Key West Cemetery – Haunted Historic Burial Ground in Key West, Florida

Established in 1847 after a devastating hurricane washed away graves from other Key West cemeteries, this 19-acre burial ground holds approximately 100,000 souls—more people buried here than currently live in the city. Known locally as part of the “Island of Bones,” the cemetery is protected by the legendary Bahamian Guardian, an angry female spirit who violently confronts anyone who disrespects the dead.

Historical Background

Year Built: 1847

Original Purpose: The cemetery was established as Key West’s main burial ground after the catastrophic Hurricane of 1846 struck the island with 200 mph winds and massive storm surge. The devastating storm not only killed many residents but also washed away graves from existing cemeteries, necessitating a new, more secure final resting place.

Significant Events: The cemetery became the final resting place for victims of yellow fever epidemics that plagued Key West throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s. It also holds the graves of 260 sailors killed when the USS Maine exploded in Havana Harbor in 1898, along with many soldiers who died during the Spanish-American War. The cemetery reflects Key West’s turbulent history of hurricanes, disease, and maritime tragedy.

Paranormal Activity Summary

The Bahamian Guardian, an aggressive female spirit, patrols the cemetery grounds and becomes violently angry when visitors sit on tombstones or walk across graves. Witnesses describe her as extremely threatening, and she vanishes into thin air when approached.

A playful young girl’s voice lures visitors through the cemetery, calling out to them as if playing hide-and-seek. Those who follow the voice eventually discover they’ve been led to the grave of a twelve-year-old girl.

Ghost Stories & Reports

The most feared spirit is the Bahamian Guardian, believed to be protecting the dead from disrespect and desecration. She appears suddenly to those who violate cemetery etiquette, her face twisted in anger before she disappears without warning.

The twelve-year-old girl’s spirit is far more playful, engaging visitors in what seems like a game. Her disembodied voice floats through the pathways, giggling and calling out, leading people on a winding journey that always ends at her own grave marker.

Cemetery folklore holds that spirits of those who died in sudden or violent ways are particularly restless here. Visitors report encountering shadowy figures, hearing unexplained voices, and witnessing strange orbs of light floating among the tombstones.

Most Haunted Spot Inside

The grave of the twelve-year-old girl serves as a focal point for paranormal activity, where her playful voice is most frequently heard. The area near the USS Maine memorial also experiences heightened activity, with witnesses reporting the sounds of sailors’ voices and the sensation of invisible hands touching them.

Can You Visit?

Open to the Public? Yes

Entry Fee: Free

Tour Availability: The cemetery is accessible during daylight hours for self-guided exploration. Multiple ghost tour companies in Key West include the cemetery on their nightly tours, though visitors cannot enter the grounds after dark.

Photography Allowed? Yes

Visiting Hours: Daily, sunrise to sunset (the cemetery is closed after dark)

Best Time to Visit

Visit during late afternoon as the sun begins to set for the most atmospheric experience and increased paranormal activity. While the cemetery closes at sunset, this twilight hour is when spirits are said to be most active and when the Bahamian Guardian is most likely to appear.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

Numerous visitors report being followed by the mysterious child’s voice, describing how it seemed to move through the cemetery grounds, always staying just out of sight. Many recount the eerie experience of finding themselves standing at the grave of a young girl after following the voice.

Multiple witnesses describe encounters with the Bahamian Guardian, particularly after sitting on tombstones or stepping on graves. They describe an overwhelming sense of dread followed by the appearance of an angry woman who approaches threateningly before vanishing completely.

Photographers frequently capture unexplained orbs, shadowy figures, and mysterious lights in their photos that weren’t visible to the naked eye. Some images reveal full apparitions standing among the graves that no one saw while taking the picture.

Local Legends & Myths

The legend of the Bahamian Guardian suggests she may be a woman who lost family members in one of Key West’s many tragedies and now eternally watches over the cemetery. Some believe she was a victim of the 1846 hurricane herself, forever bound to protect the graves that were lost in that storm.

Local lore claims that the cemetery’s location on what was once Native American burial grounds contributes to its intense paranormal activity. The combination of ancient spirits and more recent tragic deaths has created what ghost hunters call a “perfect storm” of supernatural energy.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

Ghost tour guides and paranormal investigators consistently report the cemetery as one of Key West’s most actively haunted locations. EVP recordings have captured children’s laughter, disembodied voices calling out names, and what sounds like conversations in various languages.

Investigators using EMF meters report consistent spikes near certain graves, particularly those of children and victims of tragic deaths. The cemetery’s reputation has made it a featured location for multiple paranormal research teams studying why certain burial grounds retain such intense spiritual activity.

Cursed or Haunted Objects

The famous humorous tombstones, including one reading “I Told You I Was Sick,” are said to retain the personality and energy of those buried beneath them. Some visitors report feeling different emotions—from humor to deep sadness—when touching certain headstones, as if the spirits are communicating their feelings through the stone itself.