Waterfront Park

For over two centuries, the land that is now Waterfront Park served as Charleston's commercial waterfront. Wharves extended into the harbor, where ships from around the world docked to load and unload cargo.

This included the human cargo of the transatlantic slave trade. Charleston was the largest slave port in North America, with an estimated 40% of all enslaved Africans brought to the United States passing through Charleston Harbor. Many first set foot on American soil near what is now Waterfront Park.

The conditions on these wharves were brutal. Enslaved people who died during the voyage or shortly after arrival were often buried in unmarked graves near the docks—considered unworthy of proper Christian burial. Historical records suggest hundreds, possibly thousands, of unmarked graves exist in what is now the waterfront area.

During Charleston's frequent yellow fever and cholera epidemics, temporary quarantine facilities called 'pest houses' were established near the waterfront. People who died in these facilities—often the poor and enslaved who couldn't afford proper burials—were buried in mass graves nearby.

The 1699 yellow fever epidemic alone killed hundreds in Charleston. Similar outbreaks occurred throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. Many of the dead were buried hastily in unmarked plots near where they died—including areas now covered by Waterfront Park.

Historical maps and documents reference a potter's field (a burial ground for the indigent and unknown) somewhere in the waterfront district during the 18th century. The exact location has been lost to time, but researchers believe at least part of it lies beneath the current park.

Potter's fields were typically used for:

• Unidentified bodies
• The indigent poor
• Criminals
• Enslaved people deemed not worthy of marked graves
• Victims of epidemics

These graves were rarely marked and often reused, with new bodies buried atop older remains.

In the 1980s, the City of Charleston embarked on an ambitious waterfront development project. The old wharves and warehouses were demolished, and the land was transformed into a public park.

During construction, workers made several disturbing discoveries:

• Human bones unearthed during excavation
• Fragments of wooden coffins
• Personal items buried with the dead
• Evidence of mass burial pits

While some remains were relocated to proper cemeteries, construction schedules and the sheer number of unmarked graves meant many remains were left in place, now covered by the park's landscaping and pathways.

Construction workers reported feeling uneasy in certain areas, and several refused to work at night, claiming they saw shadowy figures moving among the construction equipment.

The most commonly reported phenomena at Waterfront Park are shadow figures—dark, humanoid shapes that move across the grass and pathways, particularly after dark.

Witnesses describe:

• Shadowy figures walking along the water's edge
• Dark shapes that appear to be digging or working along the ground
• Groups of shadows that move together, as if in a line
• Figures that stop and turn to look at witnesses before vanishing

One jogger who regularly runs through the park in the early morning reported seeing what looked like a line of 20-30 shadow figures walking from the water toward the city, all moving in perfect unison. When she stopped to look more closely, they all turned to face her simultaneously, then faded away.

Paranormal researchers believe these may be residual hauntings—echoes of enslaved people being marched from the ships to the auction blocks, replaying their traumatic arrival over and over.

Park visitors, maintenance workers, and nearby residents report hearing sounds that don't match the park's peaceful modern setting:

• The rattling of chains
• Voices speaking in languages that sound African
• Crying and moaning
• Splashing water when no one is near the fountains
• The creaking of wooden ships
• Footsteps on pathways when no one is visible

One park maintenance worker reported that while cleaning up after closing time, he heard what sounded like dozens of people singing—a mournful, haunting song unlike anything he'd heard before. When he went to investigate, the singing stopped abruptly, and he found himself completely alone.

Multiple witnesses have reported seeing the ghost of a woman, often described as African or African-American, dressed in simple clothing from the 18th or 19th century. She's typically seen:

• Kneeling on the ground, as if mourning
• Walking slowly along the water's edge
• Standing perfectly still, looking out at the harbor
• Crying, with her face in her hands

One couple sitting on one of the park's famous swinging benches reported a woman in period dress sitting down beside them. They assumed she was a tour guide or historical reenactor until she turned to them and asked, "Have you seen my children?" in a voice filled with anguish. Before they could respond, she vanished.

Paranormal researchers believe this may be the spirit of a woman whose children were sold away from her—a common tragedy during slavery—and who died never knowing what became of them.

Certain areas of Waterfront Park are known for dramatic and unexplained temperature drops. Visitors report walking through invisible barriers of cold air, even on hot summer days.

These cold spots:

• Move and shift, as if alive
• Are accompanied by feelings of sadness or oppression
• Cause some people to feel nauseous or dizzy
• Often occur in the same general areas
• Are most intense at night

Paranormal investigation teams have recorded temperature drops of 15-20 degrees in these locations, with no scientific explanation. EMF (electromagnetic field) meters also register unusual spikes in these areas.

The pier that extends into Charleston Harbor from Waterfront Park is a popular spot for fishing, photography, and simply enjoying the view. It's also a hotspot for paranormal activity.

People on the pier have reported:

• Seeing figures standing at the end of the pier who vanish when approached
• Feeling invisible hands pushing them toward the water
• Hearing voices calling for help from the harbor
• Seeing faces in the water looking up at them
• Experiencing an overwhelming urge to jump into the water (which they resist)

One security guard patrolling the park at night reported seeing what appeared to be a man preparing to jump from the pier. When he ran to intervene, the figure turned to look at him—revealing a face filled with absolute despair—then stepped backward off the pier. The guard heard no splash and found no one in the water.

Perhaps the most heartbreaking paranormal reports from Waterfront Park involve the spirits of children. Visitors have reported:

• Hearing children's laughter and playing sounds when no children are present
• Seeing small shadowy figures running through the park
• Feeling small hands tugging at their clothes
• Finding small handprints on the fountains and benches
• Toys appearing in the park that no one left behind

One mother visiting with her young daughter reported that her child started playing with "imaginary friends" in the park—three children who her daughter described in detail, including their names and the fact that "they're sad because they can't find their mommy."

Historians note that child mortality was extremely high in colonial Charleston, particularly among enslaved children and those in poverty. Many likely rest in unmarked graves beneath the park.

Waterfront Park is one of Charleston's most photographed locations, and countless anomalies have appeared in photos taken here:

• Orbs and light streaks with no apparent source
• Shadowy figures in the background of otherwise normal photos
• Faces appearing in the fountains' spray
• Mists and fogs that weren't visible to the naked eye
• Photos showing people who weren't present when the photo was taken

One particularly disturbing photograph shows what appears to be dozens of translucent figures standing in the background of a wedding photo—all facing the camera, all wearing clothing from different historical periods. The couple didn't notice anything unusual when the photo was taken, but when they reviewed their wedding photos, there the figures were, clearly visible.