Potter’s Wax Museum – Haunted Attraction in St. Augustine, Florida

Potter’s Wax Museum has been freaking out visitors since 1948, making it one of the oldest wax museums in the United States. Located in the heart of America’s oldest city, this eerie attraction is said to be haunted by spirits who don’t appreciate being frozen in time—or maybe they just really love the wax figures.

Historical Background

Year Built: 1948

Original Purpose: The building was constructed as a wax museum and tourist attraction, though it occupies a site with much older colonial history dating back to St. Augustine’s Spanish settlement era.

Significant Events: The museum sits in a city with over 450 years of history, including battles, executions, and yellow fever epidemics. Some believe the restless spirits from St. Augustine’s violent past have taken up residence among the wax figures, unable to distinguish between the living and the eerily lifelike displays.

Paranormal Activity Summary

Visitors and staff report hearing disembodied footsteps echoing through empty halls and feeling sudden cold spots near certain exhibits. Wax figures have allegedly been found in different positions than where they were left, and shadow figures have been spotted darting between displays after hours.

The most common complaint? Feeling like you’re being watched by something that isn’t made of wax. Security cameras have captured unexplained light anomalies and mist-like formations moving through rooms when the museum is completely empty.

Ghost Stories & Reports

The Phantom Caretaker is said to be a former museum employee who loved the place so much, they never really left. Staff members report tools being mysteriously moved, doors locking on their own, and the sensation of someone brushing past them in narrow corridors.

The Spanish Soldier is another frequently mentioned spirit, possibly connected to the building’s location in the historic district. Visitors have reported seeing a translucent figure in period military clothing near the colonial-era exhibits, only for it to vanish when approached.

Some guests swear the wax figures themselves come alive at night. While this sounds like classic museum-after-dark horror movie stuff, multiple witnesses claim to have seen figures’ eyes following them or subtle movements in their peripheral vision.

Local legend suggests that creating lifelike human replicas somehow attracts actual human spirits. Whether they’re confused, curious, or just want to hang out with their waxy doppelgangers remains a mystery.

Most Haunted Spot Inside

The Chamber of Horrors exhibit is hands-down the creepiest section, where visitors report the strongest paranormal activity. This area features gruesome historical scenes and infamous criminals, and people often feel overwhelming dread, nausea, or the sensation of being touched by invisible hands.

Can You Visit?

Open to the Public? Yes

Entry Fee: General admission is approximately $12.99 for adults and $8.99 for children (prices may vary).

Tour Availability: The museum is open for self-guided tours during regular business hours. Special nighttime paranormal tours may be available seasonally—check their website for current offerings.

Photography Allowed? Yes, photos are encouraged throughout most of the museum.

Visiting Hours: Typically open daily from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, but hours may vary by season.

Best Time to Visit

Late evening visits, especially during the fall and around Halloween, tend to produce the most paranormal reports. The dimmer lighting and smaller crowds create an atmosphere where the unexplained becomes a bit more… noticeable.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

A former night security guard reported hearing a woman’s voice singing softly when doing rounds, despite being completely alone in the building. When he investigated, the singing would stop, only to resume from a different location moments later.

Multiple visitors have shared online reviews mentioning an overwhelming feeling of sadness in certain sections of the museum. One tourist described feeling a cold hand grab their shoulder near the presidential exhibit, turning around to find absolutely no one within ten feet of them.

Paranormal investigation groups have recorded EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomena) sessions with unexplained responses to questions. In one notable recording, investigators asked if any spirits were present, and a voice allegedly responded with “always here.”

Local Legends & Myths

There’s a persistent rumor that one of the wax figures in the museum is actually a real preserved body. While the museum has repeatedly debunked this claim, the legend persists, with some visitors convinced they can tell which figure it is based on an unusual “energy” it gives off.

Another local legend suggests that George Potter, the museum’s founder, cursed the building to ensure it would never be torn down or converted into something else. Whether his spirit lingers to enforce this supernatural protection is a question that keeps paranormal enthusiasts coming back.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

Several paranormal investigation teams have conducted overnight investigations at Potter’s Wax Museum with intriguing results. EVP recordings have captured unexplained voices, and investigators have reported equipment malfunctions in specific areas of the museum.

The museum has been featured in various paranormal blogs and local ghost tour itineraries. St. Augustine Ghost Tours often include the museum in their historical haunted locations list, citing both its age and the numerous reports from credible witnesses.