Did you know Galveston isn't just famous for hurricanes; it's also pretty famous for being haunted. In fact, a number of books, Web sites and ghost hunters claim it's one of the most haunted cities in America.
Naturally, I'm always up for a little historical spookiness, which is a good thing because this fall the Galveston Historical Foundation has added a "Spirits of the Past" Cemetery Tour to its Haunted Happenings offerings...and they say the "hauntings" are happening at the Broadway Cemetery.
Apparently, this cemetery isn't just full of rotting corpses. It's got some interesting local people and a few history-makers buried there.
Of course, they can't guarantee any of the ghosties will actually appear - because you just can't tell a dead person what to do, but they do say the spirit of Major General James B. Magruder who led a land and sea operation that successfully returned the City of Galveston to the Confederacy in 1863 is there - although I didn't see him. Not that I'm complaining. I love the ghosties , but am totally afraid of them at the same time.
Anyways, if you go and have more balls than I do, you may also sense (or maybe see if they really like you) the Perugini Brothers. These two guys were born on the same date two years apart. They later joined the Navy in separate states on the same day, unbeknownst to each other. And then they both died on the same day in a torpedo gun turret in World War II.
Spooky. I have goosebumps just typing this.
MORE GHOSTS TO SEE
But the cemetery isn't the only haunted place on the island. According to the people at the Historical Foundation, there are a lot more ghosties around.
They also have a couple more tours that will leave you wondering just what it is that goes bump in the night.
Ashton Villa's Are We Haunted? Tours
Every Friday in October: 5 p.m., 7 p.m., 9 p.m
October 31: 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
The one-hour tour checks out the Ashton Villa which may be haunted by the spirit of "Miss Bettie," the daughter of the house's first owner, James Moreau Brown.
Haunted Harbor Tours Aboard Seagull II
Every Friday and Saturday in October: 4:30 p.m.
October 30 and 31, 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
This tour presents a frightening look at the many tragic events that have occurred in and around Galveston Harbor for their guests aboard the 50-foot passenger boat, Seagull II.
Haunted Cemetery Tours
October 29, 30, 31, 2009, 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Tickets for all the "Haunted Happenings" tours are available at GHF's website: www.galvestonhistory.org.
Adult prices are:
$20 for Ashton Villa
$15 for Haunted Harbor
$12 for Haunted Cemetery.
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