Prospect Hill Cemetery – Haunted Cemetery in Omaha, Nebraska

Prospect Hill Cemetery stands as Omaha’s oldest and most haunted burial ground. The cemetery has witnessed over 160 years of death and sorrow since its establishment.

Visitors report seeing ghostly figures wandering among the weathered headstones at night. Strange mists and unexplained lights frequently appear in photographs taken throughout the grounds.

The cemetery’s location on a hill overlooking the Missouri River adds to its eerie atmosphere. Many believe the elevation serves as a gateway between the living and dead.

Paranormal investigators consider Prospect Hill one of Nebraska’s most actively haunted locations. The sheer number of reported encounters has made it a destination for ghost hunters.

Historical Background

Prospect Hill Cemetery opened its gates in 1858 during Omaha’s early frontier days. The burial ground was established to serve the rapidly growing pioneer community.

The cemetery’s original four acres quickly expanded as disease and hardship claimed many settlers. By 1885, the grounds had grown to encompass over forty acres of burial plots.

A devastating cholera epidemic swept through Omaha in 1866, filling the cemetery with victims. Mass graves were dug to accommodate the overwhelming number of dead during this crisis.

The cemetery became the final resting place for many of Omaha’s founding families. Notable pioneers, Civil War soldiers, and prominent citizens found their eternal rest here.

A tragic fire destroyed the cemetery’s original records building in 1902, erasing crucial information. Many graves lost their documentation, leaving hundreds of bodies unidentified and unmapped to this day.

Paranormal Activity Summary

Shadow figures are the most commonly reported phenomena at Prospect Hill Cemetery. These dark silhouettes move between headstones and disappear when witnesses approach them directly.

Visitors frequently experience sudden temperature drops in specific areas throughout the grounds. These cold spots remain even during hot summer days and appear without any natural explanation.

Disembodied voices calling out names have been captured on audio recording equipment. Many witnesses report hearing their own names whispered despite being completely alone in the cemetery.

Orbs of light float above graves and move in intelligent patterns. These glowing spheres appear most frequently near the older sections dating back to the 1860s.

Electronic equipment malfunctions are reported with alarming frequency at Prospect Hill. Cameras drain batteries instantly, and flashlights fail inexplicably in certain areas of the cemetery.

The sound of phantom footsteps crunching on gravel paths echoes throughout the grounds. These footsteps often follow visitors for several minutes before suddenly stopping without explanation.

Ghost Stories & Reports

The ghost of a young woman in a white Victorian dress appears near the cemetery’s north wall. She has been seen wandering aimlessly, seemingly searching for something she lost long ago.

Witnesses describe her as having long dark hair and a sorrowful expression. She never speaks but occasionally reaches out toward visitors before vanishing into thin air.

Local legend identifies her as Sarah Henderson, who died in 1871 at age nineteen. Records indicate she succumbed to typhoid fever just days before her planned wedding ceremony.

Sarah’s fiancé reportedly visited her grave daily until his own death thirty years later. Many believe she continues searching for him throughout eternity among the headstones.

A Civil War soldier’s apparition has been spotted near the military section since the 1920s. He wears a tattered Union uniform and appears to be standing guard over fallen comrades.

The soldier is believed to be Captain William Morris, who died in 1863. His official death records indicate he perished from wounds received at the Battle of Shiloh.

Visitors report the soldier sometimes salutes them before fading away into nothing. His presence intensifies significantly around Memorial Day and Veterans Day each year.

Children’s laughter echoes from the section dedicated to infant and child burials. This heartbreaking sound occurs most frequently during twilight hours when the cemetery is nearly empty.

Some witnesses have seen ghostly children playing tag among the small headstones. These spirits appear happy and carefree, seemingly unaware that they have passed on.

The children’s section contains over two hundred graves from the 1860s through 1890s. Many victims of scarlet fever, diphtheria, and other childhood diseases rest in this area.

A menacing shadow figure known as “The Watcher” appears near the cemetery’s main gates. This entity reportedly follows visitors throughout their time on the grounds.

Unlike other apparitions at Prospect Hill, The Watcher emanates an overwhelming sense of dread. Many people have fled the cemetery after encountering this particularly aggressive presence.

The caretaker’s cottage near the eastern fence line is another hotspot for activity. Former groundskeeper Thomas Burton died there in 1897 under mysterious circumstances that were never explained.

Burton’s ghost allegedly moves tools and equipment around the maintenance building. Workers have reported seeing his shadowy form walking the grounds carrying his old lantern.

Most Haunted Spot

The Potter’s Field section in the cemetery’s southwest corner experiences the most intense activity. This area contains unmarked graves of indigent citizens and unclaimed bodies from the 1800s.

Visitors to Potter’s Field report feeling grabbed, pushed, and touched by invisible hands. Several people have claimed to see dozens of ghostly figures standing silently among the graves.

