There are cemeteries all across Nebraska that are said to be haunted, and this one in Omaha is one of the most fascinating. Prospect Hill Cemetery holds some of the city’s most notable early residents… and today it’s said that some of them still roam the grounds.

Prospect Hill, Omaha's oldest pioneer cemetery, began in 1856 as a 10-acre parcel of land in what is now North Omaha. The land was said to have been used previously as a burial ground for Native Americans and early Mormon pioneers.
By Cornstalker (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Over the years, more and more land was added to the cemetery until it stretched over 35 acres. It's estimated that 15,000 burials took place at Prospect Hill Cemetery. If you walk through today, you'll see plenty of familiar names; these are the early pioneers, politicians, land owners, and philanthropists who built the city.
Prospect Hill Cemetery

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One of the most notable graves is that of Anna Wilson, the infamous madam who ran Omaha's largest brothel and became a philanthropist in her later years. In accordance with her will, she is buried under nine feet of concrete so the more "respectable" residents of Omaha wouldn't dig her up. The slab atop her and her partner's grave is the exact dimensions of a king bed with four posters.
By MyNewBoyAmmo (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
No burials have been accepted in Prospect Hill since the 1970s. Today the historic cemetery is a City of Omaha landmark. Reports of ghosts roaming the grounds have swirled since the cemetery's early days. One of the most enduring is the lady in white, who is said to roam the grounds looking for her children. Other visitors report hearing whispers and laughter, seeing shadowy figures, feeling as though they're being watched, and seeing surprising images in photos of things that weren't there when the photos were taken.
Dolph72 [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The cemetery is located at 3202 Parker Street, Omaha, NE 68111.

Today there are self-guided walking tour pamphlets of Prospect Hill Cemetery available from the cemetery’s website or from the sexton, whose home is at the gates of the cemetery. The Legacy Arboretum on the grounds is a beautiful collection of native trees, many of which date back to Omaha’s early days.

Whether or not you believe in ghosts, this historic cemetery is a must-visit for anyone interested in Omaha’s history. Along with early Omahans, there are many veterans interred here, including some who fought in the war of 1812 and some Buffalo Soldiers. Many Native Americans and early African American Omaha residents also rest here.

If you’re not afraid to visit more of the state’s most haunted places, take our ultimate haunted places road trip, which you can find right here.

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