sign that a family valued education. But unlike digital encyclopedias, which can be modified in a matter of minutes, these had to be updated and printed again every year; therefore, companies offered door-to-door service.

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Ashtrays in nearly every room

It’s almost impossible to explain to younger generations that people were once allowed to smoke in theatres, hotels, planes — even hospitals! Smoking was the most natural thing to do ; around 40% of American adults smoked cigarettes , which created a necessity for ashtrays everywhere.

From the 1940s through the 1970s, most homes had ashtrays in living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and even bathrooms; it was considered basic courtesy to have them around the house when guests visited. They came in all shapes and colors, made of glass, ceramic, crystal, or metal — different designs to match the home’s decor. This trend began fading after the 1980s with the growing awareness of the dangers of smoking.

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Rolodex card files

Before the 2000s, if you were a salesperson, executive, secretary, journalist, or anyone who managed a large network of contacts, chances are you had a Rolodex. This compact and useful tool was perfect for managing information from different contacts when there were no cellphones . Professionals relied on them to keep track of clients and colleagues — actually, the phrase "having a good Rolodex" meant having an impressive network of connections.

It consisted of hundreds of small index cards arranged alphabetically on a rotating wheel, and users could quickly flip through the cards to find the information they kept there. In contrast with a normal address book, with a Rolodex, if someone moved or got a new phone number, you could simply replace the old card with a new one rather than having to rewrite it.

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Manual Can Openers Mounted Under Kitchen Cabinets

If you grew up sometime between the 1950s and 1980s, you probably remember manual can openers permanently mounted beneath an upper cabinet in the kitchen. These can openers were very convenient when cooking, and they were built to last — made of durable steel and sturdy enough to keep being used for decades .

Once handheld and more ergonomic can openers (and later electric models) became more affordable, mounted versions gradually disappeared from households, though some are still found in professional kitchens.

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1. Gainesville, Georgia - Chicken Capital Chaos

In Gainesville, the self-proclaimed "Poultry Capital of the World," you'd better not even think about using a fork to eat fried chicken. That's right— this town passed a law in 1961 making it illegal to consume chicken with anything other than your bare hands . The ordinance was originally a publicity stunt to promote the town's poultry industry, but it's technically still enforceable today.

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2. Wilbur, Washington - Riding Ugly Horses Prohibited

The tiny town of Wilbur takes civic beauty seriously—so seriously that they've outlawed riding an ugly horse down the street . The big question, of course: who gets to decide what constitutes an ugly horse? There's no official equine beauty standard outlined in the ordinance, leaving enforcement entirely up to interpretation.

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3. Pocatello, Idaho - Smiling is Mandatory

Feeling grumpy? Don't bring that frown to Pocatello, Idaho, where a 1948 ordinance made it illegal not to smile in public . The law was passed during a time when city leaders wanted to promote a more positive, welcoming atmosphere in their community. Technically, walking around with a scowl on your face could get you in trouble with the law, though enforcement has been, shall we say, lax.

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4. Carmel, California - High Heels Require a Permit

Fashionistas beware: in the upscale coastal town of Carmel-by-the-Sea, wearing high heels over two inches tall requires a permit . The law, which dates back to the 1920s, was actually created to protect the city from liability lawsuits. Carmel's charming streets are notoriously uneven and filled with quirky design features, making twisted ankles a real hazard for heel-wearers. Rather than fix the streets, city officials decided to require permits for anyone wanting to wear stilettos around town.

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5. Blythe, California - Must Own Cows

In Blythe, a small desert town along the California-Arizona border, you're required by law to own at least two cows before you can wear cowboy boots in public . This head-scratching ordinance apparently aimed to prevent city slickers from appropriating authentic cowboy culture without earning the right. The logic seems to be that cowboy boots are functional workwear for actual cowboys, not a fashion statement for posers.

The reality is that nobody in Blythe enforces this law, and you'll see plenty of people strutting around in cowboy boots without a single cow to their name. The ordinance has become more of a conversation starter than actual legislation

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6. Marshalltown, Iowa - No Horse Eating Fire Hydrants

Marshalltown takes fire safety seriously, which is why they've made it illegal for horses to eat fire hydrants . This bizarre law presumably dates from the days when horses were the primary mode of transportation, though exactly what equine-hydrant-munching incident prompted this legislation remains a mystery.

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7. Yamhill, Oregon - Fortune Telling Forbidden

In Yamhill, Oregon, predicting the future is not just frowned upon—it's illegal . This small town of fewer than 1,200 residents has a law explicitly banning fortune telling, palmistry, and other mystic arts. The ordinance dates back to the early 20th century, when such laws were common across America, designed to protect citizens from scam artists and charlatans.

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8. Cicero, Illinois - Humming Banned on Sundays

This town has an ordinance that prohibits humming on public streets on Sundays . The law likely originated during a more puritanical era, when Sundays were strictly reserved for quiet contemplation and religious observance. Any form of frivolous noise was considered disrespectful to the Sabbath.

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9. Paulding, Ohio - No Cop-on-Dog Biting Allowed

In the small town of Paulding, there's a law that addresses a very specific workplace hazard: it's illegal for a police officer to bite a dog , even in self-defense. Most towns have laws protecting people from dog bites, but Paulding flipped the script and decided dogs needed protection from over-enthusiastic law enforcement.

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10. San Antonio, Texas - Flirting Forbidden

In San Antonio, using your eyes to catch someone's attention romantically is technically against the law. The city has an ordinance that prohibits flirtation and "offensive ogling" in public places . This Victorian-era law was meant to protect people (particularly women) from unwanted attention and harassment before modern sexual harassment laws existed. The rule specifically mentions making eyes at someone or using hands to communicate romantic interest.