Merchant’s House Museum – Haunted Historic House in Manhattan, New York

Tucked away on East 4th Street in Manhattan’s NoHo neighborhood, the Merchant’s House Museum is a rare surviving slice of 19th-century New York life—and one of the city’s most haunted buildings. Once home to the affluent Tredwell family, this preserved row house carries eerie reminders of its past. From creaking floors to ghostly apparitions, many believe the spirits of former residents never truly left.

Historical Background

• Year Built: 1832
• Original Purpose: Private Residence
• Significant Events:
  • Home to the Tredwell family for nearly 100 years.
  • Gertrude Tredwell, the last surviving daughter, was born and died in the house.
  • Despite citywide modernization, the home remained unchanged—frozen in time.
  • No violent crime occurred, but decades of sorrow, death, and isolation have left an emotional imprint on the walls.

Paranormal Activity Summary

Visitors and staff have reported a steady stream of unexplained phenomena over the years.

• Cold spots are frequently felt in empty rooms.
• Unseen hands are said to brush against visitors.
• Footsteps echo from upper floors when no one is there.
• Doors open and close on their own, and objects shift position overnight.
• The most notable ghost? Gertrude Tredwell—seen in her bedroom window or silently drifting through the halls.

Ghost Stories & Reports

The main spirit believed to haunt the Merchant’s House is Gertrude Tredwell, who died alone in the home in 1933.

• Guests and staff claim to see a woman in 19th-century attire peering from behind curtains or descending the staircase.
• In the nursery, children’s laughter and the clinking of old toys are sometimes heard.
• A phantom perfume scent—floral and heavy—wafts through empty rooms with no discernible source.
• Local lore says that Gertrude never forgave her father for forbidding her true love. Some believe this heartbreak bound her to the home in the afterlife.

Most Haunted Spot Inside

Gertrude’s bedroom is by far the most active area. Visitors report cold air brushing their cheeks and sudden dizziness upon entering. Some even hear whispers when standing near her bed.

Can You Visit?

• Open to the Public? Yes
• Entry Fee: $15 for adults
• Tour Availability: Self-guided and guided tours available; Candlelight ghost tours held on select nights in October
• Photography Allowed? Yes (no flash)
• Visiting Hours: Thursday through Sunday, 12 PM – 5 PM

Best Time to Visit

Fall is prime ghost season, with the most sightings occurring around October. Twilight hours seem to spark the most activity.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

Visitors frequently share stories of strange encounters in the guestbook and on paranormal forums. One guest claimed, “A cold hand gripped mine as I climbed the stairs—when I turned, no one was behind me.” Paranormal investigators have documented temperature drops, EMF spikes, and unintelligible whispers on EVP recordings.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

The museum has been featured on several TV shows, including Ghost Adventures and Mysteries at the Museum. In one investigation, a psychic medium claimed Gertrude’s spirit still watches over her family’s home, fiercely protective of its contents and visitors.

Cursed or Haunted Objects

An antique rocking chair in the parlor is rumored to move on its own. Staff avoid sitting in it, believing it’s tied to a former Tredwell who died suddenly in that room.