Step into the haunted history of Illinois’ Farnsworth House with the Tormented & Lost Souls Tour. Uncover ghost stories, eerie sightings, and explore an architectural masterpiece with a chilling past.
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Difficulty
easy
Duration
1.5–2 hours
Fitness Level
Suitable for most ages; lacks strenuous physical activity
Wildlife
History
The Farnsworth House was completed in 1951 and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2006, but local legends about ghostly encounters have persisted for decades.
Conservation
The tour promotes awareness about preserving the historic building while respecting its haunted reputation, emphasizing respectful tourism.
Historic Farnsworth House
Step into the haunted history of Illinois’ Farnsworth House with the Tormented & Lost Souls Tour. Uncover ghost stories, eerie sightings, and explore an architectural masterpiece with a chilling past.
Historic Farnsworth House offers guided tours, paranormal investigations, living-history shows, and specialty events in a preserved Civil War–era property. Located in Gettysburg, the Farnsworth House is listed as a National Historic Place and draws visitors interested in military history, Victorian domestic life, and paranormal investigation.
Visitors can choose from a variety of experiences that interpret the house’s Civil War significance and its later Victorian-era character. The Farnsworth House Tour highlights the attic used by a Civil War sharpshooter, a Victorian viewing parlor with an antique coffin, and exterior walls bearing more than one hundred bullet holes. Medical history programs such as the Blood, Guts and Glory Civil War Medical Presentation present authentic instruments and a lifelike operating-room demonstration to examine wartime medicine.
For guests seeking the supernatural, the property offers the Mini Paranormal Night, Haunted Cellar Tour, Tormented & Lost Souls Tour, and gallery readings by professional mediums during special events. Outdoor programming includes Campfire by the Creek Ghost Stories beside a flowing stream. The site also stages family-friendly entertainment like A Civil War Era Magic Show…. LIVE!, performed by a veteran magician with decades of experience.
Group sizes for investigative nights are limited to maintain an intimate experience; some tours specify a 15-person maximum. The Farnsworth House operates as a curated historic attraction and event venue, emphasizing factual interpretation, trained guides, and artifacts connected to the Civil War and Victorian periods. Visitors are encouraged to book specific experiences in advance to secure preferred dates and times. Tours run seasonally.
Tours Offered
10
Historic and paranormal experiences available
Historic Designation
National Historic Place
Documented Civil War significance
Small Groups
15 max
Intimate paranormal investigations
Special Guests
Featured Medium
Gallery readings with April Busset
Reserve limited-capacity experiences and special events in advance to guarantee preferred dates for history tours, live shows, and ghost investigations.
Attend with an open mind
Expect ghost stories and spooky encounters; emotional responses vary.
Dress appropriately for the season
Prepare for evening chills, especially in cooler months.
Bring a flashlight
Helpful in dark areas and to enhance the eerie atmosphere.
Arrive early for parking and check-in
Ensure ample time to get settled before the tour starts.
Comfortable walking shoes
Necessary for walking through the house and grounds comfortably.
Warm clothing
Outer layers needed for evening chills and variable weather.
winter
Sound recorder or smartphone
Capture EVP or record the eerie ambiance.
Flashlight
Helps illuminate dark corners and enhances the spooky experience.