Bennington Battle Monument – Haunted Monument in Bennington, Vermont

The Bennington Battle Monument towers 306 feet above Vermont’s landscape. This limestone obelisk marks where Revolutionary War heroes once fought and died.

Visitors come to admire the view from its observation deck. Some leave with stories of ghostly soldiers and unexplained phenomena that defy explanation.

The monument has stood since 1891 as a memorial to fallen patriots. It commemorates the Battle of Bennington fought on August 16, 1777.

Strange occurrences plague this historic tower throughout the year. Guards and tourists report seeing uniformed figures that vanish into thin air.

The surrounding grounds hold secrets of their own dark past. Blood soaked into this soil over two centuries ago during brutal combat.

Historical Background

Construction on the Bennington Battle Monument began in 1887. Workers completed this massive stone structure four years later in 1891.

The monument stands on the site of the Bennington ammunition storehouse. British General John Burgoyne sent troops to raid these critical supplies in 1777.

American General John Stark led Vermont militia and New Hampshire troops against them. The resulting battle claimed hundreds of lives on both sides over two days.

Colonel Seth Warner commanded the Green Mountain Boys during the conflict. His forces arrived on August 16 to secure American victory against German mercenaries.

The British suffered over 900 casualties including death and capture. American forces lost approximately 70 men in the fierce fighting.

Bodies littered the battlefield for days after the combat ended. Many soldiers were buried in unmarked graves across the surrounding hillsides.

The monument’s dedication ceremony drew thousands of visitors in 1891. President Benjamin Harrison attended to honor the Revolutionary War dead.

Construction workers reported strange incidents during the four-year building process. Several men claimed to see ghostly soldiers watching them from nearby trees.

Paranormal Activity Summary

The most common phenomena involve apparitions of Revolutionary War soldiers. Witnesses describe men in period military uniforms appearing near the monument’s base.

These figures typically wear blue Continental Army coats or German mercenary uniforms. They appear solid and real before fading away within seconds.

Cold spots plague the monument’s interior elevator shaft year-round. Visitors report sudden temperature drops of 20 to 30 degrees without explanation.

Disembodied voices echo through the observation deck at the top. Multiple witnesses have recorded what sounds like shouted military commands in German.

The smell of gunpowder manifests inside the monument without any source. This acrid scent appears strongest during August around the battle’s anniversary date.

Phantom drumbeats and fife music drift across the grounds at dawn. Park rangers have investigated these sounds only to find no living musicians present.

Electronic equipment malfunctions frequently inside the monument’s elevator. Cameras drain their batteries instantly while recording devices capture unexplained static.

Shadow figures dart between the monument’s pillars at its base. These dark shapes move with purpose as if patrolling the perimeter.

Visitors report feeling watched by unseen eyes throughout the structure. This sensation grows stronger as people ascend toward the observation platform.

Ghost Stories & Reports

The most famous spirit is believed to be Colonel William Gregg. This Continental Army officer died leading a charge against Hessian forces nearby.

Gregg appears wearing a bloodied blue officer’s coat with gold epaulettes. Witnesses see him standing at attention facing the direction of combat.

A maintenance worker named Thomas Riley encountered Gregg’s ghost in 1956. Riley was locking up the monument at closing time on August 16.

The apparition stood perfectly still near the monument’s eastern entrance. When Riley approached, the figure saluted before vanishing into thin air.

Another recurring spirit is a young German mercenary soldier. This entity appears to be in his late teens or early twenties.

The German ghost seems confused and distressed according to witnesses. He wanders the grounds as if searching for his regiment.

Park ranger Maria Costello observed this spirit in 2003 during evening rounds. The young soldier walked through a locked gate without opening it.

Costello attempted to communicate but the ghost seemed unable to hear her. He continued his patrol pattern before disappearing near Monument Circle.

A spectral drummer boy has been reported by dozens of visitors. This child appears no older than twelve years of age.

The boy wears a tattered Continental Army uniform too large for his frame. His drum shows visible damage with torn drumheads and splintered wood.

The drummer boy appears most frequently during morning hours before 9 AM. He marches in a circle around the monument’s base playing a steady cadence.

Tourists have attempted to photograph this spirit with mixed results. Some capture nothing while others show strange orbs and mists.

Local folklore speaks of a Native American warrior who haunts the grounds. The Abenaki people lived in this region before European settlement.

This warrior allegedly appears to protect the land from disrespectful visitors. Several people report feeling pushed or shoved by invisible hands after littering.

A Revolutionary War surgeon named Dr. Samuel Safford reportedly haunts the monument’s interior. Safford treated wounded soldiers in a field hospital on this site.

His ghost appears in a blood-stained apron carrying period medical instruments. Witnesses describe his face as eternally grief-stricken from losing patients.

Most Haunted Spot

The observation deck at 200 feet elevation experiences the most paranormal activity. Visitors report feeling pushed toward the railings by unseen forces.

This circular platform offers 360-degree views of three states below. It also seems to act as a magnet for supernatural phenomena.

The southeast corner of the observation deck shows the highest activity levels. This section faces the direction where the heaviest fighting occurred.

Multiple visitors have photographed strange mists and orbs in this area. These anomalies appear even on clear days with no fog present.

The elevator shaft between the ground floor and observation deck ranks second. Passengers report hearing whispered conversations in multiple languages during the 26-story ascent.

