Anchuca Historic Mansion – Haunted Mansion in Vicksburg, Mississippi

Anchuca Historic Mansion stands as one of Vicksburg’s most elegant antebellum homes. The Greek Revival masterpiece also harbors some of Mississippi’s most persistent paranormal residents.

Built in 1830, this stately mansion has witnessed nearly two centuries of Southern history. Guests and staff report supernatural encounters that suggest the past refuses to rest quietly.

The name “Anchuca” comes from a Choctaw word meaning “happy home.” Yet the spirits lingering within its walls seem anything but content to remain forgotten.

This bed and breakfast allows modern visitors to experience both luxury and the unexplained. Many guests arrive seeking historical charm but leave with stories of ghostly encounters.

Historical Background

J.W. Mauldin constructed Anchuca in 1830 as a symbol of prosperity. The original structure reflected the wealth and ambition of Vicksburg’s antebellum elite.

Richard Archer purchased the property in 1847 and expanded it significantly. He added the impressive columns and enhanced the Greek Revival architectural elements still visible today.

During the Civil War siege of Vicksburg in 1863, the mansion served multiple purposes. Confederate soldiers used portions of the home while the family sheltered in basement areas.

Artillery fire scarred the mansion’s exterior during the brutal 47-day siege. One cannonball reportedly remains lodged in the structure as a permanent reminder of warfare.

The Archer family maintained ownership through Reconstruction and beyond despite economic hardships. Their descendants lived in the home until the mid-20th century brought necessary changes.

Various owners converted Anchuca into a bed and breakfast in later decades. The mansion now welcomes paying guests into rooms where history and hauntings intertwine.

Paranormal Activity Summary

Disembodied footsteps echo through Anchuca’s hallways during quiet hours throughout the year. Staff members report hearing measured pacing on upper floors when no living guests occupy those spaces.

Cold spots manifest suddenly in specific rooms despite Mississippi’s typically warm climate. These inexplicable temperature drops often accompany other paranormal phenomena including strange sounds and shadowy movements.

Doors open and close by themselves with witnesses present to verify the occurrences. Multiple guests have watched door handles turn slowly before doors swing open to reveal empty hallways.

The scent of period-appropriate perfume and tobacco smoke appears without any logical source. These phantom aromas match descriptions of fragrances popular during the mansion’s antebellum heyday.

Electrical disturbances plague certain rooms more than others despite modern wiring and maintenance. Lights flicker in patterns that electricians cannot explain through conventional troubleshooting methods.

Shadow figures move across walls and through doorways in peripheral vision sightings. Witnesses describe human-shaped darkness that moves with purpose rather than random light anomalies.

Ghost Stories & Reports

The most frequently encountered spirit appears to be a former resident from the Archer family. Witnesses describe an elegantly dressed woman in period clothing from the mid-1800s era.

This female apparition appears most often in what was once the main parlor. She seems to be engaged in hosting duties as if eternal guests require her attention.

Guests sleeping in the master bedroom suite report waking to someone sitting on their bed. The mattress depresses with weight but no visible person creates the indentation.

A male presence makes himself known through the smell of cigar smoke and bourbon. Some theorize this spirit belongs to Richard Archer himself still enjoying his favorite vices.

Children’s laughter echoes from empty rooms particularly in areas once used as nurseries. The sounds suggest playful spirits rather than malevolent entities haunting the upper floors.

One guest reported a full conversation with a woman in Victorian dress near the staircase. The figure vanished mid-sentence leaving the stunned visitor questioning their own perception.

Civil War soldiers allegedly appear in basement areas where families sheltered during the siege. These spirits wear Confederate uniforms and seem unaware of modern visitors sharing their space.

A phantom pianist plays melodies on nights when the music room stands completely empty. The antique piano produces notes despite no one sitting at the keys or touching them.

Staff members have witnessed a rocking chair moving on its own in steady rhythm. The chair rocks as if occupied by an invisible person for several minutes before stopping abruptly.

Most Haunted Spot

The master bedroom suite on the second floor experiences the most concentrated paranormal activity. Guests in this room report multiple phenomena including apparitions, strange sounds, and physical sensations.

The feeling of being watched intensifies near the room’s period furnishings and antique mirror. Some visitors refuse to sleep in this room after experiencing unexplainable events during their first night.

The basement areas where families sheltered during Civil War bombardment also rank highly. These spaces retain an oppressive atmosphere that many sensitive visitors find overwhelming and distressing.

