franklin house tours

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution

• DAR’s Continuing Commitment to Equality
• National Headquarters
• DAR Publications
• DAR History
• DAR's 125th Anniversary
• Did you know?
• What is DAR
• Who Are DAR Members
• Member Interests
• Volunteer Projects
• How to Join
• Chapter Locator
• Membership Interest Form
• Million Members Celebration
• Media Center
• Marian Anderson
• Preservation Efforts
• Historic Sites and Properties
• Honoring Our Patriots
• Inside This Issue
• Writers and Contributors
• Media and Advertising
• Our Patriots DAR Podcast
• Start With What You Know
• Speak With Relatives
• Start Looking Online
• Specialty Research
• Visit Libraries, Archives and Courthouses
• Work With A DAR Chapter
• Genealogical Research (GRS)
• Suggested Reading
• GRS for Educators
• Genie Clips
• Plan your Visit
• Hours of Operation
• Directions & Parking
• Education Resources
• Essay Contests
• Youth Programs
• DAR Schools
• DAR Manual for Citizenship
• Constitution Week
• DAR Good Citizens
• Resources for Teachers
• Education Grant Program
• General Information
• Merit Scholarship
• Children and Step Children of DAR Members
• History, Economics, Government and Political Science
• Medical & Nursing
• Elementary and Secondary Teacher Education
• Specific Scholarships
• American Indians
• Scholarship FAQs
• Military Support & Service for Veterans
• Public Outreach
• Patriotic Awards
• DAR Historic Preservation Grants Poster
• Recipients and Photos
• Booking Process
• Event Rates
• Photography and Filming
• Schedule a Tour
• Job Openings
• Internships
• Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
• Employee Benefits
• Service to America
• America 250
• Celebrate 125!
• Who Is Margaret Cochran Corbin?
• Margaret Corbin Video
• Molly Pitcher Folklore
• 1926 DAR Efforts
• Discovery at West Point
• Margaret Corbin’s Legacy Lives On
• Margaret Corbin Rededication Ceremony
• DAR 2018 Search Efforts
• Resources and Further Reading

Member Resources

• Seating Map
• Visitor Services
• Technical Information
• FAQ - Constitution Hall

Upcoming Events

Trevor noah: off the record, mother's day celebration, homayoun shajarian and anoushiravan rohani.

• Girl Scouts
• Calendar of Events
• Featured Objects
• Online Quilt Index
• Search the Collection
• Current Exhibition
• Upcoming Exhibition
• Past Exhibitions
• Period Room Tours
• Online Exhibitions
• Teacher Resources
• Portable Education Program
• Online Exhibits
• Docent Website
• Correspondent Docent Website
• Museum Shop
• Museum Shop Trunk Show

UnFinished Objects (UFO) Craft Circle

Kids make and take: sampler bookmarks, dar library.

• Mission Statement & Collection Development Policy
• Planning Your Visit
• Donation Info
• FAQ - Library
• DAR Lineage Resources
• Digital Resources
• Print Resources
• DAR Special Collections
• DAR Library Catalog
• How-To Guides
• Pathfinders
• Collection Finding Aids
• Forgotten Patriots
• E Pluribus Unum Educational Initiative
• Researching British-Occupied Areas
• Search Services
• Family History Library Affiliate
• Group Visits
• Programming
• Online Library Lectures
• Genealogical Research System (GRS)
• Ancestor Search
• Member Search
• Descendants Search
• Library Catalog

DAR Americana Collection and NSDAR Archives

• History of the Collections
• Americana Collection
• NSDAR Archives
• Searching the DAR Americana Collection and NSDAR Archives
• DAR Applications and Genealogy
• DAR Magazine
• Contact a DAR Chapter
• FAQ – Archives and History

Learn how DAR members selflessly and tirelessly dedicated themselves to the war relief effort of World War I

