The Sacramento Historic City Cemetery is iconic for many reasons. Considered the oldest existing cemetery in the state’s capital city, it boasts a ton of fascinating history to go with its serene atmosphere. However, the cemetery is also home to plenty of ghost stories, making it one of the creepiest spots to visit in Northern California. A visit to this spooky cemetery alone is bound to send chills down your spine—but alas, don’t let that keep you away from visiting and experiencing it for yourself!
The Sacramento Old City Cemetery is the quintessential spooky cemetery, complete with beautiful Victorian tombstones, lush manicured lawns, and a perfectly silent environment. It definitely looks the part of a cemetery you don't want to visit at night, and it has the stories to go along with it!
Whether you believe in hauntings or not, one thing is for sure—this place has quite the history. Originally established in 1849 when John A. Sutter, Jr. donated 10 acres to the city, it's become the final resting place for over 25,000 people.
Soon after its establishment, the cemetery was put to significant use. Up to a thousand people died in the cholera epidemic of 1860, and a mass grave of 600 victims was created in the cemetery. The rest of the victims were buried in a nearby cemetery, but were later transferred to the City Cemetery due to flooding.
Along with its long history, the cemetery is known to be one of the most haunted spots in the city. Numerous ghost stories are associated with the Old City Cemetery and feature unexplainable experiences, ranging from a mere "feeling of being watched" to full-on apparitions.
There are even a handful of manifestations that are most commonly seen in the cemetery. One of the most popular is of a former engineer hero named William Brown. It's believed that he died while saving hundreds of lives in a train accident, and he is commonly seen simply standing by his grave in a black suit.
Another common entity is May Woolsey, a 12-year-old girl who died in 1879 from inflammation. She is often seen playing around the cemetery or walking to and from her former home.
There's apparently even the spirit of a black pitbull dog that likes to roam the cemetery! He's known to follow visitors as they wander through the cemetery before disappearing in front of their very eyes.
There are definitely a lot of stories surrounding the haunted nature of this historic cemetery, but nothing is as convincing as visiting for yourself. Walk through one of the oldest cemeteries in NorCal, and see what you find out.
