All place types

Place type

Sites

The plainest drawer in the archive — a place filed without a more specific classification because the record did not supply one, or because the site resists it. Some are parcels of ground, some are structures whose original purpose is lost or irrelevant to the claim attached. What they share is a report on file; what they lack is a tidier label. The dossiers record what was reported where; the classification admits the rest is unsettled.

530 dossiers45 jurisdictions100% open to visitors

Paulding Light

Watersmeet, Michigan

The mystery light in the woods—since 1966, the debate continues.

5 claims · 3 legends→

Los Adaes

Robeline, Louisiana

The Spanish capital—1729’s Texas presidio.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Saratoga Light (Bragg Road)

Saratoga, Texas

The Big Thicket’s ghost light—down a dead-end dirt road.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Summerville Light

Summerville, South Carolina

The Lowcountry ghost light on the railroad grade.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Philippi Covered Bridge

Philippi, West Virginia

The 1852 bridge that carried armies—the first land battle’s site.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Jefferson Barracks

St. Louis, Missouri

The 1826 post that trained the Civil War’s generals.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Fort Davidson

Pilot Knob, Missouri

September 27, 1864—the fort that swallowed an army at Pilot Knob.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Washington Crossing

Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania

Christmas night 1776—the Delaware crossing that saved the Revolution.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Fort Necessity

Farmington, Pennsylvania

July 3, 1754—Washington’s only surrender, in the Great Meadows.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Hanna’s Town

Greensburg, Pennsylvania

The first county seat west of the Alleghenies—burned 1782.

2 claims · 2 legends→

City Point

Hopewell, Virginia

Grant’s 1864-65 headquarters—the port that fed the siege.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Tredegar Iron Works

Richmond, Virginia

The Confederate arsenal—the forge that armed the South.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Cumberland Gap

Cumberland Gap, Virginia

The gap where the West opened—Boone’s road through the mountain.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Rose Island

Charlestown, Indiana

The 1920s amusement park the river swallowed—ruins in the forest.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Fort Frederica

St. Simons Island, Georgia

Oglethorpe’s 1736 fort—where the Bloody Marsh decided Georgia.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Fort Morris and Sunbury

Midway, Georgia

The "Come and take it!" fort—and the burned town of Sunbury.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Edison and Ford Estates

Fort Myers, Florida

The neighbors’ winter estates—Edison and Ford’s Florida.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Grand Central

New York, New York

The 1913 terminal—the dead are said to walk the tracks.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Sailors’ Snug Harbor

Staten Island, New York

The 1833 sailors’ home—the Staten Island cultural center.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Isles of Shoals

Kittery, New Hampshire

The islands where the pirates and the murders are remembered.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Lake Compounce

Bristol, Connecticut

The 1846 trolley park—the oldest continuously operating amusement park in the U.S.

2 claims · 2 legends→

New Hampshire State Hospital

Concord, New Hampshire

The 1842 asylum—the oldest state hospital in New Hampshire.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Cataldo Mission

The 1850s Jesuit mission—Idaho’s oldest standing building.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Independence Mine

The Hatcher Pass mine—the buildings still stand in the alpine.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Thunder Bay shipwreck sanctuary

Alpena, Michigan

The "Shipwreck Alley"—over 200 documented wrecks in the bay.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Soap Factory

Minneapolis, Minnesota

The 1883 soap works—where the art space reportedly kept the dead.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Phantom Ranch

Grand Canyon, Arizona

The bottom of the Canyon—the 1922 ranch reachable only by trail.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Roy’s Motel

Amboy, California

The Googie sign—the mid-century icon on the empty road.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Yuma Crossing

The Colorado’s ford—where the emigrants and the prisoners crossed.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Jerome State Historic Park

Jerome, Arizona

The mansion on the hill—the Douglas family’s view of the mine.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Jerome sliding jail

Jerome, Arizona

The jail that slid downhill—still where it landed.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Tubac Presidio

Arizona’s first European settlement—1752, the presidio remains.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Tumacácori

Tumacacori, Arizona

The mission the Apaches emptied—the church still stands.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Empire Ranch

Sonoita, Arizona

The 1871 ranch—the adobe headquarters in the grasslands.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Kentucky Camp

Sonoita, Arizona

The 1904 gold camp—the adobe buildings in the Santa Ritas.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Saltair

The palace on the dead lake—three Saltairs, all burned or flooded.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Punchbowl

Honolulu, Hawaii

The crater of the dead—30,000+ graves in the volcano.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Kawaiahaʻo Church

Honolulu, Hawaii

The Westminster Abbey of the Pacific—1842, the coral church.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Hawaiian Mission Houses

Honolulu, Hawaii

The 1821 frame house—where the missionaries landed.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Oʻahu Cemetery

Honolulu, Hawaii

The oldest public cemetery—where the missionaries rest.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Strataca

Hutchinson, Kansas

The salt mine 650 feet down—where the underground museum sits.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Fort Meade

Sturgis, South Dakota

The 1878 cavalry post—where the "Star Spangled Banner" tradition began.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Chicamacomico

Rodanthe, North Carolina

The 1874 lifesaving station—where the rescues were made.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Oakdale Cemetery

Wilmington, North Carolina

The 1852 rural cemetery—where the funerals’ ghosts rest.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Holy Family Church

Chicago, Illinois

The 1860 church—the oldest in Chicago, spared by the fire.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Jackson Park / Midway

Chicago, Illinois

The 1893 fairground—where the White City stood and the dead remain.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Board of Trade

Chicago, Illinois

The 1930 Art Deco tower—where Ceres watches the pit.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Tribune Tower

Chicago, Illinois

The 1925 Gothic tower—the stones from everywhere.

2 claims · 2 legends→

50 more on this shelf — filter them in the atlas