Giving to the DAR

• Guardian Trust Endowment
• President General's Project
• General Fund/Area of Greatest Need
• Special Gift Opportunities
• The Daughters Tribute
• Download My Donor History
• Donor Information At A Glance
• Matching Gifts
• Planned Giving
• Sustaining Supporter
• Current Campaign
• 1890 Annual Giving Circle
• The Founders Club
• The Heritage Club
• Donation Pins
• President General's Project Donor Wall
• Virtual Donor Recognition
• Wall of Honor
• Daughters Tribute Recognition Wall
• Gift Acceptance
• Membership Challenge
• President General's Benefactor

Benjamin Franklin House

Historical significance, historical designation.

• City Landmark

The property is funded by entrance fees as well as donations from prominent sponsors. These include the Heritage Lottery Fund, Robert H Smith Family Foundation, Bloomberg LP and the Daughters of the American Revolution. 

Physical Condition

• Open to Public: Yes
• Family Friendly: Yes 
• Hours of Operation: 10:30 - 17:00, Monday and Wednesday - Sunday
• Admission Fees: Varies depending on tour
• Lodging: No

Promotional Materials Available

• Brochures: No
• Catalogues: No
• DVDs: Yes; YouTube Link
• Calendar Events: Website Link

Acknowlegement

Both the Walter Hines Page Chapter (WHP) and the St James Chapter provide funding to the Benjamin Franklin House. The Walter Hines Page Chapter also sponsors the Frankly Speaking Debate Competition which is a collaboration between the House and the U.S. Embassy. WHP provides the winners' medals and the prize: a day in the House of Lords with a member of the House of Lords. Walter Hines Page Chapter meetings are often held at the Benjamin Franklin House. 

Explore Historic Properties

Other state sites:, archives mega menu title, forms & publications.

Learn more about the relationship between Marian Anderson and the DAR.

Library Mega Menu Title

Member resources mega menu title, museum mega menu title, shopping cart.

DAR members selflessly dedicated themselves to the war relief effort of World War I

Home of Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site Tours

Home Of Franklin D Roosevelt National Historic Site

"All that is within me cries out to go back to my home on the Hudson River" ~ FDR

This quote captures FDR's connection to Springwood, the estate that he loved and Hyde Park, the place he considered home. The first U.S. Presidential Library & Museum was started here by FDR. 

• Begin your exploration of the FDR National Historic Site at the Henry A. Wallace Visitor Center. 
• Purchase tickets for the Presidential Library and Museum, entrance into the Home of Franklin D Roosevelt and Top Cottage (open seasonally). 
• Watch the orientation film, “Rendezvous with History,” and visit the café (open seasonally) and museum shop.

Need to Know

• We are currnetly open for tours 4 days a week, also closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day & New Years Day. Weather closures are common, please check website for more information.
• Every person requires a ticket.
• If you arrive late, your tour is forfeited. If we are able to provide a tour for your group later in the day, you will be charged a second time.
• Refunds are not available. No exceptions.

Start your visit at the Henry Wallace Visitor Center, open 9 am - 5 pm. An informational movie on the Roosevelts is shown every 30 minutes in the auditorium. 

Changes and Cancellations

See facility rates for fees. Tickets purchased more than 30 days ahead of the tour date have the option to provide a non-refundable down payment of $1.00/ticket. The full payment is due 30 days in advance of the reservation date by midnight EST. If the full payment is not received on time, your reservation will be automatically cancelled. Please check the full payment due date when purchasing your tickets. Grounds and gardens are free and open every day from sunrise to sunset. Ticket sales are final, there are no refunds.

Contact Information

Mailing address.

4097 Albany Post Road Hyde Park NY 12538

Phone Number

845-229-5320

Available Tours and Tickets

• Fdr Home Group Tour
• Fdr Museum Group Tour
• Top Cottage
• Fdr Home - Individual Tour

Photo Gallery

Camp, RV, and Explore Outdoors

Recreation.gov is your gateway to explore America's outdoor and cultural destinations in your zip code and across the country. We provide tools and tips to discover new adventures through a one-stop shop for inspiration and ideation, trip planning, information sharing, and reservations. Find incredible places and experiences that help you bring home a story through Recreation.gov!

