Capitol Hill is one of Seattle’s oldest neighborhoods, and it’s also one of the city’s most haunted. The area boasts several buildings and cemeteries that are oozing with ghosts and paranormal activity. This self-guided Capitol Hill Ghost Walk leads you past 10 of those eerie, haunted locations, with photos, descriptions, and a map to help you find your way.
I’ve walked the full Capitol Hill Ghost Walk myself and thoroughly enjoyed it. Along with the haunted stops, the route takes you through three parks, several neighborhoods, and the Seattle University campus. The full walk took me about two and a half hours, including plenty of stops for photos along the way.
Capitol Hill Ghost Walk at a Glance
Distance: About 7 miles for the full route
Time: Allow 2½–3 hours if you’re walking the entire route
Stops: 10 haunted locations
Cost: Free
Getting around: Walk the full route or use the individual map links to visit selected stops
A few of the buildings and businesses have changed since this walk was originally created, but the locations and stories behind them are still part of Seattle’s history.
Are you ready for the Capitol Hill Ghost Walk?! I can feel you shaking already so I’ll take that as a yes. These are the haunted locations you’ll see!
Capitol Hill Ghost Walk Stops
The Capitol Hill Ghost Walk begins and ends at the QFC on Capitol Hill (Mapped Location).
905 E. Pine St.
Built in 1907, this building was once home to Broadway High School, the Burnley School of Arts, and the South Annex of Seattle Central Community College. A ghost named Burnley is responsible for loud footsteps and other unexplained noises, pushing students from behind, and even tipping over desks and opening drawers. During the Burnley School of Arts days, the owners invited mediums to investigate the paranormal activity. All three mediums made contact with the ghost of an 18-year-old boy who was killed in 1913 after a basketball game in the gym. He was apparently pushed down the back stairs during a fight. Mapped Location
Sorrento Hotel
The Sorrento Hotel may not advertise its haunted reputation, but plenty of ghost stories have emerged from the historic hotel over the years. Incidents have included footsteps, glasses moving in the bar (in full view of patrons), and even sightings of a woman on the fourth floor near room 408. Mapped Location
Campion Hall
Many rumors have swirled about Campion Hall over the years, but the most persistent involves a girl who committed suicide in the third-floor bathroom. That might explain why there are so many ghost stories from third-floor residents, including loud sounds in empty rooms, the sound of someone running through the hall (only to find no one is there), and even the shower in the third-floor bathroom being turned on when no one is around. Mapped Location
Former Richard Hugo House Site
The original Richard Hugo House building at this location was built in 1902 and had previously been a mortuary, an apartment house, and a theater complex. It later became a popular spot for local writers…and ghosts. Investigators of the old building once found a secret room, which might explain some of the paranormal activity. No one knew what the room was for, so it remained a mystery. The original building has since been demolished and replaced with a new building that is once again home to Hugo House. Mapped Location
Old Capitol Hill Methodist Church
The ghosts of Rev. Daniel Bagley and his wife Susannah were often seen in the parsonage of the Old Capitol Hill Methodist Church. Many parishioners felt the spirits, but one former resident claimed to have seen Susannah dressed in a gown, surrounded by a blue light. When she asked, “How do I get out?” He pointed to the door, but she floated out an upstairs window instead. Mapped Location
Volunteer Park
Volunteer Park now sits on what used to be the Washelli Cemetery, which was Seattle’s municipal cemetery from 1884-1887. When the cemetery closed, the bodies were moved to the nearby Lake View Cemetery. The park continued to collect bodies, however, in the 1970s and 1980s. One police officer claimed that more murders happened in Volunteer Park than anywhere else in Seattle during that time period. Its storied past makes it a perfect stop on the Capitol Hill Ghost Walk. Mapped Location
Lake View Cemetery
This cemetery is the final resting place for many Seattle pioneers, but it’s most famous for being the burial site of martial artist and cult icon Bruce Lee and his son Brandon Lee.
Don’t miss the angel on the Fairservice gravestone. A young guy who had a camera dangling around his neck stopped me in the cemetery and told me I should snap some pictures of her. He explained that he’s taken several shots of the angel over the years and there’s always an “unusual” exposure. He followed that by saying, “I’m not saying it’s a ghost or anything, but take it for what it’s worth.” Mapped Location
GAR Cemetery
The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) Cemetery is one of the neatest stops on the Capitol Hill Ghost Walk. It’s a Civil War cemetery (literally home to Civil War veterans and their spouses), and it’s loaded with ghost stories. Several eyewitnesses claimed to have seen ghosts walking around in Civil War uniforms over the years, while others reported the sound of ghostly cries. The GAR Cemetery opened in 1895 and was used until the 1940s. Mapped Location
DAR Building
This building was once a church, but it’s long been owned by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Many people have heard strange voices and music playing inside the building. There have even been reports of a female ghost walking down the front stairs in a dress from the 1800s. Mapped Location
Old Harvard Exit Theatre
The former Harvard Exit Theatre is one of the most famous haunted locations in Seattle, if not the entire Northwest. Built in 1925, the building became the Harvard Exit Theatre in 1968. One night, a theater manager was closing up for the night when he heard loud noises and voices on the third floor. When he went upstairs, he didn’t find anyone, but he heard the exit door close. When he tried to open the door, it was held against him from the outside. Once the door became free, there was no one on the other side or in the vicinity. If that’s not enough for you, a group of psychics and parapsychologists once stayed the night in the theater. They put a magnet by the third-floor exit door and witnessed a large ball of energy appear, move about the auditorium, and leave out the exit, causing the magnet to revolve wildly.
The theatre closed in 2015 and has since been renovated. It now serves as a commercial building. Mapped Location
*Descriptions partially provided by the American Volkssport Association, citing information from A Ghost Hunter’s Guide, Ghost Stories of Washington
, and The National Directory of Haunted Places
.
Capitol Hill Ghost Walk Map
Use our Capitol Hill Ghost Walk map to follow the full route and visit all 10 stops. You can also use it to choose a few locations and create a shorter walk of your own.
View the Capitol Hill Ghost Walk Map →
Tips for Your Ghost Walk
The full route is about seven miles, so wear comfortable shoes and give yourself plenty of time. Check hours for parks, cemeteries, and other locations before you go, and remember that some stops are best viewed from public sidewalks rather than entered.
Seattle weather can change quickly in the fall, so bring a rain jacket and be prepared for wet conditions. If you’re walking later in the day, keep in mind that daylight disappears quickly during spooky season.
Whether you believe in ghosts or not, it’s a fun way to explore Capitol Hill, learn some of the neighborhood’s stranger stories, and see parts of Seattle you might otherwise walk right past.
