Haunted Atchison, Kansas

Haunted Atchison, Kansas

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Muchnic House – Built in 1885, this old home was host to frequent Saturday night parties. On one such evening, the event ran into the wee hours of Sunday morning. Having been kept up very late, a maid who had worked the party the prior evening overslept the next morning. Rushing from her bedchamber, she ran down the back staircase to the kitchen and fell to her death. Today, witnesses report that lights from the back staircase turn on and off by themselves on Sunday mornings, followed by the smell of cooking bacon from the kitchen when no one is there. This house, which serves as an Art Gallery today, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 12, 1974 and is located at 704 N. 4th Street.

Muchnic House, November, 2004, Kathy Weiser.

Reader Update: My husband and I took a guided tour of the Muchnic House two years ago, and I had quite an interesting experience. The nice lady who gave us the tour was giving us all the history of the house when I happened to glance up to the top of the stairs and saw a young woman, maybe early 20's, peering over the edge of the banister. She seemed to be regarding us with wary curiosity, as if to say, " What are you doing here?!?" When we went upstairs to tour the rest of the house, noone was up there!! It wasn't until we took the Haunted Trolley tour that I learned about the young woman who supposedly died there, falling down the stairs. I've also had some other spooky experiences at other places in Kansas, as well. - Anonymous, February, 2005

The Majestic House, 18936 262nd Road – This large three story native stone structure was built by the Brothers of St. Benedict’s Abbey in 1890. The building served as a Bed and Breakfast Inn for several years and was said to have been haunted by the old monks of Atchison. Both the owners and guests often reported hearing noises coming from the Music Room, that was once a chapel in the old building. Others have heard the sounds of doors opening and closing, seemingly on their own, and footsteps in the hallway, when no one was there. Sounds were often heard by people on the first floor coming from the story above, when no guests were in residence. Said to been a benevolent spirit, the owners of the B&B believed that their unearthly guest was that of an old monk, who continued to linger protecting the old building.

While serving as a B&B, the old structure was lovingly restored. Recently, however, the Bed and Breakfast closed and the old structure is now a private residence.

Updated June, 2005

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Theatre Atchison, 401 Santa Fe Street - Built in 1913, as the First Church of Christ, Scientist, the building was modeled after the architectural lines of its Mother Church in Boston. In 1973, the Presbyterian Church bought the building and ten years later they created a community theater organization. Today the Building is known as the Presbyterian Community Center and is home to Theatre Atchison. Allegedly, it is also home to an unearthly spirit. Guests often describe feeling an unknown presence with them while visiting the theatre, while others working in the building describe odd noises that are often heard that have no apparent earthly cause.

Theatre Atchison

Atchison, Kansas Depot Postcard

The Santa Fe Depot - Built in 1880 as a freight depot for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway, the old depot stands as a landmark to Atchison's historic past. The restored building houses a Kansas visitor information center, historical museum and Chamber of Commerce offices. A trolley takes visitors on tours around the historic city, including a Haunted Atchison Tour.

The Depot is reportedly haunted by the ghost of "Hangman Bill," a railroad worker known for his habit of hanging from freight being loaded on and off cars. However, this prankish skill got him killed one day when the cable carrying one of the loads snapped and he was buried beneath the freight cargo. At the Santa Fe Depot today, staff reports hearing the sound of footsteps coming from above; however the depot does not have a second floor.

Haunted Atchison Trolley Tour - In September and October of every year, the Atchison Trolley provides a “Creepy Crawly Trolley Tour” where experienced storytellers relive the many Atchison hauntings as the trolley passes by historic homes and other spooky places of this old city. The demand for this tour is so high that the City of Atchison recently bought another trolley to keep up with the many people wishing to take the tour. Even so, you need to make your reservations early as the tour often sells out months in advance. Tickets go on sale every year on June 1st. For more information, call (800) 234-1854

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