St. Augustine's Ghosts: The History behind the Hauntings

by Karen Harvey

From doomed pirates to mischievous soldiers to spectral nuns, this collection of 38 spine-chilling tales features famous spirits from St. Augustine’s legendary paranormal past. Set in the city’s iconic cemeteries, courtyards, and houses, these stories recount the most mysterious encounters and sightings that have been passed down for generations among residents of St. Augustine. Many of the sites are along St. George Street, one of the oldest streets in the United States. Here you will find a priest’s exorcism of evil spirits at the request of a man who became the city’s mayor; the head of a Seminole warrior rising like the moon above the Castillo de San Marcos; restless ghosts lurking in hallways; eerie lights inside a mausoleum; a bishop’s exploding casket; and a lighthouse keeper whose voice can still be heard in the wind. Today, visitors flock to the beachside city to enjoy spooky ghost tours and stay in haunted bed-and-breakfast inns. The stories they hear capture the rich history of the city and those who have inhabited it. St. Augustine’s ghosts have deep roots in Spanish lore dating back to the founding of the city in 1565 and in the culture of immigrants from the Mediterranean island of Minorca who were brought to Florida as indentured servants in 1768. With each ghostly tale, Karen Harvey invites you to explore the quaint brick streets of the nation’s oldest city for yourself. Who knows what you might discover?

112 pages, Paperback

Published October 16, 2018

Reviews

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've taken a lot of ghost tours in St. Augustine (its become somewhat of a tradition) and have heard various versions of all the stories in this book. I've always wondered about the authenticity and history behind these stories, where did they come from? Are they based off real people or just myths?

On a whim I picked this book up at the Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine. The author, a historian, is a former reporter and ghost tour guide, recounts the most common stories told (James, the exploding corpse, Osceola's head, Elizabeth, the Judge, etc) and explains the historical or mythical figure that sparked or inspired the stories we hear about today.

As many will suspect a lot of the stories are over dramatized (of course, where's the fun otherwise?) but it's nice to see that some stories match historical events as closely as possible (the accident at the lighthouse that killed three children, for example).

Definitely worth the read if you're curious about the historical "backstories" of some of St. Augustine's most famous ghost stories.