Get to Know Us

• Rules & Reservation Policies
• Accessibility
• Media Center

Plan with Us

• Find Trip Inspiration
• Build a Trip
• Enter a Lottery
• Checkout our Mobile App
• Get Involved
• Use Our Data
• Add Your Facility

Let Us Help You

• Help Center
• Submit Feedback
• Responsible Disclosure

• Skip to global NPS navigation
• Skip to this park navigation
• Skip to the main content
• Skip to this park information section
• Skip to the footer section

Exiting nps.gov

Alerts in effect, operating hours & seasons.

Last updated: April 18, 2024

Park footer

Contact info, mailing address:.

4097 Albany Post Rd Hyde Park, NY 12538

845 229-5320

Stay Connected

Site Search

Benjamin franklin house.

The world’s only surviving home of Benjamin Franklin.

London WC2N 5NF

Experience this house

• Easily accessible without car

Benjamin Franklin House is a five-storey townhouse with a staircase between each floor. The floors and stairs are uneven and sloping. There are handrails on all of the staircases and there is visitor seating in all of the historic rooms. Given the Grade I nature of the building and the different levels of the building, there is no wheelchair access. Loos are downstairs in the basement; there is no accessible loos.

Carers are admitted free of charge and visitors with disabilities qualify for concessionary tickets.

Guide and hearing dogs are permitted in all areas of the House.

Benjamin Franklin House at 36 Craven Street in the heart of London is a heritage ‘gem’ and the world’s only remaining home of Benjamin Franklin.

Today, the House brings Franklin’s time in London to life for visitors through the Historical Experience, Architectural Tours, and an engaging calendar of events. Our vibrant, free education programme allows children to discover Franklin’s science and Georgian London in the building or in the classroom.

Please note:  The information on the Historic Houses website is advisory, but please always check the website of the house or garden you intend to visit before travelling.

Historic Houses members visit for free.

The Benjamin Franklin House Box Office is open 10:30am-5pm, Fridays – Sundays.

Historical Experience shows run Saturday and Sunday at: 12 noon, 1pm, 2pm, 3.15pm and 4.15pm

Architectural Tours run on Fridays at: 12 noon, 1pm, 2pm, 3.15pm and 4.15pm.

Adults: Historical Experience £12, Architectural Tour £10

Students/Over 65s: Historical Experience £10, Architecture Tour £8

Under 16s visit for free.

Based on the London life and work of one of the main figures of the Enlightenment – Benjamin Franklin, our unique educational offerings include the Children’s Historical Experience, featuring an interactive live performance and the Student Science Centre’s hands-on structured and fun activities that capture children’s imagination.

Primary School Visits

Our award-winning education days take place every Tuesday in the House’s Student Science Centre. Based on the London life and work of Benjamin Franklin, our engaging activities link to and illuminate the National Curriculum.

Secondary School Visits

A visit to Benjamin Franklin House can support both History and Politics at A Level. On the Historical Experience, students will learn about the excitement and uncertainty of Franklin’s years in London leading up to the American Revolution. They will also receive a talk from the Education Manager which delves deeper into Franklin’s political role.

Getting here

Find the exact address on what3words : ///calls.tidy.giving

By London Underground Charing Cross (Northern and Bakerloo Lines) Embankment (Northern, Bakerloo, District and Circle Lines)

By Bus There are a number of buses that stop near Craven Street. Routes 6, 9, 11, 13, 15, 23, 77a, 91, 176 all stop on the Strand.

By Car Parking around Benjamin Franklin House is extremely limited – we urge visitors to use public transport. More information about parking in the area can be found at westminster.gov.uk .

