The Haunted Art Institute In Northern California Both History Buffs And Ghost Hunters Will Love
By Lysa Allman-Baldwin|Published September 14, 2022
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Lysa Allman-Baldwin
Author
For over 25 years Lysa Allman-Baldwin has fed her wanderlust for “everything the world has to offer” by passionately writing travel and feature articles for numerous global print and online publications. A Digital Nomad, Lysa is also a professional speaker, workshop facilitator, and author.
Like an elder who has lived a good long life, the places that have been around the longest often have the most interesting stories to tell. And when it comes to haunted and historic places, there is no shortage of intrigue. Come along as we explore one such place in San Francisco where the otherworldly and antiquity collide.
The San Francisco Art Institute, one of the most haunted and historic places in the city and state, is located at 800 Chestnut Street.
Perhaps its tilted position just a stone’s throw away from the Fisherman’s Wharf and North Beach neighborhoods is what gives rise to some of the more interesting and spooky stories here.
Originally founded in 1871 and undergoing a few name changes from and back to its current iteration, the Institute has launched the careers of many now esteemed alumni and faculty.
It really is amazing when you start name-dropping, including folks like muralist Diego Rivera, world-renown photographers Annie Leibovitz and Ansel Adams, writer and activist Angela Davis, and the first art editor of The New Yorker magazine, Rea Irvin, just to name a lauded few.
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No one is sure why, but present-day students aren’t the only ones roaming the property.
Paranormal occurrences have included ghosts appearing and disappearing both day and night, eerie moaning, blood-curdling screams, "accidents," and items moving from where they were left to other spots around campus. One of the theories is that the Institute was built on top of a former burial ground – and the spirits of the deceased are not happy about that!
Because the city is still emerging from the constraints of the pandemic, it’s best to call first to be sure the campus is open before attempting a visit.
Have visited or attended the San Francisco Art Institute? If so, we’d love to see your photos and hear about your experience there. You can also learn more about the Institute on their Facebook page.
