Wickersham House – Haunted Historic Home in Juneau, Alaska

Perched on a hillside overlooking downtown Juneau sits a white clapboard house with dark secrets. The Wickersham House has watched over Alaska’s capital city since 1898, harboring more than just memories.

This unassuming two-story residence belonged to Judge James Wickersham, one of Alaska’s most influential figures. His spirit reportedly never left the home he loved so dearly.

Visitors and caretakers have reported unexplained footsteps echoing through empty hallways for decades. Shadow figures move across windows when no living person stands inside.

The Alaska State Museum now manages this historic property as a tribute to Wickersham’s legacy. But something else manages the house when darkness falls over Juneau.

Local historians whisper about the judge’s restless energy still permeating every room. Objects move on their own, doors slam without wind, and an unseen presence watches from the shadows.

Historical Background

James Wickersham purchased this modest home in 1928 after decades of public service. He had previously served as Alaska’s delegate to Congress and as a federal district judge.

The house itself was constructed in 1898 during the height of Alaska’s gold rush era. It originally belonged to another prominent Juneau family before Wickersham made it his own.

Judge Wickersham died in the house on October 24, 1939, at the age of 82. He passed away peacefully in his second-floor bedroom surrounded by his extensive book collection.

The home contained over 6,000 books, countless journals, and artifacts from his travels across Alaska. Wickersham had meticulously documented his life and the territory’s early legal history within these walls.

In 1984, the State of Alaska acquired the property to preserve its historical significance. The house remains virtually unchanged since Wickersham’s death, frozen in time like a 1930s museum.

Many believe this preservation of his personal space has kept the judge’s spirit anchored here. His energy seems woven into the very fabric of the building itself.

Paranormal Activity Summary

The most common phenomenon reported at Wickersham House involves unexplained footsteps on the wooden staircase. These heavy, deliberate steps occur most frequently during evening hours when the building is locked.

Security personnel have documented doors opening and closing on their own throughout the property. The judge’s bedroom door is particularly active, often found wide open after being securely latched.

Visitors frequently report sudden temperature drops in specific rooms without any logical explanation. The library experiences the most dramatic cold spots, sometimes plummeting twenty degrees within seconds.

Books mysteriously fall from shelves in Wickersham’s personal collection despite being properly stored. Museum staff have found volumes lying open to specific pages about Alaska law or territorial history.

A shadowy masculine figure appears in second-floor windows when viewed from the street below. Witnesses describe a tall man in early twentieth-century attire staring out toward the city.

Electronic equipment malfunctions with alarming frequency inside the house, particularly recording devices and cameras. Fresh batteries drain completely within minutes of entering certain rooms.

Ghost Stories & Reports

Judge James Wickersham himself is believed to be the primary spirit haunting his former residence. Multiple witnesses have reported seeing his full-bodied apparition in his study and library.

The ghost appears exactly as Wickersham looked in his later years wearing a dark suit. He sits at his desk as if still working on legal documents or writing in his extensive journals.

Museum docents working alone in the building have heard someone clear their throat behind them. When they turn around, no physical person is present but the sensation of being watched intensifies.

One particularly unsettling account comes from a security guard who worked overnight shifts in 2003. He reported hearing distinct conversation coming from the second floor despite being completely alone in the building.

The guard investigated and found no intruders, but the voices continued for several minutes. He described hearing an older man’s voice discussing Alaska statehood with passionate intensity.

A female presence has also been reported, though less frequently than the judge’s spirit. Some believe this could be Wickersham’s wife Deborah, who lived in the house with him.

Visitors have reported the strong scent of perfume in the master bedroom with no source. The fragrance is described as old-fashioned and floral, consistent with early twentieth-century women’s perfumes.

In the kitchen, witnesses have heard the sounds of dishes clattering and water running. These auditory phenomena occur even when the water has been shut off for maintenance.

Local paranormal researchers believe Wickersham’s spirit remains because of his deep attachment to Alaska’s history. He spent his entire adult life fighting for Alaska’s rights and recording its transformation.

The judge’s extensive journals documented everything from Native Alaskan customs to political corruption. Some theorize he stays to ensure his life’s work remains protected and preserved.

Most Haunted Spot

The second-floor library stands as the most paranormally active location within Wickersham House. This room housed the judge’s personal collection of over 6,000 books and his most prized possessions.

Visitors report an overwhelming sense of being watched when standing among the antique bookshelves. The atmospheric pressure seems to change, becoming heavy and oppressive without warning.

Wickersham’s desk in the library is particularly charged with supernatural energy according to sensitive visitors. Some people refuse to sit in his chair, claiming they feel an invisible force pushing them away.

Investigators have recorded unexplained electromagnetic field spikes specifically around the desk area. These readings often correlate with visitors reporting sudden chills or feelings of unease.

The library window where the judge’s apparition most frequently appears overlooks downtown Juneau. He seems to maintain his eternal vigil over the city he helped shape and protect.

Can You Visit?

Wickersham House is open to the public during limited hours from May through September. The Alaska State Museum manages access and provides guided tours of the historic property.

Admission is free, though donations are encouraged to help with ongoing preservation efforts. Tours typically last 30 to 45 minutes and cover both the home’s history and its haunted reputation.

Guided tours are available Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM during summer months. Advance reservations are strongly recommended as tour group sizes remain small to protect the artifacts.

