As Halloween draws near, graveyards become hotspots for ghost tours and paranormal investigations, with many hoping to capture something supernatural on camera. If you're planning your own spooky adventure, be sure to keep your eyes open— haunting locations have a way of surprising even the most skeptical visitors. To get in the spirit, here are some eerie images of alleged ghosts caught in cemeteries, leaving us to wonder: are they genuine ghosts or trick photography?

1. The Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery Madonna

Bachelor's Grove Cemetery, located in Midlothian, Illinois, is a small and historically significant burial ground with roots stretching back to the early 1800s. Initially serving as a family cemetery for German and English settlers, it holds fewer than 150 documented burials, with the last one recorded in 1989. Over time, the cemetery fell into disrepair and became a focal point for paranormal enthusiasts due to numerous ghost sightings. One of the most famous of these is the 1991 "Madonna" ghost photo, captured by the Ghost Research Society. The photo shows a translucent woman in white, seated on a gravestone, believed by many to be the spirit of a grieving mother tied to the unmarked graves scattered throughout the cemetery.

The authenticity of the "Madonna" ghost photo has been widely debated. Skeptics suggest it could be an elaborate hoax or a result of photographic artifacts such as double exposure or lens flare. However, no definitive evidence has surfaced to debunk the image, and many paranormal researchers continue to view it as one of the most compelling pieces of ghostly evidence ever captured. The combination of its haunted reputation and the unexplained nature of the photograph has only fueled the cemetery’s mystique, making Bachelor's Grove a frequent destination for ghost hunters and curious visitors alike.

2. The Google Maps “Ghost Girl” at Martha Chapel Cemetery

The "ghost girl" photo captured at Martha Chapel Cemetery in Huntsville, Texas, gained widespread attention after being discovered on Google Maps in 2008. While users were virtually exploring the cemetery, they noticed the eerie image of what appears to be a young girl standing behind a tree, leading to speculation that it was the spirit of a child.

Martha Chapel Cemetery, established in the 1830s, is one of the oldest cemeteries in the state and has long been associated with ghost stories and haunted lore. The remote cemetery is believed by some to be a hotspot for paranormal activity, with locals reporting strange occurrences and sightings. The discovery of the ghostly figure on Google Maps has only added to the cemetery's chilling reputation.

3. Sue Howard Hardy’s Ghost at St. Philip’s Church Cemetery

The Sue Howard Hardy ghost photo was taken in 1987 at the historic St. Philip’s Church Cemetery in Charleston, South Carolina. Captured by local photographer Harry Reynolds during a visit to the cemetery, the ghostly figure was unnoticed until the image was developed. The eerie photo shows what appears to be a ghostly woman kneeling in front of a gravestone. The picture gained attention when researchers realized that the figure resembled Sue Howard Hardy, a woman who died in 1888, just six days after giving birth to a stillborn child. The gravestone where the figure was captured is Hardy’s, leading many to believe it is her spirit mourning her lost child.

St. Philip’s Church Cemetery, dating back to the 1600s, is one of Charleston’s oldest and is known for its ghostly lore. Locals have reported strange sightings and paranormal activity for years, with the cemetery’s long history and tragic tales—like Hardy’s—adding to its haunted reputation. Many believe that Hardy’s enduring grief keeps her spirit tethered to the cemetery, making the photo one of Charleston’s most compelling ghost stories.

4. The Boothill Cemetery Ghost

The famous Boothill Cemetery ghost photo, taken in 1996 by a tourist named Terry Ike Clanton, has become one of the most well-known ghost images in the paranormal community. Clanton, a descendant of the Clanton family involved in the infamous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, was taking a photo of a friend dressed in Old West attire at Boothill Graveyard in Tombstone, Arizona. Upon reviewing the photo, Clanton noticed a mysterious figure in the background that appeared to be a man in a cowboy hat, seemingly rising from the ground with no legs visible.

Boothill Cemetery, established in 1879, is the final resting place for many of Tombstone’s outlaws, lawmen, and pioneers, including those killed in the O.K. Corral shootout. The cemetery earned its name because many of its occupants "died with their boots on," often meeting violent or sudden deaths. With a history steeped in violence and lawlessness, the cemetery has long been rumored to be haunted, and Clanton’s photo only added to its eerie reputation, leading many to believe the ghostly figure could be the spirit of one of Tombstone’s notorious gunfighters.

5. The Tynemouth Priory Specter

In August 2022, Mandy Steel from Sunderland visited Tynemouth Priory in North Tyneside with her family and unknowingly captured what appears to be the image of a ghostly woman. After snapping photos of the historical coastal graveyard, Mandy later noticed a mysterious figure dressed in old-fashioned clothing standing behind a family in one of the shots. Oddly, Mandy didn’t see the woman at the time, nor did her daughter’s camera capture anything unusual, despite taking pictures from the same spot. Taken on a bright afternoon, the photo shows a figure wearing a long coat and hat while at a distance from a group of visitors. At the time, everyone else present was wearing summer clothing.

Tynemouth Priory, which sits on a dramatic clifftop overlooking the North Sea, dates back to the 7th century and was once one of the most important monasteries in England. The site has a rich history, serving as a burial place for several Northumbrian kings, including Oswin of Deira. The priory was later fortified as a castle, enduring numerous sieges over the centuries, before falling into ruin in the 16th century, although its graveyard continued to be used for burials. The ancient grounds have long been associated with ghostly legends and eerie sightings.

