Every creepy ghost story at William and Mary

As if you needed a reason not to study in Tucker Hall

With William & Mary’s rich history, it’s no surprise that there are many legends around campus.

Over the years, many ghost stories have come up about various buildings. Yeah, most of them are probably creaky pipes, shrinking buildings, and open windows causing drafts…but they are kind of scary nonetheless.

The Wren Building has a few skeletons in their closet

Not only is the Wren Building the oldest building on campus, but it has been through three fires and was used as a hospital during the Revolutionary War, so it is said to be a hotspot for paranormal activity. Sounds of footsteps have been heard throughout the building, rumored to be either the ghosts of Revolutionary War soldiers, or Christopher Wren himself, admiring the building he created.

Students have also claimed to see a soldier roaming on the third floor of Wren, by a room where a soldier died from war injuries during the Revolutionary War.

PBK Hall has a dress wearing haunter

The ghost story of Phi Beta Kappa Memorial Hall starts when a girl who was going to be the lead in a play died while visiting home. One night, when the new lead of the play was practicing alone, she saw the dress she was supposed to wear for the show sitting upright in one of the audience’s seats.

Don’t pull an all nighter in Tucker Hall

Arguably the most famous ghost story at W&M is the legend in Tucker Hall. Supposedly in the 1980s, a girl hanged herself in the third floor bathroom while studying. It’s said that her ghost will visit students who are pulling all-nighters in Tucker, and ask them how their exams are going. If they say they’re going well, she’ll scream and throw a fit until the student leaves.

Exclusive photo of the ghost herself, terrifying a W&M student

The President’s House is haunted by a Native American boy

The Brafferton Building, currently serving as the president’s house, was built in 1723 as housing for Native American boys who were being taught the Gospel and Christian values. The legends vary; some say the boys would try to escape at night but would always be caught and brought back, while others say that the boys would run through the Sunken Gardens at night to feel one with nature.

In the past years, students have claimed hearing footsteps, sobbing, and  the sound of drums in and around the building. Some have even claimed to have seen the form of a Native American boy, and legend has it that on foggy nights, you can see the boys running across the Sunken Gardens.

Rare ghost sighting on the Sunken Gardens

Other stories about the president’s house go back to a fire there in the 18th century. It was believed that everyone made it out alive, but soon afterwards children would report feeling a comforting presence in the building. It is believed that this presence was that of a man who died in the fire who missed his children.

A final legend in the president’s house is that of a closet door that would never stay closed. No matter what they tried, the door would remain open, even after using furniture to block it. While doing renovations, they found the skeleton of a young, unidentified girl in the closet. After giving her a burial, the door would remain closed.


Whether you believe in ghosts or not, it’s interesting to wonder about the truth behind the stories. And even if you’re a non-believer, it might be a good idea to avoid Tucker the next time you have to pull an all-nighter, or just don’t be that annoying student whose work goes well for them.

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