As the last surviving residence from the elegant upscale Lucas Place neighborhood, the Campbell House Museum is a carefully-preserved 19th-century home that offers a fascinating and intimate look at history. But it also may be home to the spirits of those who lived and died there. Robert Campbell was born in 1786 in County Tyrone, Ireland. Unlikely to receive a lucrative inheritance, Campbell left Ireland in 1822 to seek his fortune in the United States. Even though he had no formal education, he had a sharp business mind, and within a few years, he was a successful fur trader and merchant in the rapidly-growing metropolis of St. Louis. By the 1850s, Campbell was one of the wealthiest and most influential men in the state. His social circle included Civil War General William T. Sherman, renowned engineer Captain James Eads, and even President Ulysses Grant. But the Campbell family was plagued by tragedy. Although there were 20 pregnancies, only three of Robert and Virginia Campbell’s 13 children survived until adulthood. Of their remaining sons, none ever married or produced an heir. One died young at the age of 30 and another was a recluse who suffered from mental illness. The family line died out in 1938.
Is the Campbell House Museum Haunted?
There are a few disparate accounts that suggest there may be paranormal activity happening at the former Campbell home:
– Unexplained footsteps
– A guest reported feeling a definite “nudge” in her back from an unseen presence
– In 2010, a group of paranormal investigators captured an Audible Voice Phenomenon that appears to be a child’s voice saying, “Get out.”
One of the oddest mysteries of the Campbell House Museum is the still-unexplainable appearances of a half-dollar coin and a single penny. This has happened on several occasions, in multiple locations, and always without anyone being present. While some people are quick to dismiss this as a prank, others wonder if some force is referring to the year that the home was originally constructed – 1851. The origin of the coins might be open for debate, but this mystery does add another intriguing layer to the story of this already-fascinating house. If you are ever in St. Louis, the Campbell House Museum is worth seeing for the original furnishings and artifacts. But if you keep an eye out, you just might find 50 cents from the other side.
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