The Ghost of the Queen Anne Hotel

The building that would become the Queen Anne Hotel was constructed during one of the most dynamic periods in San Francisco's history. The city was still riding the wealth of the Gold Rush and the silver bonanzas of the Comstock Lode, and the nouveaux riches were building elaborate Victorian mansions throughout the city's fashionable neighborhoods.

In 1890, Senator James Graham Fair commissioned the construction of an elaborate Victorian building at 1590 Sutter Street. Fair was one of the 'Silver Kings' - the four partners who owned the Comstock Lode's most profitable mines and became fabulously wealthy as a result. He served as a United States Senator from Nevada and was known for his philanthropy as well as his business acumen.

Fair commissioned the building not as a private residence but as a school - specifically, a finishing school for the daughters of San Francisco's elite families. The building was designed in the Queen Anne Victorian style, with ornate exterior details, a grand staircase, high ceilings, and the finest materials available. No expense was spared in creating an environment suitable for educating young ladies of good breeding.

The school was named Miss Mary Lake's School for Girls, after the woman Fair selected to serve as its headmistress. Miss Mary Lake came from an educated background and had established herself as a respected educator before taking on the role of running this new and prestigious institution.

Miss Mary Lake was the heart and soul of the school that bore her name. A woman of refinement and strong moral character, she dedicated herself completely to the education and welfare of her students. The curriculum at Miss Mary Lake's School for Girls covered the traditional subjects expected of a finishing school - etiquette, French, music, art, and the social graces - but Miss Mary Lake also ensured her students received a rigorous academic education unusual for women's schools of the era.

Miss Mary Lake lived on the premises, occupying a comfortable suite on the fourth floor of the building. This was more than convenience; it reflected her complete devotion to her position. She believed that a good headmistress should be available to her students at all hours, ready to offer guidance, comfort, or discipline as needed. The students, many of whom were boarding at the school while their families traveled or attended to business, came to see Miss Mary Lake as a surrogate mother figure.

By all accounts, Miss Mary Lake was beloved by her students. She was strict but fair, demanding excellence while also showing genuine warmth and concern for each young woman's wellbeing. She remembered every student's birthday, knew their hopes and fears, and worked tirelessly to prepare them for their roles in society. Former students spoke of her with great affection long after they had graduated and moved on to their adult lives.

The school operated successfully for several years, educating a generation of San Francisco's daughters. But as the 19th century gave way to the 20th, circumstances began to change. The great earthquake and fire of 1906, while not destroying this particular building, disrupted life throughout San Francisco and contributed to a period of uncertainty for many institutions. Eventually, the school closed its doors.

The precise circumstances of Miss Mary Lake's death are shrouded in some mystery, as records from the era are incomplete. What is known is that the closure of her beloved school was devastating to her. The school had been her life's work, her purpose, and her home. When it closed, she lost not just her occupation but her entire identity.

According to some accounts, Miss Mary Lake died shortly after the school closed, possibly of a broken heart. Other versions of the story suggest she lived for some years afterward but never recovered from the loss. What all accounts agree upon is that her attachment to the building - to the school she had created and the students she had nurtured - was so profound that her spirit could not bear to leave.

Whether Miss Mary Lake died in the building itself or simply returned to it after death is uncertain. But by the time the building was converted to other uses, stories of her ghost had already begun to circulate. Staff members reported seeing a woman in Victorian dress walking the hallways. Residents felt a presence in the rooms, particularly on the fourth floor. And those who stayed in what had been Miss Mary Lake's personal quarters experienced phenomena that suggested the headmistress had never truly departed.

After the school closed, the building passed through various hands and served multiple purposes. For a time it operated as a gentleman's club (the Cosmos Club), later as a residence for Episcopal clergy, and eventually fell into disrepair as the neighborhood changed around it.

In the 1980s, the building was purchased and meticulously restored to its Victorian glory. The restoration was guided by historical research and a commitment to preserving the building's original character. Original woodwork was refinished, period-appropriate furnishings were acquired, and the building was converted into a boutique hotel that would allow guests to experience the elegance of Victorian San Francisco.

