1

The Stanley Hotel - Estes Park, Colorado

Image: Fern M. Lomibao

The majestic Rocky Mountains of Colorado, surrounded by towering peaks and crisp mountain air already set a specific scenario, don’t they? Now, in that already eerie landscape emerges The Stanley Hotel . If the name doesn’t ring a bell already, you can probably recognize it as the one in the novel-based movie "The Shining." But let us tell you, the real-life tales of this place are even more hair-raising than anything King could dream up.

Built by F.O. Stanley, a man with a penchant for the paranormal, the Stanley Hotel is dripping with history and intrigue.

Only a few steps inside it and you’ll feel it, an otherworldly vibe that sends shivers down your spine . Some say it’s the owner’s ghost lingering around. Others swear they’ve encountered apparitions wandering the corridors, lost souls searching for peace. Whatever it is, only the boldest souls will dare to find out, are you one of those?

2

Eastern State Penitentiary - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Image: Lance Anderson

Philadelphia is full of spots that witnessed the history of the country’s Independence. Amidst the cobblestone alleyways and colonial charm lies a place shrouded in darkness: Eastern State Penitentiary.

Once hailed as a revolutionary institution for its innovative approach to incineration, the Eastern State now stands as a crumbling relic of the past. But don’t let its dilapidated facade fool you, this place is teeming with ghostly energy.

Step through the iron gates, and you’ll feel it immediately, a sense of unease you can’t just shake. They say the spirits of former inmates still haunt these crumbling halls , trapped between this world and the next.

Eastern State Penitentiary is a playground for the paranormal enthusiast. But beware, for not all who enter emerge unscathed. Are you brave enough to confront the ghosts of the Eastern State? Yours is the choice!

3

The Myrtles Plantation - St. Francisville, Louisiana

Image: David Hertle

In the heart of the south, you will find sprawling plantations and moss-draped oak trees. It is a picture-perfect scene straight out of a Southern Gothic novel. But, within the beauty lies a dark secret: The Myrtles Plantation.

At plain sight, this place seems like something out of a fairytale , it has stately columns and picturesque gardens. But that is not all, this place has a sinister side as well and the feeling you are not alone is always there.

But perhaps the most chilling part of all is the infamous "mirror room," where the spirits of the dead are said to be trapped for all eternity . If you are craving a taste of Southern hospitality with a side of spine-tingling thrills, the Myrtles Plantation awaits.

4

The Queen Mary - Long Beach, California

Image: Bradley Pisney

The history behind RMS Queen Mary takes different turns, from luxurious to creepy in just one lifetime. Initially, this ship served in the war, and it later transitioned to its opulent role, welcoming esteemed passengers across the vast seas. This first part of its story is not free of tragedy and mystery. For example, one incident involves a sailor who met his end crushed by a door in the engine room , while others recount the loss of children in the ship’s pool.

As of 1967, the Queen Mary belongs to Long Beach which acquired it and transformed it into a hotel that continues to charm guests to this da y. Yet, along with its hospitality, the ship harbors whispers of spectral inhabitants, ghostly remnants of its tumultuous past.

However, they have used it to its favor since the ship offers a visit and guided tours to explore the place around, ghosts and everything!

5

Alcatraz Island - San Francisco, California

Image: Rodrigo Soares

The San Francisco Bay, the iconic Golden Bridge, PIER 39, San Francisco is filled with marvelous places to visit . Just as marvelous is the fact that one of the scariest spots, not to mention haunted, is located there as well. Just the name is creepy enough, don’t you think so?

Alcatraz was once the prison where America’s most notorious criminals were sent. And, today, it is home to a thousand ghostly anecdotes. According to them, Alcatraz is haunted by the ghosts of its former inmates, who weren’t necessarily meek as lambs!

The curious thing is that it’s not just the prisoners who refuse to leave, or at least that’s what one can assume. Visitors and park rangers alike have reported eerie encounters with unexplained phenomena, especially inexplicable sounds echoing through the empty corridors.

6

The Whaley House - San Diego, California

Image: Phil Hearing

In 1857, against the backdrop of San Diego’s burgeoning landscape, Thomas Whaley built up his family house on the historic ground of the city’s original public gallows. Now, legend has it that as soon as they settled into their new abode, Whaley began to experience mysterious phenomena , to say the least. He reported hearing the echoing footsteps of "Yankee" Jim Robinson, a notorious drifter, who met his end at the very site four years prior to the construction of the house.

However, the haunting tales did not cease with Robinson’s spectral presence. Tragedy seemed to shadow the Whaley family, with a series of untimely deaths and suicides befalling several members of the family inside the house. To this day, whispers persist of apparitions roaming the halls, often accompanied by the unmistakable scent of cigar smoke and heavy perfume.

