Often called America’s most haunted lighthouse, Point Lookout has had many
documented paranormal activity since the 1860’s. Ann Davis, the spirit of the
lighthouse’s first keeper, has been seen standing in the stairway and
disembodied voices and strange noises have been recorded on audiotape. Also,
other figures lost during the Civil War have been seen wandering the basement
and grounds searching for graves that were moved a century ago.
Over the decades, there have been numerous reports of paranormal experiences
within Point Lookout State Park, but none more so than in the lighthouse itself.
These reports eventually reached the ears of the internationally-renowned
parapsychologist, Dr. Hans Holzer, along with his team of paranormal
psychologists, was the first to investigate the lighthouse some 20 years ago. To
this day it remains the only Chesapeake Bay lighthouse to have earned such
esteemed scrutiny.
Holzer's team successfully recorded 24 different voices in the building, both
male and female voices singing and talking, often using quite colorful language.
One comment, "Fire if they get too close to you," was thought to reference the
great number of Confederate soldiers imprisoned nearby. A female voice, recorded
on the tower staircase and believed to be that of Ann Davis, wife of the first
keeper, spoke of "my home." Yet another voice said, "Let us not take objection
to what they are doing."
Lighthouse visitors, including Dr. Holzer's team, have experienced very chilly
air in parts of the building, along with a rotten smell emanating from one
particular room. Oddly, as soon as Dr. Holzer made public his belief that the
smell was from the tormented spirits of people held there against their will --
those falsely accused of spying or having Confederate sympathies -- the smell
disappeared.
In addition to unusual sounds and smells, many spectral visions have also been
reported, such as that of Ann Davis, standing at the top of the stairs in a
white blouse and long blue skirt.
Several unexplained images have appeared in photographs, the most well known
being that of "The Ghost of Point Lookout," taken during a séance in the
lighthouse in the late 70s. In the photograph, Laura Berg, a former lighthouse
resident, stands in the center holding a candle. To her left, the foggy form of
a man in soldier garb - weapon, sash, one leg casually crossed over the other -
appears to be leaning into the wall. Interestingly, this image was not noticed
by those attending the séance; it was seen only later, in the photo.
The above was written by By Dorcas Coleman for
the Maryland DNR.
The Point Lookout Lighthouse is considered the most haunted lighthouse in
America. If you disagree, tell us some ghost stories about your favorite
lighthouse.