It was during this restoration that the paranormal activity seemed to intensify. Workers reported tools being moved, strange sounds in empty rooms, and an overall feeling of being watched. Some speculated that the restoration work had 'awakened' the spirit of Miss Mary Lake, who was pleased to see her beloved school being treated with respect once again.

The Queen Anne Hotel opened for guests in 1981 and quickly developed a reputation not just for its beauty and hospitality, but for its resident ghost. Rather than downplaying the haunted stories, the hotel has embraced Miss Mary Lake as part of its character. She is mentioned on the hotel's website and in promotional materials, and the staff speaks of her with affection - almost as if she were a particularly dedicated employee rather than a supernatural phenomenon.

What makes the haunting at the Queen Anne Hotel so remarkable is not the intensity of the phenomena but its consistent benevolence. Miss Mary Lake's ghost doesn't slam doors, throw objects, or frighten guests. Instead, she cares for them, continuing in death the nurturing role she played in life.

The fourth floor of the Queen Anne Hotel is the most active area for paranormal phenomena, and Room 410 - which was Miss Mary Lake's personal bedroom during her years as headmistress - is the epicenter of activity. This room is the most frequently requested in the entire hotel, often booked months in advance by guests hoping to experience the ghost firsthand.

The phenomena reported in Room 410 are remarkably consistent across hundreds of guest accounts:

The Tucking In: The most commonly reported experience is awakening to feel someone gently tucking the blankets around you. Guests describe the sensation of hands smoothing the covers and tucking them snugly around their bodies, exactly as a mother might do for a child. When they open their eyes, no one is visible, but the feeling of having been cared for is unmistakable.

Organized Belongings: Guests who leave their belongings scattered around the room frequently wake to find everything neatly organized. Clothes are folded, shoes are paired and aligned, toiletries are arranged on bathroom counters. This happens even when guests are certain they locked the door and no staff entered during the night.

Temperature Changes: Room 410 often experiences localized temperature drops that cannot be explained by the HVAC system. These cold spots move around the room, as if someone is walking through the space. Guests report the cold spots sometimes pause near the bed, as if Miss Mary Lake is checking on a sleeping occupant.

The Scent of Flowers: Many guests report smelling fresh flowers, particularly roses or lavender, in Room 410 even when no flowers are present. The scent is described as old-fashioned, like the perfume a Victorian lady might have worn. It comes and goes suddenly, with no apparent source.

Visual Manifestations: While less common than the other phenomena, some guests have reported seeing Miss Mary Lake herself. She appears as a woman of middle age dressed in Victorian clothing - typically a high-necked dress in dark colors, with her hair pinned up in the style of the era. Her expression is described as kind, even loving. She is most often seen standing near the window or beside the bed, and she vanishes when looked at directly.

The Queen Anne Hotel has collected countless testimonials from guests who have experienced Miss Mary Lake's presence. These accounts span decades and come from people of all backgrounds - skeptics and believers alike.

A Business Traveler's Account: 'I'm not a person who believes in ghosts. I'm an engineer; I deal in facts and measurements. But something happened to me in Room 410 that I cannot explain. I woke up at about 3 AM feeling completely at peace, which is unusual for me - I normally have trouble sleeping in hotels. I was lying on my side, and I felt someone sit down on the edge of the bed behind me. Not heavily, just a gentle settling. I assumed it was somehow the mattress shifting, but then I felt a hand on my shoulder. Very gentle, very warm. Patting my shoulder like my grandmother used to do when I was a child. I was too relaxed to be frightened. I just fell back asleep. In the morning, my clothes, which I had thrown over a chair, were neatly folded on the dresser. I don't know what happened, but I felt cared for.'