6. Jim Morrison’s Ghost in Père Lachaise Cemetery

In 1997, a photograph allegedly capturing the ghost of Jim Morrison at his gravesite in Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris stirred widespread interest among fans and paranormal enthusiasts. The image shows rock historian Brett Meisner standing in the cemetery as a suspicious ghostly figure appears in the background with its arms outstretched, striking a pose reminiscent of Morrison's famous "arms-out" stance. Jim Morrison, lead singer of The Doors, died in 1971 under mysterious circumstances, with heart failure being the official cause.

Père Lachaise, established in 1804 and one of the most famous cemeteries in the world, is the resting place of many notable figures, including Morrison. His grave has become a pilgrimage site for fans, often accompanied by tales of eerie occurrences. The ghostly figure in Meisner’s photo went unnoticed for five years until it was spotted in 2002, and the image has since been analyzed and deemed authentic by experts. Meisner has since stated he regrets going to the cemetery on that fateful day, as a number of eerie events seemed to plague him after his visit. Some people wonder if Morrison truly "broke on through to the other side" or if Meisner’s photo is a case of pareidolia.

7. Ghost “Children” in an Unnamed Minnesota Cemetery

In a video by YouTuber Midwest Ghost Hunter, he explored an abandoned cemetery in Minnesota, a site that was once part of a thriving town but had since become a ghost town. Visitors to the cemetery had reported experiencing a high level of paranormal activity, with local residents often warning investigators to stay away due to the eerie occurrences. During his investigation, the YouTuber came across a smashed grave and heard unsettling noises, realizing he was not alone. He continued exploring and took several pictures near a tombstone, hoping to capture evidence of the supernatural. Upon reviewing the images, he discovered what appeared to be the ghostly figures of two children standing near the gravestone. The sighting raised questions about whether these two children were spirits haunting the cemetery, adding to the already chilling reputation of the graveyard. Was this just a case of pareidolia, or did the video really capture a sighting of two unknown ghost children? Despite the warnings, the abandoned site continued to draw the attention of paranormal enthusiasts.

8. Sir George "Bloody" Mackenzie of Greyfriars Kirkyard

Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh, Scotland, is notorious for its association with Sir George "Bloody" Mackenzie, who played a brutal role in persecuting the Scottish Covenanters in the late 1600s. After the Battle of Bothwell Bridge in 1679, Mackenzie oversaw the harsh imprisonment and execution of many Covenanters, whose mass grave is believed to be within the kirkyard. Ironically, Mackenzie himself was buried in the Black Mausoleum in 1691, and his malevolent spirit is said to haunt the area. The kirkyard became notorious for violent paranormal activity, with visitors reporting mysterious injuries and eerie experiences near the mausoleum. Paranormal disturbances intensified in the late 1990s after a homeless man accidentally disturbed Mackenzie's grave.

In 1999, spiritualist medium Colin Grant was called upon to perform an exorcism in an attempt to rid the kirkyard of Mackenzie’s spirit. During the ritual, Grant confessed to struggling with the exorcism and redirected his efforts to freeing the souls of the Covenanters buried there. As the exorcism neared its conclusion, a photograph was taken showing a dark, shadowy figure in a window of the locked mausoleum. Grant ominously predicted that the exorcism would be the death of him, and tragically, he passed away unexpectedly just weeks later. The eerie photograph, coupled with Grant’s sudden death, has only deepened the kirkyard’s chilling reputation as one of the most haunted places in Scotland.

9. Mrs. Andrews’ Ghost Baby in Australia

Mrs. Andrews' ghost baby photo, taken in 1947 at a cemetery in Queensland, Australia, is one of the most mysterious ghost images ever recorded. Mrs. Andrews had visited the grave of her deceased 17-year-old daughter Joyce, and took a photo to capture the moment. However, upon developing the image, a clear figure of a small child appeared sitting atop the headstone, even though there were no children present at the time. Intriguingly, the graves of two infant girls were found nearby, raising the possibility that the apparition could be the spirit of one of those children. While some skeptics argue the photo could be explained by a double exposure — taken either by accident or as a hoax — no solid evidence has been found to support this theory. If not the result of a photo error, the the image may be one of the clearest ghost photos ever captured. Mrs. Andrews did not recognize the baby in the picture, so the identity of the alleged spirit still remains unknown.

10. Apparitions in St. Augustine

The haunted cemetery in St. Augustine, Florida, featured on Ghost Augustine tours, is one of the city's most historically rich and paranormally active locations. St. Augustine, founded in 1565, is the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement in the U.S., and its cemeteries reflect centuries of history, including the colonial period, epidemics, and even pirate raids. Among the most famous hauntings is the presence of Judge John Stickney, whose body was exhumed and moved in 1903, but local lore suggests his spirit lingers at his original burial site.

In 2022, a photo taken on Ghost Augustine's "Haunted St. Augustine" tour captured what appears to be two ghostly entities. One figure, in the upper left corner, is speculated to be Judge Stickney. While some skeptics have claimed the photo might be photoshopped, noting that one entity bears a striking resemblance to Nosferatu’s iconic creepy head, others believe it could be genuine evidence of the cemetery's haunted reputation. The debate continues, with enthusiasts pointing to the area's long history of hauntings as a reason to believe the photo may, in fact, capture the spirits that still roam the ancient graveyard.

Do you think these haunting photos can be debated and debunked, or do you believe in their authenticity? For more alleged photographic evidence of ghosts, check out 10 Photos of Unexpected Ghosts and Entities Taken at Family Gatherings and 6 Images of Ghost Monks Caught on Camera!

Explore more creepy cemetery tales in Written Confession: The Barefoot Horror in the Cemetery, Written Confession: The Shadow in the Cemetery, and Written Confession: A Night at the Children’s Cemetery in Massachusetts.