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10 Urban Legends 👻 Things That Go Bump in the Boston Night

From phantom motorcyclists to haunted hotels, Boston is rife with chilling tales. Here are 10 Boston urban legend. Some you’ve certainly heard before, others might be brand new to you.

  1. The Boston Strangler So we all know this guy was real - Albert DeSalvo confessed to the series of chilling murders in the early '60s. But local lore whispers that the *real* Strangler never got busted.

  2. The Lady in Black of Fort Warren Imagine a Civil War damsel trying to bust her hubby outta a fort and ending up getting him killed. Now picture her executed and her spirit, cloaked in black, haunting the fort to this day. Georges Island just got a bit creepier, huh?

  3. The Haunting of the Omni Parker House This isn't just one of Boston's oldest hotels; it's also one of the most haunted. Founder Harvey Parker is still playing the host on the 10th floor, making sure you're comfy. If you're lucky, you might even bump into Charles Dickens' ghost, who's still hanging around from his stay in the 1860s.

  4. The Curse of the Boston Red Sox Ever wonder why the Sox had an 86-year World Series dry spell? Locals chalk it up to "The Curse of the Bambino," a hex put on the team when they sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees. The Sox finally smashed that curse in 2004, but it's still part of Boston folklore.

  5. The Boston Tickler This modern legend tells of a foot fetishist who breaks into homes just to tickle unsuspecting sleepers' feet. Too creepy. Part criminal, part Boogeyman, the Tickler is today's urban legend incarnate.

  6. The Screaming Woman of the Charlesgate Originally a swanky hotel, this Back Bay building screams "haunted." Literally. A woman's wails echo through the halls, rumored to be from a suicide that took place there decades ago. Not exactly what you want in your apartment ambiance.

  7. The Ghost of the USS Constitution They say there is an old sailor ghost hanging around "Old Ironsides. Visitors have reported a specter decked out in period naval attire so next time you tour the ship, keep an eye out.

  8. The Phantom Motorcyclist of the Callahan Tunnel Late-night drivers in this harbor tunnel have reported a ghostly biker cruising beside or even through them. Next time you're driving late, maybe let that phantom biker pass.

  9. The Green Line Ghost A shabby specter is said to haunt the tracks between Boylston and Park Street Stations. Just another passenger trying to get to his spectral 9 to 5.

  10. The Shadowy Hounds of the Hanging Tree Lastly, we have Boston Common's spectral pooches. They're said to circle the infamous "Hanging Tree" at night, spirits of the executed seeking some canine revenge.

So what do you think? Which one might actually be true? Let us know in the comments!