A Couple's Experience: 'My husband and I stayed in Room 410 for our anniversary. We both woke up in the middle of the night because we heard humming - a woman's voice, humming what sounded like a lullaby. We looked at each other, confirming we both heard it. The humming seemed to move around the room, and then it faded away. In the morning, the bathroom towels, which we had left on the floor after our showers, were hanging neatly on the towel bar. We found it more sweet than scary.'

A Solo Traveler's Story: 'I was going through a difficult time - a divorce, job loss, the whole thing. I booked the Queen Anne on a whim, wanting to treat myself to something nice. I didn't know about the ghost until I checked in. That night, I cried myself to sleep. I woke up sometime in the night feeling warmth around me, like being hugged. My covers had been pulled up tight around my shoulders. And I could have sworn I felt someone stroking my hair. For the first time in months, I felt like everything would be okay. I don't know if it was Miss Mary Lake, but whoever or whatever it was, I needed that comfort.'

A Skeptic Converted: 'I booked Room 410 specifically because I wanted to debunk the ghost stories. I set up a camera, left items deliberately scattered around the room, and stayed awake as long as I could. Around 2 AM, I drifted off despite my efforts. When I woke up, my camera battery was completely drained - it had been fully charged. The items I had scattered were in a neat pile on the desk. And there was an indentation on the bed next to me, as if someone had been sitting there. I reviewed my footage, and while the image got staticky around midnight, I could swear I saw a shape moving near the bed before the battery died. I can't say definitively that I believe in ghosts, but I believe something unusual happened in that room.'

While Room 410 is the primary focus of paranormal activity, Miss Mary Lake's presence is felt throughout the building. She seems to roam the hallways and visit various rooms, perhaps checking on all the 'students' staying in what was once her school.

The Grand Staircase: Staff members and guests have reported seeing a woman in Victorian dress ascending or descending the grand staircase. She moves gracefully, as if accustomed to the long skirts of the era. When observers try to follow her or call out, she vanishes before reaching the next landing.

The Parlor: The first-floor parlor, where Miss Mary Lake once held teas and received parents visiting their daughters, remains an active area. Guests relaxing in the parlor have reported feeling someone sit in the chair beside them, though no one is visible. The scent of tea is sometimes detected when none has been served.

Other Guest Rooms: While Room 410 sees the most activity, guests in other rooms throughout the hotel have reported similar experiences - covers being tucked, items being organized, the feeling of a benevolent presence. Miss Mary Lake appears to treat all guests as if they were her students, deserving of her care and attention.

The Fourth Floor Hallway: Staff members who work evening shifts report frequently encountering cold spots in the fourth-floor hallway. Some have heard the rustle of skirts passing by when no one is visible. One housekeeper described seeing a woman in the hallway who smiled at her and then walked through a wall where a doorway once existed in the original floor plan.

What distinguishes the Queen Anne Hotel's ghost from most other hauntings is the complete absence of malevolence. Miss Mary Lake appears to have no unfinished business in the traditional sense, no traumatic death to process, no scores to settle. She simply continues to do what she did in life: care for the people in her building.

Paranormal researchers who have studied the Queen Anne suggest several theories for this benevolent haunting:

Residual Energy: Some believe that Miss Mary Lake's dedication to her role was so intense that it left an imprint on the building itself. The phenomena guests experience may be a kind of psychic recording, replaying the nurturing behaviors she performed thousands of times during her life.

Conscious Spirit: Others believe Miss Mary Lake is a fully conscious spirit who has chosen to remain at the hotel. She may not realize she has died, continuing her duties as she did in life. Or she may be fully aware of her situation and simply unwilling to leave the place and purpose she loved.

Guardian Spirit: A third theory suggests that Miss Mary Lake has taken on the role of guardian spirit for the building. Having cared for young women in life, she now extends that care to anyone who stays under her roof. She has, in effect, expanded her school to include all guests.

Whatever the explanation, the effect is the same: guests at the Queen Anne Hotel are watched over by a spirit who wants nothing more than to ensure their comfort and wellbeing. For many visitors, especially those going through difficult times, the experience of Miss Mary Lake's ghost is not frightening but deeply healing.