The Whitney

At one of Detroit’s most haunted locations, you can enjoy fine food and drinks while you dine with ghosts. The Whitney is a beautiful mansion with a rich history and is no stranger to the paranormal, with encounters reported for decades. Throughout its 132-year history, it has been a family home, the headquarters of the Wayne County Medical Society, a tuberculosis ward, and finally the restaurant it is today.

Lumber baron David Whitney Jr. built the home in 1894 to be a home for him and his family. Whitney only lived in the home a short time before he died in his bedroom in 1900. His widowed wife, Sarah, also died in the home in 1917. Some evidence suggests the couple never left, as guests experience a heavy presence and loud footsteps whenever Whitney is near; some even spot his phantom figure walking around.

Some believe Sarah roams the grounds with her husband, but a psychic medium claims Whitney’s first wife, Flora, Sarah’s older sister, is actually the one lingering around. Only a year after Flora’s death, Whitney married her younger sister, Sarah. The original idea of the home was for Flora and their family, but she died before the mansion was built. Flora’s ghost is said to haunt the third-floor restroom, where she can be heard weeping out of devastation. Devastation from never living in her dream home, or because her husband quickly married her younger sister after her death? Perhaps both.

The Carriage House is considered the most haunted part of the property. A tea set belonging to Grace, Whitney and Flora’s daughter, is permanently placed inside to honor her memory. Reports of breaking dishes and other unexplained activity ensue if the tea set is moved but cease when returned to its exact spot.

The ghosts of small children seem to haunt the Carriage House. Their voices have been frequently recorded and heard by guests. Guests have heard disembodied knocks on the walls, thought to be the children playing.

Other hauntings include elevator doors opening and closing on their own, cold winds, a wandering woman, objects moving in the basement, and unexplained coughing fits. The coughing fits are thought to come from when the mansion housed tuberculosis patients.

The Whitney is certainly a hotspot for activity. The staff takes pride in their paranormal residents and honors the ghosts in several ways. They have ghost tours twice a month, led by professional paranormal investigative team Dye Paranormal. They also have paranormal dinners and an annual Halloween Paranormal Adventure; both include exploring the grounds, history, and paranormal activity. On the third floor is their famous “Ghost Bar.” Inspired by the spirits in the house, it is advertised as a place to enjoy spirits with real spirits. You may catch a glimpse of the original owner there, as David Whitney Jr. is rumored to be seen at the Ghost Bar on occasion, enjoying a drink.

Henry Ford Estate

When visiting the Henry Ford Estate, guests have seen an apparition following them throughout the house. Some assume this entity is Henry Ford himself, but it is not. Paranormal investigators have photographed this ghost, and to some surprise, it is actually Ford’s butler. This ghost is rumored to strongly dislike messes in the house, so when people visit, the butler promptly cleans up after them.

This ghost butler seems to like the house in a particular order. Whether visitors litter or bring dirt into the house, the butler won’t be too far behind to clean up their mess. In addition to cleaning, he seems to close windows, doors, and cabinets. Visitors have witnessed them close by themselves when left open. When he isn’t cleaning up after guests, he has been seen sitting in some of the Ford cars on the estate.

Even in death, this butler doesn’t seem to take a day off. While it’s not encouraged to trash someone’s house, if you accidentally drop a gum wrapper, rest assured the ghost butler will clean up after you.

Detroit Institute of Arts

While not officially recognized as haunted, the Detroit Institute of Arts has a collection of incredibly old artifacts and paintings, so it’s no surprise the staff and guests continuously have unexplained experiences. Staff report hearing disembodied footsteps, loud thuds, and unexplained echoing through empty galleries. On the overnight shift, staff report unexplained activity, such as hearing heavy items being dragged across the floor, only to find nothing amiss. Strange noises frequently occur in the African Exhibit.

Guests believe the African Exhibit’s “The Nail Figure” is the museum’s most paranormally charged artifact. Known as “Nkisi Nkonde,” created between 1875 and 1900 by the Kongo people, the Nail Figure served as a container for powerful medicines and a spiritual force. The figure was activated through ritual blessings, verbal incantations and the driving of nails. It performed specific functions, including healing illnesses, warding off harm, and even harming enemies. In traditional Kongo beliefs, this figure is a spiritually charged object meant to hunt those with evil intentions, resolve conflicts and help those in need.

Locals have experienced strange noises and felt an eerie presence when near the figure. Security guards have reportedly witnessed the artifact moving or performing a tribal dance at night.

Visitors report an unusual feeling when entering the African gallery and have noticed the figure’s eyes glowing. Perhaps the figure still has the energy trapped inside of it and is trying to fulfill its purpose as a hunter.

Another nightly occurrence, according to staff, includes seeing shadow figures. Staff have seen these figures moving through the halls, notably near the Egyptian exhibit, which houses a real mummy.

The mummy contains real human remains and dates back to between 30 BCE and 395 CE. Visitors report feeling strong emotional reactions and a general sense of apprehension when entering the exhibit and viewing the mummy. Nearby containers house different human organs, an Egyptian tradition during the mummification process, something said to fuel the paranormal energy.

Detroit is no stranger to mummies wreaking havoc. In 2009, the DIA’s next-door neighbor, the Science Center, held the “Accidental Mummies” Exhibit, which was a traveling exhibition featuring mummified remains from Mexico. During this time, staff reported feeling uneasy, as if they were being watched, along with unexplained temperature drops.

Shortly after hosting the exhibition, the museum suffered a financial crisis and was ultimately forced to close its doors. Most interestingly, several other museums that hosted the same exhibit also faced severe financial disasters right after the exhibition. Locals believe the mummies are responsible for this string of disasters, calling it the “mummy’s curse.”

While the DIA shows no sign of a financial crisis, it’s incredibly possible they have a mummy of their own roaming the halls at night. Perhaps the shadow figures seen at night are actually the mummy roaming the halls.