In modern times, most people consider cemeteries to be pretty creepy places. The primary emotions most visitors feel in them are either a general sense of unease due to the fact there are dead bodies surrounding them or sadness in mourning those we have lost. But it wasn’t that long ago that cemeteries were considered great places for a stroll or picnic. Before the advent of city parks, cemeteries were some of the few green spaces in many major cities, so it wasn’t uncommon for people to visit for a scenic afternoon walk or to let their children play. That’s why many older cemeteries tend to be quite beautiful. However, with age, of course, comes rumors of hauntings. One of the most haunted cemeteries in Kansas is also among the most beautiful: the tree-lined Rochester Cemetery in Topeka.
Rochester Cemetery is the oldest graveyard in Shawnee County. More than 14,000 people have been buried here since the mid-1800s, likely before Kansas was even a state.
Rochester Cemetery/Google Maps
There are quite a few Civil War veterans buried here.
Rochester Cemetery/Google Maps
The area is heavily planted with trees that are pretty large for Kansas, so there’s a great deal of shade here throughout the spring and summer.
Rochester Cemetery/Google Maps The shade is great for escaping the heat, but it also provides a spooky atmosphere that makes it seem like anything could lurk in the shadows.
Most old cemeteries have rumors of ghosts, and you don’t have to be much of a believer in the paranormal to think spirits could be lurking somewhere like this.
Rochester Cemetery/Google Maps
Allegedly, Rochester Cemetery is home to the Albino Woman, a white-skinned, white-haired, pink-eyed woman who possibly died in the mid-1960s.
Google Maps No one knows the woman’s identity, but there are dozens of reports of people catching a glimpse of her while walking through the cemetery, sometimes with ghostly dogs.
Whether you believe in the Albino Woman or not, this is a lovely cemetery in Kansas that is worth a visit for lovers of history.
Rochester Cemetery/Google Maps
For more information about the historic Rochester Cemetery, check out its website.
Rochester Cemetery/Google Maps
The shade is great for escaping the heat, but it also provides a spooky atmosphere that makes it seem like anything could lurk in the shadows.
Google Maps
No one knows the woman’s identity, but there are dozens of reports of people catching a glimpse of her while walking through the cemetery, sometimes with ghostly dogs.
Do you know of any other ghost stories in Kansas? We’d love to hear them, so share in the comments!
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Address: Rochester Cemetery, 1200 NW Menninger Rd, Topeka, KS 66618, USA