Other houses members can visit nearby

Spencer House

27 St James's Place, London, SW1A 1NR

The Charterhouse

Smithfield, London

Historic Houses Membership

The 56 Best Places to Visit in London and the South East

Gift Membership

Become a historic houses member.

Explore the nation’s heritage from just £68 per year.

Hundreds of the most beautiful historic houses, castles, and gardens across Britain offer our members free entry.

Also: receive a quarterly magazine, enjoy monthly online lectures, get exclusive invitations to buy tickets for behind-the-scenes tours, and take up a range of special offers on holidays, books, and other products you might like.

Sign up for our newsletter

Read more of our stories, receive exclusive content, and find out what’s on.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. For information about our privacy practices, please visit our privacy policy .

" * " indicates required fields

Member Login

Forgotten your password?

Register to login

All members (except house and corporate members) need to register for an online account to be able to log in to the site. If you are a house or corporate member, contact our offices.

If you have already registered an account and still can’t login, try setting a new password by clicking ‘Forgotten your password’.

Not yet a member?

In order to view our online lectures and other members-only content, and access hundreds of Historic Houses for free, you’ll first need to become a member.

unlock the gate

• Historical Experience & Architectural Tour

A visit to Benjamin Franklin House offers a unique look into Franklin’s life in London. More information about the Historic Experience and Architectural Tours, and how to book, can be found below.

We look forward to welcoming you to Benjamin Franklin’s only surviving home where we work to bring history and innovation to life!

The Benjamin Franklin House Team

• Historical Experience

During the Historical Experience the eighteenth century spaces serve as stage for a drama that seamlessly blends live interpretation and cutting edge sound, lighting, and visual projection to tell the rich story of Franklin in London.

• Architectural Tour

The Architectural Tour explores the Georgian features of House, along with its fascinating history encompassing Franklin’s long residence (1757-1775), the Hewson anatomy school, and the comprehensive conservation project that saved it from dereliction.

Get in Touch

0207 839 2006

[email protected]

36 Craven St, London WC2N 5NF

• Become a Friend
• Become an Inventor
• Benjamin Franklin and Slavery
• Benjamin Franklin House Medal for Leadership
• Buy Tickets
• Craven Street Bones
• Delivery, Postage and Returns Information
• Franklin & the House
• Franklin and Slavery: Peter and King
• Franklin in London
• Franklin Timeline
• Franklin’s Fables
• Franklin’s Young Scientists
• Free Digital Guide
• Getting Here
• History of the House
• In Residence at Benjamin Franklin House
• Join the Team
• Look At Me!
• Online Donations
• Online Learning Resources (Updated)
• Our Constitution
• See More Events
• See More News
• Terms and Conditions
• The Franklin Trail
• The House Today
• Virtual Tour & Virtual Georgian Interior
• Website Accessibility Statement
• What’s Nearby?
• Who’s Who
• Home School Group Visits
• Primary School Visits
• Secondary School Visits
• Literary Prize 2023
• Frankly Speaking Debate Competition 2024
• Science on Stage!
• Robert H. Smith Scholarship Centre

Stay Connected

Follow us to get the latest information on upcoming events, specials offers and more.

You’re in the Wright Place!

Frank Lloyd Wright Site Tours

Immerse yourself in the visionary genius of Frank Lloyd Wright by exploring his iconic structures. From sprawling estates like the Dana-Thomas House to cozy cottages, Wright’s designs continue to inspire! Many of his creations offer public tours, creating a unique opportunity to step back in time and experience Wright’s architectural philosophy firsthand.

Whether you’re a lifelong architecture enthusiast or simply curious about this American design master, a Frank Lloyd Wright house tour is an unforgettable experience. With locations across the country, there’s a Wright design waiting to be discovered.

