Explore Greater Lansing’s haunted history

Whether or not you believe in ghosts, spirits and other paranormal entities, the following “haunted” locations throughout Greater Lansing provide plenty of fascinating lore and historical tidbits for those looking to immerse themselves in spooky season without breaking the bank.

Michigan State Capitol

100 N. Capitol Ave., Lansing

There are a slew of government buildings that are believed to be haunted, but Michigan’s Capitol may be among the spookiest. When construction was finished in 1878, the $1.2 million Victorian-era structure featured 139 rooms, magnificent banisters and plenty of room for the unknown. Workers have not seemed to fare well here. In the 1880s, it’s said that a page tried to jump between the railings of the grand staircases and fell to his death. Between then and now, at least three others have died on the job during subsequent restoration efforts.

Courtesy of Michigan State University

Michigan State University

East Lansing

Founded in 1855, it’s probably not all that surprising to hear that several buildings on the MSU campus have been the sites of reported hauntings. These include Beaumont Tower, Beal Botanical Garden, the MSU Museum, the Physical Plant, the Fairchild Theatre, the old Saints’ Rest dormitory and numerous other dorm buildings, such as Mayo Hall, where a spirit students and faculty believe is Mary Mayo, the building’s namesake, reportedly plays the piano in the Red Room. Another campus legend surrounds the school’s “dungeons,” or underground steam tunnels.

Tyler Schneider/City Pulse

The Abigail

715 W. Willow St., Lansing

Abigail Rogers had this building constructed for use as the Michigan Female College in 1858. It served in that capacity through 1869 before being converted into the Michigan School for the Blind 10 years later. The school operated for more than a century and even saw Stevie Wonder enroll in 1964. After its closure, the school stood vacant for more than two decades before the building was repurposed for use as a new senior living facility. Prior to that development, numerous homeless people were reported to have tried to take up residence here, but something seems to have driven most of them away. Some speculate that Abigail Rogers herself is behind the uneasiness. The Abigail has been on the National Register of Historic Places since July 2018.

Tyler Schneider/City Pulse

Turner-Dodge House

100 E. North St., Lansing

Constructed in 1855 as the Dodge Mansion, a bearded apparition allegedly paces the halls of this Georgian Revival brick structure. He can also reportedly be seen standing in windows at night. Marion Turner, one of the house’s first residents, is also believed by some to occupy its hallowed halls. The house was a private residence until 1958, when it was acquired by the Great Lakes Bible College for use as a school through 1972. The city of Lansing bought it in 1974, and it has hosted several paranormal investigations and festivals since. Friday evening (Oct. 27), the site will host its latest, A Ghostly Night at Turner-Dodge House.

Courtesy of Stimson Hospital

Stimson Hospital

101 W. Plain St., Eaton Rapids

This 5,000-square-foot Eaton Rapids mansion, built in 1874, began its life as a private residence, but it was most famously a hospital for four decades, starting in 1917. During that tenure, it featured one of the first X-ray machines in Michigan, was an early adopter of cesarean sections and served as the birth and deathplaces for thousands of individuals. Unfortunately, its history has also been marred by tragedy. In 1919, one of its founders and primary physicians, Dr. Francis Blanchard, died in an elevator shaft after falling 12 feet. The hospital’s two other founders also died within its walls. Reports of spooky occurrences followed, including disembodied voices and phantom footsteps, even after the hospital shut down and became apartments in the 1950s. The property is now owned by Pam and Chris Sturgill, who operate it as a bed and breakfast and rent it out for ghost tours.