Q: This small and spooky northeast Kansas town was once home to more millionaires per capita than any other community in the United States. It’s still filled with dozens of mansions, many of which are believed to be haunted. What’s the name of the place that’s often called “the most haunted town in Kansas?”
View of 3rd and Commercial Streets looking west, Atchison, Kansas Territory. Business buildings and horse drawn wagons are visible on the street. Date: Between 1859 and 1861 (Image Courtesy of Kansas Historical Society / kansasmemory.org) |
A: Atchison
One of the oldest communities in Kansas, Atchison is a river town blessed with an amazing number of magnificent homes. Gaze down the beautiful brick streets – lined with trees – and it's easy to believe that this town was once home to more millionaires per capita than any community in the nation (some say as many as 57 millionaires lived in Atchison at one time!). There is, however, another feature to the architectural beauty of these stately homes. Some are believed to contain otherworldly inhabitants. For years, Atchison residents have told stories of strange happenings in their homes. Perhaps these spirits are ghostly millionaires who linger beyond their Earthly time to guard their fortunes? Whether you believe in such tales or not, you can see many of these homes by taking a “Haunted Trolley Tour” of Atchison, where you get to drive by many mansions and other spooky places. Visitors can purchase tickets through the Atchison chamber and at the Santa Fe Depot. Before you plan a trip to Atchison, you might want to check out the book Haunted Kansas, written by Topeka author Lisa Hefner-Heitz and published in October 1998. This well-researched book makes the claim that Atchison is “the most haunted town in Kansas”… and many residents agree. Find more details here:
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If you'd like to learn more about these individual Atchison haunts, visit Haunted Atchison.