If you’re the kind of traveler who prefers cold chills to sandy beaches, the strange echoes in the night over the buzz of city nightlife, then you’re going to want to add The Georgetown Morgue in Seattle, Washington, to your bucket list.
Located in the historic Georgetown neighborhood, this infamous morgue has earned a reputation far beyond the Pacific Northwest as one of the most unsettling and potentially haunted places in the country. Whether you’re a paranormal investigator with a passion for spectral phenomena or just a thrill-seeker with a love of spine-tingling history, the Georgetown Morgue offers a fascinating (and frightening) experience unlike any other. But be warned—this is not your average haunted house attraction. This is a place soaked in mystery, death, and chilling tales that have stood the test of time.
The History
A Mortuary With Murky Origins
The Georgetown Morgue’s recorded history begins in the early 20th century, but its exact origins remain somewhat murky—an appropriate start for such a famously mysterious place. Constructed in the early 1920s, the building functioned primarily as a crematorium and mortuary. Situated along Airport Way South, its location made it a central processing site for deceased bodies in Seattle during an era when the city was rapidly expanding.
Reports suggest the facility processed thousands of bodies over several decades, with a steady increase during the 1940s and 1950s. The morgue’s function as a crematory led to macabre tales about its furnaces that continue to feed its haunted reputation today.
The Legend of the Mass Slaughter
Perhaps the most notorious story tied to the Georgetown Morgue is the alleged mass killing of seven mortuary workers in the 1960s. According to local lore, an unknown assailant or group locked the workers inside the crematorium chamber and activated the furnace. No arrests were ever made, and the incident was allegedly hushed up, registered as an unfortunate “accident” by authorities at the time.
While records of the incident are difficult to obtain—or have possibly been suppressed—the story has become an inescapable part of the morgue’s dark legacy. Gossip? Urban legend? Or terrifying truth? For paranormal investigators, the lack of confirmation only adds to the intrigue.
Transformation Into a Haunted Attraction
In the early 2000s, the building was acquired by the team behind Seattle’s premier Halloween attractions, who recognized its potential beyond its grim past. Rather than simply build a haunted house within the building, they chose to incorporate its real-life history into the attraction’s theme. What better setting for a horror experience than a place that already reeks of authentic terror?
Every year, especially during Halloween season, thousands of visitors flock to the Georgetown Morgue to walk its hallways, brave its maze-like interior, and maybe—just maybe—encounter something unexplainable.
The Haunt
Unexplained Phenomena and Eyewitness Accounts
As you might expect from a place with such a history, The Georgetown Morgue has been the site of numerous reported paranormal encounters. Visitors and staff alike have shared chilling experiences that range from mildly unsettling to downright terrifying.
- Phantom footsteps: The most commonly reported phenomenon includes the sound of heavy, deliberate footsteps echoing through the empty halls—often when no one else is around.
- Cold spots: Numerous visitors have experienced sudden drops in temperature, often in specific areas of the building—most notably near the crematorium room.
- Shadow figures: Several eyewitnesses report catching quick-moving shadows out of the corner of their eye. One staff member claims to have seen a dark silhouette vanish behind the furnace itself.
- Disembodied voices: Whispers, screams, and muffled crying have all been reported, especially during nighttime investigations when the building is devoid of live actors.
Paranormal Investigations
The Georgetown Morgue has been a topic of interest for ghost hunters and paranormal researchers for years. Numerous teams have spent overnight vigils inside its haunted walls, documenting everything from electronic voice phenomena (EVPs) to spirit box sessions revealing creepy—and sometimes intelligible—responses.
One notable investigation conducted in 2018 by a local Seattle ghost-hunting group yielded some eerie audio recordings. A female voice was captured saying “help us” in a section of the building formerly used for body storage. Investigators also recorded unexplained EMF spikes and a sudden battery drain on all their equipment when they approached the original furnace room.
Many psychics and empaths who have visited the site claim to feel an overwhelming sense of dread or emotional heaviness just upon entering. Some refuse to step inside a second time.
The Urban Legend Lives On
Though definitive proof of haunting remains elusive—like in nearly all paranormal cases—the sheer volume of firsthand experiences can’t be ignored. Whether the spirits of those seven workers truly linger in the building or whether residual energy from decades of death and grief permeates the space, The Georgetown Morgue remains a magnet for those fascinated by the unknown.
Ghost Hunters Welcome
For those who live for the thrill of uncovering the supernatural, The Georgetown Morgue is more than just another attraction—it’s a rite of passage. The blend of historical tragedy, unexplained occurrences, and a building steeped in sorrow makes it a truly unique destination in the United States’ catalog of haunted places.
The site is open for public tours during the Halloween season, but private paranormal investigations may be arranged during the off-season. If you’re planning your first visit, keep your camera ready, your recorder on, and your instincts sharp—you never know when something may reach out from the other side.
Are you brave enough to enter? The spirits of the Georgetown Morgue just might be waiting for a visit.