Hampton-Preston Mansion – Haunted Mansion in Columbia, South Carolina

The Hampton-Preston Mansion stands as one of Columbia’s most elegant antebellum homes. Its grand columns and stately presence hide centuries of tragedy and unexplained phenomena.

Visitors to this historic house museum report shadowy figures in period dress. Disembodied voices echo through rooms where Confederate generals once planned their strategies.

The mansion has witnessed death, heartbreak, and the chaos of Sherman’s March. These traumatic events seem to have left permanent marks on the property.

Staff members refuse to work alone in certain areas after dark. Objects move on their own and cold spots appear without explanation.

The building now serves as a museum showcasing wealthy Southern life. But the past refuses to stay buried within these historic walls.

Historical Background

The mansion was constructed in 1818 for Ainsley Hall, a wealthy Columbia merchant. Hall built the home as a symbol of prosperity in the growing capital city.

Wade Hampton I purchased the property in 1823 for his daughter Caroline. The Hampton family was among the wealthiest planter families in the South.

Caroline Hampton married John Preston in 1830, creating a powerful family alliance. The Prestons expanded the home significantly during their decades-long residence.

General Wade Hampton II, Caroline’s brother, died in the mansion in 1858. His death from illness at age 60 deeply affected the entire family.

Union General William T. Sherman used the mansion as his headquarters in 1865. His troops occupied Columbia and burned much of the city around the property.

The mansion miraculously survived the Great Fire of Columbia in February 1865. Most surrounding homes were reduced to ash and rubble.

Sherman allowed the Preston family to remain in one room during occupation. The general reportedly respected the home’s elegant architecture and fine furnishings.

Mary Cantey Hampton Preston died in the mansion in 1886 after a long illness. Her presence is said to linger in the upstairs bedrooms.

The property changed hands several times in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Each new family reported strange occurrences they couldn’t explain.

Historic Columbia purchased the mansion in 1969 for preservation and restoration. Workers during renovation encountered numerous unexplained events.

Paranormal Activity Summary

The most common phenomenon reported is the appearance of spectral figures in period clothing. These apparitions walk through rooms as if still conducting daily business.

Visitors frequently report sudden drops in temperature in specific areas. These cold spots move through rooms and disappear without warning.

Disembodied footsteps echo on the grand staircase when no one is present. The sounds match the pattern of someone wearing boots from the 1800s.

Doors lock and unlock themselves throughout the mansion day and night. Staff members have found secured rooms standing wide open in the morning.

The scent of roses appears suddenly in rooms without flowers present. This phantom fragrance is associated with Caroline Hampton Preston’s favorite perfume.

Objects move from their designated positions despite careful museum documentation. Curators find furniture shifted and items relocated overnight.

Shadow figures dart across doorways in peripheral vision throughout the building. These dark forms move too quickly to identify but appear humanoid.

Voices speaking in hushed tones emerge from empty rooms on the second floor. The conversations sound urgent but words remain indistinct.

Electronic equipment malfunctions regularly without technical explanation in certain areas. Cameras drain rapidly and recording devices capture strange interference.

Several notable spirits are believed to haunt the mansion permanently. The Preston family members seem most attached to their former home.

Ghost Stories & Reports

Caroline Hampton Preston is the most frequently encountered spirit in the mansion. Witnesses describe a graceful woman in an elaborate 1850s gown.

She appears most often in the formal parlor where she once entertained guests. Her apparition moves through the room inspecting furnishings as if preparing for visitors.

One museum docent reported a full conversation with Caroline’s ghost in 2003. The spirit asked about changes made to the home’s interior.

The docent initially believed she was speaking with a historical reenactor. Caroline’s figure vanished mid-sentence when another tour group entered the room.

General Wade Hampton II’s spirit walks the second-floor hallway near his deathbed room. Staff members report seeing a tall man in military dress uniform.

His ghost appears distressed and confused about his surroundings. Some witnesses believe he doesn’t realize he has passed away.

The general’s apparition has been photographed multiple times by surprised visitors. Images show a transparent figure standing near the hallway window.

Mary Cantey Hampton Preston haunts the bedroom where she died in 1886. Her ghost sits in a rocking chair near the window overlooking the garden.

Visitors report hearing the chair rock rhythmically when the room is empty. The sound stops immediately when someone enters to investigate.

A museum curator saw Mary’s full apparition in 1997 during an evening event. The spirit smiled sadly before fading away like morning mist.

The ghost of a young enslaved girl appears in the basement kitchen area. She wears simple clothing and appears to be working at invisible tasks.

This spirit never acknowledges living witnesses and seems trapped in residual energy. Her appearance suggests trauma that imprinted on the location itself.

Union soldiers from Sherman’s occupation manifest as shadow figures near the entrance hall. Multiple witnesses report seeing groups of dark forms moving together.

These shadows sometimes carry the impression of rifles and military equipment. They march in formation before disappearing through walls.

Local folklore suggests General Sherman himself returns to the mansion occasionally. His ghost allegedly walks the first-floor rooms examining the preserved furnishings.

