Autumn night in the Boston Common, Massachusetts, USA

Modern-day Boston Common: An idyllic respite from the stresses of city life. A vibrant green space where families and couples can picnic, ride a Swan Boat, and see an outdoor concert. Yup, you know where this is headed—things were not always so sunny. Back in colonial times, the Common was a square for public executions, where criminals and outcasts were hanged, says Sam Baltrusis, author of seven books about the area, including his latest, 13 Most Haunted Crime Scenes Beyond Boston. Women accused of witchcraft were sent there, too, along with plenty of innocent individuals who defied or offended the Puritan leadership. The Common is also the site of the Central Burying Ground, established in the mid-18th century, whose long-term residents included foreigners and British common soldiers. It’s not surprising, then, that, in 1895, workers building the Boylston T stop discovered the remains of human bodies nearby. These days, confederate soldiers have been reported to still haunt the tunnels, says Baltrusis, who also runs the Boston Haunts ghost tour. Visitors walking by the cemetery have reported the sensation of being grabbed from behind, and some say they’ve seen orbs or shadows, particularly at the site of the former Great Elm, where the hangings allegedly took place. A few have reported seeing actual ghosts, including that of a teenage girl in a hospital gown and a bonnet, who, at least in one instance, snatched the keys out of a man’s pocket.