Our Ghosts

The Merchant's House Museum is haunted

“Manhattan’s Most Haunted House”
(The New York Times)

“#1 Most Haunted Place in NYC” (TimeOut New York)

The Tredwell family lived in this house for nearly 100 years. Some say they never left.

Many believe it is Gertrude Tredwell, in particular, who is watching over her family home. Born in an upstairs bedroom in 1840, the youngest of the Tredwells’ eight children, Gertrude never married and lived her entire life here until she died, at the age of 93, in 1933. She was the last member of the family to occupy the house.

Since the 1930s, when the house opened to the public as a museum, strange and inexplicable happenings have been reported – sounds, sightings, smells – by staff, volunteers, visitors, neighbors, even passersby.

In 2020, when the Museum closed due to COVID-19 – and the house was empty – we launched ground-breaking paranormal research. Through unbiased observation and systematic experimentation, this research is building a better understanding of the strange and fascinating phenomena experienced by staff, volunteers, and visitors at “Manhattan’s Most Haunted House” (The New York Times).


 

In the Spirit of Science

In the Spirit of Science is a monthly video podcast on topics related to the ongoing paranormal research at the Merchant’s House. Each month, paranormal investigator Dan Sturges, neuroscientist Dr. Lee, and thanatologist Matilda Garrido gather at the Merchant’s House Museum to discuss a different aspect of the paranormal. From the afterlife to poltergeists to Psi to near death and shared death experiences, see what their new research is uncovering.

Watch In the Spirit of Science on YouTube.


 

2023 Ghost Tours

Friday, October 13; Friday, October 20; Saturday, October 21; Friday, October 27; Saturday, October 28

CANDLELIGHT GHOST TOURS of Manhattan’s Most Haunted House
50 minute tours run every half hour, 6:30 to 9 p.m. 

Doors slam, floorboards creak, voices call into the dead of night. Venture into “Manhattan’s Most Haunted House” by flickering candlelight to hear chilling – and true – tales of decades of otherworldly activity in the house, the results of years of paranormal investigations – and the latest stunning scientific findings.

The Tredwell family lived at 29 East 4th Street for nearly 100 years, and at least eight people died in the house. Reports of strange and inexplicable occurrences have been widespread since Gertrude, the last surviving Tredwell, died in 1933. Is it Gertrude who is watching over her family home? Join us on a CANDLELIGHT GHOST TOUR and decide for yourself.
$45; $35 MHM Members.

SUPER SPOOKY CANDLELIGHT GHOST TOURS with PARANORMAL INVESTIGATOR DAN STURGES
90-minute tour begins 9:30 p.m.

In 2020, the museum closed due to COVID-19, leaving the house empty of staff and visitors. Dan Sturges, who has undertaken paranormal investigations at the Merchant’s House for 15 years, teamed up with neuroscientist Dr. Lee to conduct scientific research using specialized equipment custom-built for the house. Mounting fact-based evidence points to the very likely reality of paranormal activity at the Merchant’s House. Join Dan and decide for yourself.

Join paranormal investigator Dan Sturges on a 90-minute In-Person Super Spooky Candlelight Ghost Tour for an in-depth look at the latest research and findings. Dan is the founder of Sturges Paranormal and appears on the Travel Channel’s weekly series, Paranormal Caught on Camera. He has performed investigations at the Merchant’s House – and documented his spine-chilling findings – since 2007.
$65; $55 MHM Members.

2023 Candlelight Ghost Tour Tickets

 


 

Schedule a Private Ghost Tour.

 

  • $900 flat fee
  • Maximum capacity 20 people
  • May be scheduled on weekdays at 6, 6:30 or 7 p.m. (except October).
  • Tours must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance.
  • Non-refundable 50% deposit required to secure your reservation.
  • October availability strictly limited. Email programs@merchantshouse.org for more information on October availability.
  • Private ghost tours are not available in December.

Email programs@merchantshouse.org to schedule a private ghost tour.


 

Some Say They Never Left: Spirited Tales and Ghostly Legends of the Merchant’s House Museum

Whether or not you are a believer, you’ll enjoy our booklet of ghost stories collected over the years. Visit the Museum’s shop to purchase a copy and decide for yourself.


 

Have an “experience” when you visited?

Please let one of the staff know, or email nyc1832@merchantshouse.org, so we can add your story to our growing roster of paranormal occurrences.