The energy in this section feels heavy and oppressive according to paranormal investigators. Many sensitives refuse to enter Potter’s Field due to the overwhelming spiritual presence.

A specific unmarked grave near the southwest corner emits an extremely cold temperature year-round. Ground-penetrating radar has detected multiple bodies buried in this single plot without explanation.

Can You Visit?

Prospect Hill Cemetery remains open to the public during daylight hours every day. The gates open at sunrise and close at sunset throughout the year.

Entry to the cemetery is completely free for all visitors and researchers. No admission fee or reservation is required to walk the grounds during operating hours.

Self-guided tours are permitted, but organized ghost tours are not officially sanctioned by management. However, several local paranormal groups conduct unofficial investigations with proper respect and permission.

Photography is allowed throughout the cemetery for personal and historical documentation purposes. Flash photography is discouraged as it disturbs other visitors paying respects to deceased loved ones.

The cemetery office is open Monday through Friday from nine AM until four PM. Staff members can provide historical information and help locate specific graves upon request.

Best Time to Visit

Paranormal activity intensifies dramatically during the autumn months of October and November. The veil between worlds is believed to thin during this season, increasing spiritual manifestations.

Late afternoon hours just before sunset produce the most frequent ghost sightings. The changing light during golden hour seems to make apparitions more visible to witnesses.

Full moon nights generate particularly high levels of reported supernatural encounters. Many investigators specifically plan their research visits around the lunar cycle for this reason.

Anniversary dates of major tragedies see increased activity throughout the affected sections. The cholera epidemic anniversary in August brings heightened phenomena near the mass grave sites.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

Local photographer Janet Mitchell captured a full-bodied apparition in 2015 while documenting headstones. Her photograph clearly shows a translucent woman standing behind a monument from the 1870s.

The image was analyzed by photography experts who confirmed it showed no signs of tampering. Mitchell insists she saw nothing unusual when she took the shot that afternoon.

Cemetery groundskeeper Robert Hayes reported multiple encounters during his thirty-year tenure until retirement in 2018. He claims to have seen Sarah Henderson’s ghost at least fifteen times near the north wall.

Hayes also described finding fresh flowers on certain graves despite no living relatives remaining. The flowers would appear overnight on specific dates significant to the deceased person’s life.

Paranormal investigator team Midwest Ghost Hunters conducted a formal investigation in October 2019. They recorded over forty EVP responses to direct questions asked throughout the grounds.

Their most compelling evidence came from Potter’s Field where multiple voice recordings were captured. The voices clearly stated names, dates, and pleas for help that matched historical records.

A group of university students conducting historical research in 2017 reported a terrifying experience. All five witnessed shadow figures surrounding them near the Civil War section at dusk.

The students described feeling intense cold and overwhelming fear before fleeing the location. Two students reported being physically pushed by unseen forces during the encounter.

Local Legends & Myths

The “Weeping Angel” statue near the chapel allegedly cries real tears on rainy nights. Visitors have photographed what appears to be moisture streaming from the statue’s stone eyes.

Legend claims the statue was commissioned by a grieving father whose daughter drowned in 1881. The girl’s spirit supposedly inhabits the angel, causing it to weep for all lost souls.

Another persistent legend involves the “Devil’s Chair,” a stone bench near the eastern fence. Anyone who sits on this bench at midnight supposedly receives a visit from death himself.

The bench marks the grave of alleged occultist Jonathan Crane who died in 1889. Local folklore claims Crane practiced dark magic and cursed the bench before his death.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

The cemetery was featured on the Travel Channel’s “Most Terrifying Places” in 2016. Investigators documented compelling video evidence of shadow figures and unexplained light anomalies during filming.

Ghost Adventures investigated Prospect Hill during their 2020 season with shocking results. Host Zak Bagans claimed to be physically attacked by an unseen entity in Potter’s Field.

The team’s equipment registered dramatic EMF spikes and temperature fluctuations throughout the investigation. Their thermal imaging cameras captured what appeared to be human-shaped heat signatures moving independently.

Local paranormal research group Omaha Spirit Seekers has investigated the cemetery over fifty times. They maintain detailed records of phenomena occurring in specific locations throughout the grounds.

Their research has identified at least twelve distinct spirits with recurring manifestation patterns. Each entity appears connected to specific graves or sections of the cemetery property.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

The cemetery strictly prohibits visitors after sunset when the gates are locked. Trespassing after hours can result in arrest and criminal charges for breaking and entering.

Police regularly patrol the area due to past incidents of vandalism and illegal activity. Officers have zero tolerance for anyone found on the grounds outside operating hours.

Visitors should watch for uneven ground and sunken graves throughout the older sections. Several people have suffered injuries from tripping over hidden obstacles and crumbling monuments.

The cemetery management demands respectful behavior at all times from all visitors. Disturbing graves, removing items, or conducting unauthorized rituals will result in immediate removal and potential prosecution.