7

San Fernando Cathedral - San Antonio, Texas

Image: Priscilla Fraire

San Fernando Cathedral stands as the oldest church in the state, it hosts the unique El Mariachi Mass every Sunday. Its Gothic Revival architecture is a sight to behold. However, as darkness falls, the atmosphere around it takes on a creepy aura and only the bravest souls are willing to venture onto its myth-laden grounds.

In 1936, during structural renovations, construction workers made a chilling discovery near the altar: bones, nails, and tattered military uniforms, believed by some to have belonged to three soldiers of the Alamo.

Since the unsettling event, reports of shadowy futures and orbs appearing in photographs have circulated among visitors, along with sightings of ghosts within the church itself. Among these spectral sightings are accounts of mysterious men dressed in black and hooded figures reminiscent of monks, adding to the cathedral’s mystique.

8

Sheffield Island Lighthouse - Norwalk, Connecticut

Image: Randy Laybourne

This lighthouse was erected in 1868 and it served as a beacon for ships navigating the waters to reach Sheffield Island , a mere 45-minute ferry journey from South Norwalk. This historic landmark harbors a somber history.

In 1972, tragedy struck when the lighthouse’s original keeper passed away under mysterious circumstances while scanning the horizon with a spyglass, his demise shrouded in unanswered questions. Nearly two decades later, in 1991, an archaeologist conducting preservation work on the site uncovered unsettling occurrences. Eerie melodies, distant pleas for assistance, and the unmistakable sound of a foghorn.

Legend has it these phenomena are attributed to the relentless spirit of Captain Robert Sheffield, the enigmatic figure who acquired the islands in the early 1800s and reputedly possessed a penchant for peculiar musical instruments, adding an aura of mystique to this maritime marvel.

9

Winchester Mystery House - San Jose, California

Image: Kelly Zhang

The Winchester Mystery House stands as a testament to Sarah Winchester's unique response to tragedy. After losing her husband and child, Sarah was convinced by a seer that her family's demise was orchestrated by vengeful spirits seeking retribution for deaths caused by Winchester rifles.

Intending to keep these spirits at bay, she embarked on an elaborate construction project that resulted in the eerie mansion known today . Among its unsettling features are staircases leading to nowhere, doors opening onto solid walls, and windows revealing hidden passages, all perpetuating the house's mystique and intrigue.

Exploring this enigmatic abode offers a glimpse into Sarah Winchester's profound grief and her quest for solace among the paranormal.

10

Emily’s Bridge - Stowe, Vermont

Image: Xiaocong Yan

In picturesque Stowe, Vermont, located among the charming covered bridges that dot New England’s landscape, there is one that harbors a chilling tale: Emily’s Bridge.

It is only 50 feet long, but this bridge has become synonymous with a tragic legend dating back to the mid-1800s.

As the story goes, a young woman named Emily was meant to rendezvous with her lover there for an elopement, but he never arrived . Devastated Emily took her own life, by hanging herself from the rafters. Yet, her spirit is said to linger, casting a sinister presence over the bridge. Locals tell Emily’s ghost allegedly torments passersby by clawing at their cars and leaving behind scary scratches.

Among the tales of spectral hauntings, sightings of a ghostly figure in white and inexplicable sounds echoing from the tunnel only add to the bridge’s macabre mystique.

1

Youngest president to assume office

Theodore Roosevelt became president at 42 years, 322 days old, making him the youngest to hold the office

Although John F. Kennedy remains the youngest elected (at 43 years old), Roosevelt was the youngest on the day of his ascension in 1901, which followed the assassination of President William McKinley.

2

First to receive a secret service code name

Harry S. Truman, who served from 1945 to 1953, was the first president to be given a Secret Service code name. His code name was "General," and from then on, presidents, their families, and senior staff were all assigned aliases for security.

For example, John F. Kennedy became "Lancer," Dwight Eisenhower was "Providence," and Ronald Reagan (a "Hollywood cowboy") was "Rawhide."

3

Most dogs in the White House

Franklin D. Roosevelt holds the record for the most dogs residing in the White House during a presidency, keeping 11 over his 12 years and one month in office. While his Scottish Terrier, Fala, became a national celebrity, he was hardly the only one.

He also had two red setters, a bullmastiff, a retriever, a bulldog, a Llewellin Setter, a terrier, a Great Dane, a sheepdog, and a German Shepherd.

4

Most handshakes in a single day by a head of state

On January 1, 1907, Theodore Roosevelt reportedly gave 8,513 handshakes in one day at a White House function, claimed to be the most by a head of state. Who would keep count?

