Things that go BOO

Well, it’s that time of year, when ghosts and goblins roam the streets. Thanks to hit television shows like Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures, ghosts are enjoying extreme popularity these days. As Halloween nears, many historic sites and towns offer ghost tours. I took a ghost walk around Historic Annapolis last Saturday night, and my companion and I both felt it was a wonderful way to learn the history of that historic town. Our guide “Sir Frederick” had a wonderful way of weaving history into his ghostly tales, and all 25 of us on the tour were riveted for 90+ minutes. We visited the graveyard outside of St. Ann’s Church, in use since 1692, the Maryland State House, the Governor’s Mansion, and the William Paca House, all complete with their very own stories of the mysterious and unseen. While most of the tour was outside – allowing us to enjoy the unseasonably warm weather – we got to go inside the Paca House with the Rattner – a first-person interpreter in costume who took us through the (battery-powered) candle-lit house while regaling us with ghost stories. And don’t you know we heard one of those ghosts rattling chains?! (A rattner, for those of you who, like me, are unfamiliar with the term, is one who spent nights collecting rats. Fun job, right?)

This experience made me wonder if ghost tours were successful in drawing people into learning more about the history they are exposed to during the tours. I know I came home with a list of things to research, but then, I am a history nut so I’m not a good test case.

I did a quick search online to see if I could find any useful information for museums considering doing such a program, and I came up with one article that touched on ghost tours from the business standpoint. (See the full article here.) The Salem Museum Historical Society near Roanoke, Virginia is embarking on their thirteenth year of ghost tours. “We have found no more effective way to teach folks about local history than the Ghost Walk,” said Museum Director John Long. “Think about it– if the people in a cemetery could rise up and tell us about their lives, how much could we learn? Our Ghost Walk gives us the chance to talk to our forebears, in a sense.” Like the Annapolis tour, Salem uses costumed interpreters to impart knowledge to the tour goers. “What makes the Ghost Walk enjoyable is the quality of the acting,” added Assistant Museum Director Helen Johnson. “All of the actors are volunteers, and several are teachers by profession. I think that testifies to the educational value of the Ghost Walk. Folks learn history and have fun doing it.”

I don’t know if ghost tours have been studied in depth to see if they are worthwhile programs that result in repeat museum visits after October 31 passes. I have added it to my list of things to research further. In the meantime, weigh in below if you have a great ghost tour story or evidence that they have helped your site cultivate new audiences. And don’t forget to look behind you on Sunday night! Boo!