The base of the monument near the eastern entrance also shows activity. This spot corresponds to where Colonel Gregg’s regiment made their stand.

Can You Visit?

The Bennington Battle Monument is open to the public seasonally. The site welcomes visitors from April through October each year.

General admission costs five dollars for adults and two dollars for children. Vermont residents receive a one dollar discount on entry fees.

Regular elevator tours to the observation deck run every 30 minutes. These tours operate from 9 AM until 5 PM daily.

No official paranormal tours are currently offered by the state. Independent ghost hunting groups occasionally receive special permission for after-hours investigations.

Photography is allowed and encouraged throughout the monument and grounds. Video recording is also permitted for personal use only.

The monument closes during winter months from November through March. Heavy snow and ice make the structure unsafe for public access.

Visiting hours run from 9 AM to 5 PM during operating season. The last elevator departs for the observation deck at 4:30 PM.

Best Time to Visit

The anniversary date of August 16 shows the highest paranormal activity levels. Multiple phenomena occur simultaneously on this date according to long-term observers.

Early morning hours between 6 AM and 9 AM produce frequent sightings. The phantom drummer boy appears almost exclusively during this time window.

Autumn months from September through October also show increased activity. The cooling temperatures and shorter days seem to energize the spirits.

Overcast days produce more phenomena than sunny clear weather. Fog and mist provide extra energy for manifestations according to paranormal researchers.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

History teacher Daniel Morse visited the monument with students in 1998. The group witnessed a full-bodied apparition on the observation deck.

Morse described a Continental Army soldier standing against the eastern railing. The figure remained visible for nearly 45 seconds before fading away.

Twelve students and two other chaperones confirmed seeing the apparition. The Bennington Banner newspaper published their account in September 1998.

Photographer Janet Whitmore captured unexplained images during a 2007 assignment. Her professional equipment malfunctioned repeatedly inside the elevator shaft.

Whitmore’s camera showed strange light anomalies in multiple frames. These glowing shapes appeared in human-like formations near the monument’s walls.

Monument supervisor Richard Hayes works at the site since 1989. He maintains detailed logs of paranormal reports from staff and visitors.

Hayes personally experienced phantom voices on at least eight separate occasions. These incidents occurred during opening procedures before tourists arrived each morning.

Local historian Patricia Greenfield investigated reports for her 2012 book. She interviewed over 50 witnesses who experienced unexplained phenomena at the monument.

Greenfield’s research revealed patterns in sighting times and locations. Her book “Spirits of Bennington” documents decades of paranormal activity.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

The New England Ghost Project conducted investigations in 2004 and 2010. Their team recorded numerous electronic voice phenomena throughout the monument.

EVP recordings captured German phrases and English military commands. Audio analysis confirmed these voices used period-appropriate language and terminology.

The group’s electromagnetic field detectors showed massive spikes on the observation deck. These readings suggested intelligent interaction rather than random electromagnetic interference.

Vermont Paranormal Research investigated the site in 2015 with permission. Their overnight investigation documented shadow figures on infrared cameras.

The team recorded temperature fluctuations dropping 35 degrees in seconds. These cold spots moved through rooms as if following an invisible path.

Psychic medium Rebecca Stone participated in a 2008 investigation. She claimed to communicate with over 20 different spirits on the grounds.

Stone identified several soldiers by name and regiment through her readings. Historical records later confirmed the existence of these individuals.

The monument has not appeared on major paranormal television programs. Budget constraints and state regulations have prevented high-profile investigations.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

The monument grounds close at dusk for public safety reasons. Trespassing after hours may result in arrest and criminal charges.

The observation deck can be dangerous during high winds and storms. Visitors should avoid the platform during inclement weather conditions.

The elevator operates on safety protocols requiring regular maintenance inspections. Occasionally it shuts down unexpectedly even without mechanical problems.

Some visitors experience vertigo and dizziness on the observation deck. These symptoms may result from the 200-foot height or paranormal influences.

Paranormal investigators must obtain written permission from Vermont State Parks. Unauthorized investigations conducted after hours are strictly prohibited and prosecuted.

The monument structure itself is sound and professionally maintained. However, the grounds include uneven terrain that poses tripping hazards.

Local Legends & Myths

Local legend claims a curse falls upon anyone who disrespects the fallen soldiers. Several vandals have reported accidents and misfortune after damaging monument property.

One story involves a teenager who spray-painted graffiti in 1985. The youth broke his leg falling down stairs at home that same night.

Another legend speaks of buried treasure hidden by retreating British forces. Supposedly gold coins still lie beneath the ground near the monument’s foundation.

Treasure hunters who dig without permission allegedly face the wrath of guardian spirits. Multiple reports describe equipment failures and mysterious injuries during unauthorized excavations.

Some locals believe the monument serves as a portal for spirits. They claim the limestone structure’s height creates an antenna for supernatural energy.

This theory suggests ghosts from the entire Bennington area converge here. The monument acts as a beacon drawing restless spirits from miles around.

Native American legends predate the monument’s construction by centuries. The Abenaki people considered this hilltop sacred ground before colonial settlement.

These indigenous stories warn of angry spirits protecting the land from invaders. The Revolutionary War battle may have awakened these ancient protective forces.