A phantom child’s laughter echoes through the nursery on the second floor. The Preston family lost several children to illness during their residence.

Staff members find toys moved from display cases in this room regularly. The items appear carefully arranged as if recently played with.

Most Haunted Spot

The second-floor master bedroom where Wade Hampton II died generates the most activity. Visitors report overwhelming sadness and difficulty breathing in this space.

The room’s temperature drops significantly compared to surrounding areas even in summer. Multiple ghost hunting groups have recorded EVP phenomena here.

Tour guides report feeling watched by unseen eyes when entering this bedroom. Many refuse to remain in the room alone for any length of time.

Photographs taken in this space frequently show unexplained orbs and light anomalies. Some images capture what appears to be a figure lying in the bed.

The grand staircase connecting the first and second floors also experiences intense activity. Apparitions of multiple time periods use these stairs simultaneously.

Can You Visit?

The Hampton-Preston Mansion is open to the public as a house museum. Historic Columbia operates the property as part of their museum network.

Admission fees are $10 for adults and $5 for children and students. Historic Columbia members receive free admission to all properties.

Guided tours run Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM. Tours last approximately 45 minutes and cover all accessible floors.

Special paranormal investigation events occur several times yearly by reservation only. These after-hours experiences allow extended time with ghost hunting equipment.

Photography is permitted throughout the mansion during regular tours without flash. Paranormal investigators may use specialized equipment during special events.

The mansion is closed Sundays, Mondays, and major holidays throughout the year. Weather may occasionally impact tour schedules during severe conditions.

Reservations are strongly recommended especially during peak tourist seasons in spring and fall. Walk-in visitors are accommodated when space permits on tours.

Best Time to Visit

Paranormal activity increases dramatically during the anniversary week of Sherman’s occupation in February. The spirits seem more active during this historically significant period.

Late afternoon tours between 3 PM and 4 PM generate the most reports. The fading daylight seems to encourage manifestations throughout the building.

October through December shows heightened supernatural activity according to staff records. The cooler months align with several death anniversaries in the mansion’s history.

Special evening events offer the best opportunity for personal paranormal experiences. Darkness and smaller groups create ideal conditions for spirit communication.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

Museum director Rebecca Bush documented her encounter with Caroline Preston’s ghost in 2008. She saw a woman in period dress ascending the staircase during an evening walkthrough.

Bush followed the figure upstairs but found the second floor completely empty. Security footage showed no one entering or exiting the building during that time.

Tour guide Michael Chen reported a disturbing experience in the master bedroom in 2015. An invisible force grabbed his shoulder while he explained the room’s history to visitors.

Chen felt distinct fingers pressing through his jacket onto his skin. Multiple tour participants witnessed him react to the unseen contact.

Visitor Sarah Michaels photographed an unexplained figure in the parlor in 2019. Her image clearly shows a transparent woman standing beside the fireplace.

Michaels submitted the photo to Historic Columbia for their paranormal archive. Professional analysis found no evidence of digital manipulation or double exposure.

Paranormal investigator James Richardson conducted an overnight investigation in 2012 with his team. They recorded over 30 distinct EVP responses to direct questions.

Richardson’s most compelling evidence was a voice identifying itself as Wade Hampton. The recording matches historical descriptions of the general’s speaking patterns.

A wedding photographer captured a shadow figure in the background of portraits in 2017. The dark form appears in multiple shots taken in rapid succession.

The photographer reviewed all images and found the figure moved between frames. No wedding guests or staff members matched the shadow’s location or appearance.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

The Atlantic Paranormal Society investigated the mansion in 2010 for their research database. They documented significant electromagnetic field fluctuations throughout the second floor.

Their investigation recorded temperature drops of 15 degrees within seconds in the master bedroom. No natural explanation could account for such rapid environmental changes.

Local paranormal group Columbia Spirit Seekers conducts quarterly investigations with Historic Columbia’s permission. They maintain extensive documentation of recurring phenomena patterns.

The group has collected over 200 EVP recordings since beginning their research in 2013. Many recordings feature multiple distinct voices responding to investigator questions.

Thermal imaging cameras have captured unexplained heat signatures in human form multiple times. These thermal anomalies move independently through rooms on recorded footage.

EMF detectors consistently spike in specific locations without electrical sources present. The staircase and master bedroom generate the strongest consistent readings.

Several psychic mediums have visited the property and reported identical information. All described seeing Caroline Preston, Wade Hampton II, and several unnamed servants.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

The mansion is structurally sound and poses no physical danger to visitors. All areas open to the public meet current safety codes and accessibility standards.

Visitors must remain with tour groups and not wander into restricted areas. Some sections of the mansion are closed for preservation purposes.

The property is legally protected as a historic landmark with strict regulations. Vandalism or theft of any artifacts results in criminal prosecution.

After-hours trespassing is illegal and actively monitored by security systems. Police respond immediately to unauthorized presence on the grounds.

Some visitors experience emotional distress from the intense spiritual energy present. Staff members are trained to assist anyone feeling overwhelmed by the atmosphere.