Centennial Hall / University of Nebraska – Haunted Academic Building in Lincoln, Nebraska

Centennial Hall stands as one of the most architecturally impressive buildings on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus. But beneath its stately brick exterior and gothic revival details lurks something far darker than academic pressure.

Students and faculty have reported unexplained phenomena within these walls for decades. The building’s haunted reputation has become such common knowledge that freshmen receive informal warnings from upperclassmen.

What makes this particular academic building so prone to supernatural activity remains a mystery. Some attribute the hauntings to the building’s age and the countless souls who passed through its halls.

Others point to specific tragic events that may have left an indelible mark on the structure. The paranormal experiences reported here range from unsettling to absolutely terrifying.

Historical Background

Centennial Hall opened its doors in 1895 after two years of construction. The building was designed by architect Henry Voss in the gothic revival style popular for educational institutions.

Originally named University Hall, the structure was renamed Centennial Hall in 1967. This rename commemorated Nebraska’s centennial celebration as a state.

The building served multiple purposes throughout its long history on campus. Early on, it housed various academic departments including chemistry, physics, and mathematics.

A devastating fire struck the building in the early 1900s, causing significant damage to the upper floors. Three individuals reportedly perished in the blaze, though official records from that era remain frustratingly incomplete.

During World War II, portions of Centennial Hall were converted for military training purposes. The basement served as a makeshift morgue for soldiers who died during training exercises at the university.

Renovations in the 1970s uncovered sealed-off rooms that hadn’t been accessed in decades. Workers reported finding old medical equipment and surgical instruments suggesting unauthorized medical procedures may have occurred.

The building underwent extensive restoration in 2008 to preserve its historical architecture. Construction crews frequently complained about tools going missing and unexplained cold spots throughout the work site.

Paranormal Activity Summary

The most commonly reported phenomenon in Centennial Hall involves disembodied footsteps echoing through empty corridors. These footsteps typically occur late at night when the building should be completely vacant.

Security guards conducting routine patrols have documented these incidents in official reports for years. The footsteps are described as heavy and purposeful, as if someone is rushing to class.

Cold spots plague certain areas of the building regardless of the season or heating system functionality. Room 304 maintains a temperature approximately fifteen degrees cooler than surrounding spaces with no logical explanation.

Objects mysteriously relocate themselves, particularly in the faculty offices on the third floor. Professors arrive to find books reshuffled, papers scattered, and desk items moved overnight.

Shadow figures are frequently observed in peripheral vision, especially near the main staircase. These dark forms appear human-sized but lack any distinguishing features or solid mass.

Electronic equipment malfunctions with alarming regularity throughout the building. Computers shut down unexpectedly, lights flicker in patterns, and security cameras capture unexplainable visual distortions.

The smell of smoke occasionally permeates the upper floors despite no identifiable source. This phenomenon seems directly connected to the historic fire that claimed lives decades ago.

Ghost Stories & Reports

The most well-known spirit haunting Centennial Hall is known simply as “The Professor.” Students have encountered this apparition dressed in early twentieth-century academic attire complete with vest and pocket watch.

The Professor appears most frequently in what was once the chemistry department on the second floor. Witnesses describe him as elderly with white hair and spectacles, often appearing to write on a chalkboard.

Legend holds that this spirit is Dr. Samuel Hendricks, a chemistry professor who died in 1912. He allegedly suffered a fatal heart attack while lecturing and was found slumped over his desk.

His ghost seems unaware of his death and continues his academic duties in the afterlife. Students report hearing muffled lectures when passing certain classrooms late at night.

Another frequently encountered entity is “The Crying Girl” who haunts the women’s restroom on the third floor. Her sobbing can be heard echoing from the stalls even when the room is completely empty.

Some accounts identify her as a student named Margaret Collins who allegedly took her own life in 1947. She had reportedly received devastating news about her fiancé being killed in post-war military service.

Witnesses who have seen The Crying Girl describe her as wearing a 1940s-style dress. Her manifestation appears translucent, and she vanishes immediately when approached or spoken to.

The basement of Centennial Hall harbors the most malevolent presence known as “The Orderly.” This entity reportedly dates back to when the basement served as a temporary morgue.

Those who encounter The Orderly describe an overwhelming sense of dread and anger. Some report feeling physically pushed or experiencing unexplained scratches appearing on their arms.

Maintenance workers refuse to enter certain basement storage rooms alone after dark. One janitor reported being locked inside a supply closet with no explanation for how the door secured itself.

A group of students conducting an unauthorized paranormal investigation in 2015 captured EVP recordings. The recordings allegedly contained a gravelly male voice saying “Get out” and “You don’t belong here.”

The fourth-floor attic space, now closed to general access, harbors additional unexplained phenomena. Security footage from this area has captured orbs of light moving with apparent intelligence and purpose.

Most Haunted Spot

Room 304 earns the distinction as Centennial Hall’s most actively haunted location without question. This former chemistry laboratory has been the epicenter of paranormal activity for over fifty years.

The room maintains its unnaturally cold temperature year-round regardless of heating adjustments or weather conditions. Students assigned to this classroom frequently request transfers citing the oppressive atmosphere.

Apparitions appear in Room 304 with greater frequency than anywhere else in the building. Multiple witnesses have seen The Professor materializing near the original blackboard that remains as a historical feature.

