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Haunted Governor's Mansions and State Buildings

© Janice Oberding

What a thrill it must be to be elected to public office and reside in the Governor's mansion. Even if the new residence is haunted. Is it any wonder that so many state buildings and governor's mansions are haunted with all the drama that's been played out in them.

The spirit of a fastidious ghost haunts the governor's mansion in Carson City Nevada. When the ghost is seen she is usually dusting one piece of furniture or another. Some folks believe that the ghost hitched a ride into the mansion in an antique hall clock that was brought into the mansion several years ago.

The Hawaiian kingdom came to an end in 1893 when U.S. troops ousted Queen Lili 'uokalani from Iolani Palace in Honolulu. The queen was a tenacious leader who did not willingly give up her kingdom. In desperation she agreed to step down, hoping that the United States would eventually realize the error of its way. It never happened. And Queen Lili'uokalani died a sad and broken woman years later. But death could not take her far from her beloved Hawaii. Her spirit still haunts the State Capitol Building in Honolulu.

Colton Hall in Monterey California was the sight of California's 1849 constitutional convention. Attendees included John Sutter, discoverer of gold in California. Apparently some of those delegates in attendance have decided to stay on in the building. Then again some folks say that the ghosts in Colton Hall are really the lost spirits of three men who were hanged outside the building one gray afternoon long ago.

The Custom House in Monterey was one of the first official buildings in the state of California. Today the Custom House, like Colton Hall, serves as a museum. There is little doubt that ghosts inhabit the building. Many strange sounds have been reported late at night in and around the building when it is empty.

In Austin Texas the governor's mansion is not only home to the governor and his family, but at least two ghosts as well. Sam Houston is one of the ghosts, and the identity of the other spirit remains a mystery.

Woodburn, the governor's mansion in Dover Delaware is over two hundred years old and is haunted by several ghosts. The mansion's builder, Charles Hillyard, died in the house. But he has never really vacated the premises. Over the years he's been seen numerous times in Woodburn. A more recent ghost is that of a young girl wearing a summer dress and hat. No one is certain who she is, or why she's there.