Photography is permitted throughout the house for personal use only. Flash photography is prohibited to preserve the antique furnishings and historical documents on display.

The house closes completely from October through April due to Alaska’s harsh winter weather. Winter access is only granted for special research purposes with advance permission from the state museum.

Best Time to Visit

Paranormal activity at Wickersham House intensifies during the evening hours between 7 PM and midnight. Unfortunately, these are not regular visiting hours for public tours of the property.

Museum staff who work late preparing exhibits report the most frequent supernatural encounters during autumn months. September and early October seem particularly active before the winter closure period begins.

The anniversary of Judge Wickersham’s death on October 24th reportedly brings heightened paranormal activity. Former caretakers claim this date produces the clearest apparitions and strongest unexplained phenomena.

Overcast days with low fog rolling in from Gastineau Channel create ideal atmospheric conditions. Visitors during these weather patterns report more intense feelings of presence and supernatural encounters.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

Margaret Chen, a museum curator who worked at Wickersham House from 2008 to 2015, documented numerous experiences. She reported finding Wickersham’s reading glasses moved from their display case to his desk on three occasions.

The glasses were always positioned as if someone had just removed them while reading. Security footage showed no human entering the room during the times these movements occurred.

A 2012 visitor named Robert Jameson submitted a formal report to the Alaska State Museum. He photographed what appeared to be a transparent figure standing beside the judge’s portrait in the hallway.

The figure in Jameson’s photograph matches historical images of Wickersham during his later years. Professional photo analysis found no evidence of tampering or digital manipulation of the image.

Tour guide Emily Sorensen experienced a particularly frightening encounter in the library during summer 2017. She felt someone grab her shoulder firmly while she stood alone organizing tour materials.

Sorensen turned to find no one present, but she clearly felt five distinct fingers pressing. She immediately left the room and refused to work alone in the building afterward.

Night security guard Thomas Reilly kept detailed logs of unexplained incidents from 2010 to 2014. His reports include over forty separate instances of footsteps, voices, and inexplicable equipment malfunctions.

Reilly noted that activity increased dramatically whenever discussions about selling or significantly altering the property occurred. He theorized the judge’s spirit actively protects his home from unwanted changes.

Local Legends & Myths

A persistent local legend claims that Wickersham’s ghost appears to warn of impending danger to Alaska. Several witnesses reported seeing his apparition before major earthquakes and natural disasters struck the region.

The most famous incident occurred three days before the devastating 1964 Good Friday earthquake. Multiple downtown residents reported seeing a figure matching Wickersham’s description standing in his library window.

Another legend suggests that the judge’s spirit actively influences legal decisions affecting Alaska to this day. Attorneys working on landmark Alaska cases have reported dreams featuring Wickersham offering legal guidance.

Some believe that certain of Wickersham’s journals contain information he didn’t want published during his lifetime. These supposed secret volumes are said to move or hide themselves when researchers get too close.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

The Alaska Paranormal Investigation Team conducted a formal investigation of Wickersham House in October 2016. They documented multiple EVP recordings of an elderly male voice saying “my house” and “Alaska.”

The team’s electromagnetic field detectors registered unusual spikes throughout the library and second-floor bedroom. These energy patterns suggested an intelligent presence responding to questions asked by investigators.

Thermal imaging cameras captured unexplained cold spots moving through rooms in seemingly purposeful patterns. The cold areas appeared to follow the path someone would take when walking from room to room.

A regional paranormal research group from the Pacific Northwest visited in 2019 for a weekend investigation. They recorded footage of books moving on shelves with no physical cause or vibration.

The investigators also captured audio of what sounds like pages turning in the library. This occurred at 2:30 AM when the building was locked and completely empty of living people.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

Wickersham House is state property, and unauthorized entry is considered criminal trespassing under Alaska law. The property is secured with modern alarm systems monitored 24 hours per day by security personnel.

The house sits on a steep hillside with uneven terrain surrounding the property. Visitors should exercise extreme caution when walking around the exterior, especially during wet weather conditions.

The interior contains narrow staircases with worn wooden steps that pose a tripping hazard. People with mobility issues may find certain areas of the house difficult or impossible to access.

Winter conditions make the property completely inaccessible and potentially dangerous due to ice accumulation. The state museum strictly prohibits any visits during the October through April closure period.

Cursed or Haunted Objects

Wickersham’s personal writing desk is considered the most haunted object within the house. Multiple psychics and sensitive individuals report overwhelming emotional energy emanating from the antique furniture piece.

The desk supposedly holds residual energy from decades of the judge’s passionate work. Touching it reportedly triggers visions of historical events Wickersham witnessed during Alaska’s territorial period.

A particular leather-bound journal kept in a glass case has been associated with unusual phenomena. Museum staff report finding it moved to different shelves despite the case remaining locked.

The judge’s reading glasses, mentioned earlier, seem to possess unusual properties of their own. They move from their designated display location with disturbing regularity despite increased security measures.

An antique mirror in the master bedroom has become the subject of numerous visitor reports. Several people claim to have seen Wickersham’s reflection appear briefly before vanishing when they turn around.

The mirror supposedly shows images from the past, including scenes of the judge working at night. One visitor reported seeing the reflection of the room as it appeared in the 1930s complete with period-accurate details.

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