History comes alive — literally — in Columbus, Georgia

Les Miz at the Springer Opera House.
Credit: Columbus, GA Convention and Visitors Bureau

We loved visiting Columbus, Georgia, for its great food and live music scene, interesting museums such as the Coca-Cola Space Science Center and rafting the rapids of the Chattahoochee River. Come fall, the town about an hour and a half southeast of Atlanta offers a few haunts. 

According to my trustworthy tourism friends, Columbus has about seven documented haunting spots. Two on the top of the list is the historic Springer Opera House, where a ghostly figure hogs the spotlight, and Port Columbus National Civil War Naval Museum, where books fly off the shelves, among other paranormal happenings. You can visit both through special tours that occur in the fall.

National Civil War Naval Museum

Columbus Eats Food Tours will take visitors through the Springer Opera House, which dates back to 1871 and is one of only seven U.S. theaters with a National Historic Landmark designation. Lots of actors have crossed this stage, some perhaps refusing to leave. The Columbus Eats Food Tours relate these stories of the haunted theater, including discussing the Crybaby Bridge, the House of a Thousand Cadavers and more in 1.5-hour tours conducted with minimal lighting. Some children may be uncomfortable so you might want to leave little ones at home. 

Haunted Museum Tours at the National Civil War Naval Museum include a "Ghost Host" who introduces spirits of the Civil War Navies and paranormal investigator and author Faith Serafin of the Alabama Ghost Hunters highlights experiences from previous investigations. The tours are not recommended for children under 13. Upcoming Haunted Museum Tours begin at 7 p.m. Sept. 20, Oct. 4 and Oct. 19, 2019. Grab them quickly for tickets sell out fast; call (706) 327-9798.

While you're at the Naval Museum, don't miss a chance to see the C.S.S. Chattahoochee, a massive steam and sail gunboat damaged in Florida and brought to Columbus where she was sunk by her own Confederate Navy to ward off Union infiltration. The salvaged pieces make up quite a ghost ship.