This surely reflected Roosevelt’s populist, outgoing personality and the era’s emphasis on personal touch. Such physical engagement would be virtually impossible today with modern security protocols.

5

The oldest president ever elected

Joe Biden was 78 years and 61 days old when inaugurated on January 20, 2021, which made him the oldest person ever elected to the U.S. presidency at the time. On that date, he surpassed the prior record held by Donald Trump, who was 70 at his inauguration.

The plot twist was that, in 2025, Donald Trump once again recovered the title. When he took office for his second nonconsecutive term, he was 78 years and 7 months old.

6

Elected for four terms

Franklin D. Roosevelt is the only U.S. president to be elected to four terms and stay in office from 1933 to 1945, a total of almost 12 years. He led the nation through both the Great Depression and much of World War II. His unprecedented term length prompted the 22nd Amendment, which now limits presidents to two terms.

7

Largest presidential entourage

President Bill Clinton traveled to China in June 1998 with what Guinness World Records logged as the largest presidential entourage ever: 1,200 people. The logistics included Secret Service agents, military personnel, senior delegates, reporters, White House TV crews, all assorted in vans, limousines, and even aircraft.

8

First African-American U.S. President

Barack Obama holds the historic record as the first African-American president of the United States, inaugurated in 2009.

His election represented a pivotal moment in American racial history and identity. Obama’s presidency inspired discussions about diversity, representation, and societal progress.

9

First president on the radio

Warren G. Harding became the first president to deliver a radio address, marking a revolutionary shift in presidential communication in 1922, during the Lincoln Memorial dedication.

This milestone transformed how leaders reached the public: technology now made it possible for their voices to be heard inside people’s own homes.

10

Longest presidential diaries

Many presidents, from George Washington to Joe Biden, have kept personal diaries, offering raw insight into their minds, decisions, and even moods. But John Quincy Adams kept the longest one: a 15,000-page record, including candid habits like skinny-dipping.

11

Most "Time Person of the Year" titles (male)

Franklin D. Roosevelt earned three "Time Person of the Year" titles (in 1932, 1934, and 1941) more than any other male in history. He presided over both the Great Depression and World War II, becoming a dominant public figure, which earned him those recognitions. These awards reflected his central role in shaping national and global events over more than a decade.

1

Groceries

Sure, the kitchen is massive, and the chef is part of the deal. But when a new First Family moves into the White House, the fridge is not stocked. The President and their family pay for their own food, just like the rest of us. Former First Lady Michelle Obama confirmed it herself. No rent, sure, but groceries are their responsibility. Fair is fair, right?

2

Interior decorations

The White House has its official historic look, but every family wants to make it feel like home. Artwork, new drapes, or a different couch are all allowed, but none of it goes on the government’s tab. If the First Family wants it, they buy it.

3

Personal homes

Even though 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is home base for four or eight years, the president still owns their personal home . All the upkeep, bills, and maintenance back home stay their responsibility.

4

Designer clothing

You might assume designers line up to dress presidents and first ladies for free. Not so. Any clothing they wear, whether off the rack or high fashion, comes out of their own funds . Sometimes designers lend outfits, but any fashion bills are never part of the White House budget.

5

Dry cleaning

And speaking of clothing, special garments don’t clean themselves. While the White House has its own laundry, t he president and family pay for dry cleaning of personal items . Those designer suits and gowns come with a personal laundry tab.

6

Hairstylists

Just like designer clothes, everything related to the First Family’s personal grooming is billed to them . When you’re photographed daily, hair matters. But those stylists? They’re not government employees. Every trim, blowout, and touch-up is paid for privately by the First Family.

7

Vacations and accommodations

Yes, even presidents need a break. When the First Family travels on personal vacations, they foot the bill for their own lodging, food, and fun. Transport and security are covered, but hotels, dinners, and souvenirs? That’s on them.

8

Private events outside the White House

Presidents don’t exactly get to do whatever they please, but if they plan a private dinner or event away from official grounds , they’re responsible for the costs. No taxpayer-funded parties here.

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Private staff

On a similar note, whenever extra waiters, musicians, or planners for a private gathering in the White House are needed, those staff members are hired and paid by the First Family directly. Throwing a soiree at the Executive Mansion might sound glamorous, but the bill lands squarely in their own inbox.

10

Gifts for other dignitaries

Diplomatic gifts are a tradition, and there’s even a special office that helps choose the perfect item for each foreign leader. Depending on the gift and especially if it’s a personal one, the President may have to pay for it themselves. As long as it is diplomatic, the Government pays for it, but if the gift is based on a personal relationship, that comes out of the Chief’s pocket.