Can You Visit?

Anchuca Historic Mansion operates as a bed and breakfast welcoming overnight guests year-round. The property maintains regular business hours and accepts reservations through standard booking channels.

Room rates vary depending on accommodation choice and season of visit. Guests pay standard bed and breakfast fees rather than separate paranormal investigation charges.

The mansion offers guided historical tours by appointment for non-overnight visitors. These tours include information about both the home’s history and reported supernatural occurrences.

Photography is permitted throughout the property for personal use by guests. Many visitors attempt to capture paranormal evidence using various cameras and recording devices.

Check-in times follow standard hospitality industry practices with afternoon arrival and morning departure. The property does not currently offer dedicated overnight paranormal investigation experiences separate from regular lodging.

Best Time to Visit

Paranormal activity at Anchuca occurs throughout the year without clear seasonal patterns. However, anniversary dates related to the Civil War siege seem to intensify supernatural phenomena.

Late evening hours between 10 PM and 3 AM produce the most frequent reports. These overnight hours allow for quiet observation when daily business activities cease completely.

Some guests report heightened activity during anniversary months of significant historical events. May and July correspond to siege-related dates that may trigger residual energy manifestations.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

A couple celebrating their anniversary reported their bedroom door opening repeatedly throughout one night. They secured the door multiple times only to wake and find it standing wide open.

The wife felt someone stroking her hair while lying in bed before dawn. Her husband was asleep beside her and no one else had access to their locked room.

A business traveler documented strange orbs in photographs taken throughout the mansion’s interior. The glowing spheres appeared in multiple shots despite no dust or moisture in the air.

One guest described waking to find a woman in a white nightgown standing beside the armoire. The figure made eye contact before fading away like dissipating mist in morning sunlight.

A paranormal enthusiast recorded EVP evidence during an overnight stay in 2018. The audio captured a woman’s voice saying “leave us be” when no female guests occupied that floor.

Multiple visitors have reported the same dream of hiding in the basement during bombardment. They describe identical details including the smell of fear and sound of explosions overhead.

Local Legends & Myths

Local tradition holds that a young woman died of yellow fever within Anchuca’s walls. Her spirit supposedly remains bound to the location of her death in what is now a guest room.

Some versions of the story claim she was engaged to be married when illness struck. Her phantom appears still wearing her intended wedding dress searching for her lost groom.

Another legend involves a slave who saved the family during the Civil War bombardment. His warning about an incoming artillery strike allegedly prevented deaths but cost his own life.

Vicksburg residents sometimes claim Anchuca harbors Confederate gold hidden during the war’s final days. No treasure has been discovered but some believe a guardian spirit protects the secret cache.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

Several regional paranormal investigation teams have conducted overnight studies at Anchuca with owner permission. These groups documented electromagnetic field fluctuations in areas corresponding to reported ghost sightings.

Investigators captured thermal imaging showing unexplained cold spots moving through rooms independently. The temperature anomalies appeared as human-shaped masses on infrared cameras before dissipating suddenly.

Audio recordings from multiple investigations contain unexplained voices responding to investigator questions. These Electronic Voice Phenomena include names, dates, and phrases in period-appropriate Southern dialects.

Motion sensors triggered repeatedly in empty locked rooms during one overnight investigation session. No natural explanation could account for the sequential activation pattern observed by researchers.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

Anchuca is private property operating as a commercial bed and breakfast establishment. Visitors must book accommodations or tours rather than attempting unauthorized exploration of the grounds.

The mansion contains antique furnishings and delicate historical artifacts requiring careful treatment. Guests should respect the property and follow all guidelines provided by staff members.

Some areas of the basement have low clearances and uneven surfaces from original construction. Visitors exploring these spaces should exercise caution to avoid injury in dimly lit conditions.

Cursed or Haunted Objects

An antique mirror in the master bedroom suite allegedly shows reflections that don’t match reality. Guests have reported seeing figures in the mirror that aren’t present in the actual room.

The Victorian-era rocking chair mentioned in multiple reports seems to invite supernatural interaction. Staff members have learned to position it carefully after it moves from its designated spot overnight.

A portrait hanging in the main parlor reportedly has eyes that follow visitors across the room. Multiple guests have commented independently on this unsettling optical phenomenon without prompting from staff.

An antique music box plays spontaneously despite its broken mechanism confirmed by multiple repair experts. The tinkling melody occurs most frequently during anniversary dates of family tragedies within the home.