One Of The Most Historic Small Towns In North Carolina Is Also Among The Most Haunted

Established in 1709, Beaufort is possibly the most haunted small town in North Carolina. A look in shows us a charming coastal town sitting on the lovely Beaufort Inlet — a magical channel leading to the Atlantic Ocean. But this town’s history and the efforts toward its preservation, make the state’s third-oldest town one destination in which ghosts are plentifully lingering in its shadows. From historic homes to haunted coastlines, let’s take a peek into one of the most haunted small towns in the country.

Beaufort Historic Site, 130 Turner St, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA

Carl Griffith, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

History here is preserved nicely in the approximately 150 restored houses bearing plaques with the original owners' names and construction dates. It is no wonder that spirits have lingered in their well-preserved homes. The Plan of Beaufort Towne, laid out in 1713, lives on in this extraordinary 12-block area, which today is on the National Register of Historic Places. Download a walking tour on the Beaufort Historic Site website.

Ann Street, Ann St, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA

State Archives of North Carolina, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons

In Beaufort, it is easy to imagine a day in history as so much of it is available, especially on Ann Street in the heart of Historic Beaufort, showcasing the largest number of Beaufort’s notable homes. It is also home to the Old Burying Grounds, one of the most haunted cemeteries in the U.S.

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Old Burying Ground, 411 Ann St, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA

Carl Griffith, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Protected by an iron fence, beneath massive live oak trees covered in moss, is the grave of a famous ghost, the Rum Keg Girl.

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Promising his wife to bring their daughter home, he kept her in a rum keg until the ship returned to Beaufort and buried her inside the keg at the Old Burying Ground. Today her grave is the most decorated, and folks have reported seeing her spirit there at night. See more pictures of the Old Burying Ground.

Langdon House Bed & Breakfast, 135 Craven St, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA

Langdon House B & B/Facebook

While the Langdon House is a gorgeous place to spend a weekend, be on the lookout for Charity, the spirit of a young lady who haunts the inn. She died of a broken heart and is often witnessed mourning while standing in a blue dress. Reserve a room on the Langdon House Bed and Breakfast website.

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1107 Hammock Ln, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA

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One of the oldest houses in the state, constructed in about 1700, it is believed that the infamous pirate Blackbeard, a.k.a., Edward Teach stayed here when it was an inn. As the legend goes, the pirate lodged here with his young wife against her will. His anger caused him to hang her from a tree out back, but some say her spirit remains and can be heard screaming and screaming. Other residents over the years were involved in acts so violent, traces of blood are reportedly left behind. For more information, visit the NC State University Libraries website.

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Can you see the orb? Book your haunted adventure now on the Beaufort Ghost Walk website.

Cousins Bed and Breakfast, 305 Turner St, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA

Cousins Bed and Breakfast

While enjoying a lovely stay in this historic home, some have heard unexplained noises and footsteps. A man has even been spotted in the window and other spirits have been witnessed. It is also home to Satan's Breath Spice Shop. Discover more on the Cousins Bed and Breakfast website.

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North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort, 315 Front St, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA

NC Maritime Museum Beaufort

This early-18th-century ship was once used by Blackbeard and sunk on June 10, 1718, near Beaufort Inlet. Sightings of the infamous pirate's ghost are routinely reported in the area and along the Atlantic coast where the ship once sailed. Find out about a cool exhibit where you can see artifacts from Queen Anne's Revenge on the NC Maritime Museum Beaufort website.

Radio Island Public Beach Access, 65-101 Olde Towne Yacht Clb Dr, Beaufort, NC 28516, USA

Internet Archive Book Images, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons

This 1979 photo shows the salvage of a cannon from a shipwreck off of the North Carolina coast, possibly from Queen Anne's Revenge, which along with some other discovered items predate the 1718 sinking.

Are you ready to see some spirits in the most haunted small town in North Carolina?  And while you’re there, stay in a lighthouse cottage right in the historic district.