Eerie New York: The Merchant's House Museum

What would you do if you were charged with the preservation of a National Historic Landmark that was widely believed to be haunted? Would you ignore the rumors and carry on? Resign and run in fear? The board members of the Merchant's House Museum in Manhattan don't just appreciate their museum's ghostly reputation, they embrace it... and that attitude alone has placed this museum at the very top of my list of NYC's most interesting haunted places.

Built in 1835 (and formerly known as the Seabury Tredwell House), the beautiful Merchant's House Museum was home to the Tredwell family for more than 100 years. Given its extensive history and a massive collection of more than 3,000 items once belonging to the family tucked away inside, it's no surprise that many people believe their spirits still haunt the halls of the home today.

Skeptics and believers alike can decide for themselves if the stories are true by attending a variety of annual and year-round MHM events such as private candlelight ghost tours of the building. As if that weren't exciting enough, the museum is also currently hosting a raffle, the winner of which will be invited to participate in an investigation of the premises led by an Historic Paranormal Research team.

Photo courtesy of wikipedia.org.