Equipment failures occur so regularly in this room that the university has installed backup systems. Even these redundant systems experience unexplained malfunctions during lectures and examinations.

The basement morgue area runs a close second for paranormal intensity and malevolent energy. Most staff members avoid this section entirely unless absolutely necessary for their duties.

Can You Visit?

Centennial Hall remains an active academic building, so access is generally open during regular university hours. The building is accessible to students, faculty, and visitors Monday through Friday from 7 AM to 10 PM.

Entry is free as it’s a public university facility, though you must check in at the main office. No official paranormal tours are offered, as the building serves educational purposes first and foremost.

Photography is allowed in common areas but restricted in active classrooms during instruction time. The university requests that visitors respect the academic environment and avoid disrupting classes.

Weekend access is more limited, typically requiring special permission or escort by university personnel. The building is generally locked on Saturdays and Sundays except during special events.

Some areas remain completely off-limits to the general public for safety reasons. The fourth-floor attic and certain basement sections are restricted to authorized maintenance staff only.

Best Time to Visit

Paranormal activity intensifies dramatically during late evening hours between 9 PM and midnight. This timeframe coincides with when The Professor most frequently makes his appearances.

The anniversary of the historic fire in early November sees a significant spike in supernatural occurrences. The smell of smoke becomes particularly pronounced, and shadow figures multiply throughout the building.

Winter months, particularly January and February, seem to amplify the cold spots and entity manifestations. Some researchers theorize that decreased foot traffic during winter break allows spirits more freedom to manifest.

Thursday nights have developed a reputation among students as the most active paranormal evening. Multiple documented incidents and eyewitness accounts cluster around this specific day of the week.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

Professor Janet Morrison documented her experiences in Room 304 in a 2012 faculty newsletter article. She described books flying off shelves, chalk writing appearing on boards, and the persistent cold temperature.

Morrison also reported seeing a full-bodied apparition of an elderly man in period clothing. The figure stood near the window before fading away over approximately thirty seconds.

Graduate student Michael Chen submitted a formal complaint in 2018 about conditions in the building. He reported being physically pushed by an unseen force while conducting research alone late one evening.

Chen’s account included details about hearing his name whispered repeatedly from empty rooms. He recorded audio on his phone that allegedly captured the whispers though the file mysteriously corrupted.

Security guard Thomas Rodriguez has worked night shifts at Centennial Hall since 2010. He maintains a personal log of paranormal incidents that numbers well over two hundred separate entries.

Rodriguez’s most disturbing encounter involved seeing all the lights on the third floor flicker in sequence. This occurred while he stood alone in the building at 2:30 AM on a March night.

A cleaning crew from 2016 collectively witnessed a shadow figure moving across the second-floor hallway. All four crew members provided consistent descriptions of the entity in their independent statements.

The figure appeared to walk through a solid wall into what is now a sealed-off section. Historical blueprints later revealed a doorway had once existed in that exact location.

Local Legends & Myths

One persistent legend claims that students who study alone in Room 304 before major exams receive supernatural assistance. The Professor allegedly helps those struggling with chemistry concepts by leaving helpful notes or book markers.

However, this assistance comes with a dark twist according to campus folklore. Students who accept the ghostly help supposedly experience runs of terrible luck lasting months afterward.

Another myth suggests that The Crying Girl appears as an omen of romantic heartbreak. Female students who encounter her allegedly experience relationship troubles within weeks of the sighting.

Some versions of this legend claim that speaking to The Crying Girl can break the curse. However, most witnesses report being too frightened to attempt communication with the sobbing spirit.

The basement morgue area features in urban legends about secret medical experiments conducted during wartime. These unverified stories claim unauthorized autopsies and procedures occurred on military personnel who died during training.

According to legend, the angry spirits of these servicemen haunt the basement seeking justice. The aggressive nature of The Orderly entity supposedly stems from these alleged historical violations.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

The Nebraska Paranormal Society conducted an official investigation of Centennial Hall in October 2014. Their team documented significant EMF fluctuations in Room 304 and the third-floor corridor.

The investigation captured thermal imaging showing a human-shaped cold spot moving through the basement. This anomaly registered fifteen degrees colder than the surrounding environment with no identifiable source.

Audio recordings from the investigation yielded multiple EVP captures of varying quality and clarity. The clearest recording featured a male voice responding “Samuel” when investigators asked for a name.

A subsequent investigation in 2017 by Midwest Ghost Hunters documented similar findings in identical locations. This independent corroboration lent credibility to the 2014 investigation results and specific claims.

Both teams reported equipment malfunctions that couldn’t be explained by technical issues or user error. Cameras shut down at full battery, recorders stopped working, and EMF readers provided impossible measurements.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

Trespassing in Centennial Hall after official closing hours constitutes a criminal offense under Nebraska state law. Campus security actively patrols the building and will prosecute unauthorized individuals found inside after hours.

The fourth-floor attic and certain basement areas present legitimate structural hazards beyond paranormal concerns. These sections contain asbestos, unstable flooring, and exposed electrical systems requiring specialized safety equipment.

Anyone caught attempting to access restricted areas faces possible criminal charges and university sanctions. Students enrolled at UNL risk academic probation or expulsion for paranormal investigation activities in prohibited spaces.

The university strongly discourages amateur ghost hunting within any campus facilities for liability reasons. Official permission for organized investigations is rarely granted and requires extensive insurance documentation.