Featured Tours

Bachman-Wilson House (1956)

Bernard Schwartz House (1939)

Bradley House (1900)

Cedar Rock – Lowell Walter House (1945)

Charnley-Persky House (1892)

City National Bank & Hotel (1909)

Dana-Thomas House (1902)

Fabyan Villa

Fallingwater

Florida Southern College (1938-1954)

Frank Lloyd Wright Home & Studio (1889)

George Stockman House (1908)

(This page may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure about affiliate links here .)

Additional Resources, Links & Products

Wright Sites: A Guide to Frank Lloyd Wright Public Places (Amazon book)

• Frank Lloyd Wright’s Public Buildings by Thomas A. Heinz (Amazon book)

Auldbrass Plantation

O’Connor House (1916)

McCartney House (1949)

Don Erickson Estate

For your home.

Yvonne Carpenter-Ross

Flw enthusiast & webmaster.

Architecture and home design have always fascinated me. As a young girl I enjoyed drawing floor plans, rearranging my parent’s furniture and playing with Lincoln Logs and Legos.  My passion has always been the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. Since I have been old enough to drive a car, I have visited Frank Lloyd Wright homes in the Chicagoland area and attended the Wright Plus house walks. Now, as co-owners of Northern Sky Designs , my husband & I are able to combine our website design skills and FLW travels to bring you this website! Enjoy!

Follow me on Instagram

• Committees and Caucuses
• Our District
• Newsletter Subscribe
• Office Locations
• Request an Appearance
• Website Problem
• Press Releases
• In the News
• Agriculture
• Conservative Values
• Second Amendment Rights
• Art Competition
• Community Project Funding
• Congressional App Challenge
• Commendation and Greetings
• Grant Applicants
• Hurricane Preparedness Guide
• Help With a Federal Agency
• Internships
• Service Academy Nominations

Tours and Tickets

• Search Search Go

Requested Tours  

The United States Capitol - Beginning on May 25 th , U.S. Capitol tours may be self-scheduled via this link: https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/ . These U.S. Capitol tours are professionally done through historians who carefully guide you through some of the most historic rooms in the United States Capitol. All visitors to the Capitol are required to go through security screening. Please review the prohibited items list before you arrive via this link: https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/plan-visit/prohibited-items . Groups of more than 15 people are required to reserve a U.S. Capitol tour through this website. Due to the high volume of requests, we strongly suggest that all U.S. Capitol tour requests be submitted at least 3 months in advance prior to the requested tour date for consideration.

Congressman Franklin’s office also provides staff-led tours of the U.S. Capitol on a limited basis, which can be scheduled using the form below. Staff-led tours can only accommodate groups of less than 15 people. Due to the high volume of staff-led tour requests, there is a 3 month waitlist. It may be faster to reserve a U.S. Capitol tour through the official Capitol Visitor’s center using the link above.

The White House   

Due to the high volume of White House tour requests, all requests must be submitted at least 3-6 months in advance prior to the requested tour date for consideration. An extremely limited number of requests will be honored by the White House, therefore it is critical for each individual within a tour group to complete the below tour request form as far in advance as possible.

Currently, the White House is offering a small amount of public tours from 8:00am – 12:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays, excluding federal holidays or unless otherwise noted. 

As of June 6th, all other federal office buildings remain closed to the public, including the FBI and the U.S. Bureau of Engraving & Printing.

Smithsonian Museums and National Monuments remain open, which may be self-scheduled using the links below.

• https://www.si.edu/museums
• https://www.nps.gov/state/dc/list.htm
• https://www.mountvernon.org/

If you and your family are requesting a White House or U.S. Capitol tour, please submit your tour request form below.

We will update the website as additional information becomes available.  

Specific questions or inquiries may be emailed to [email protected].  

Note: Fields marked with an * are required.

This is to help the constituents that are hard of hearing or use a video phone alert us to that fact so we can use the proper technology when we need to call them. The default option “Voice” is a normal audible telephone.

Please select each ticket type you would like me to request for you: Tickets are free, and provided on a first-come first-served basis. If my office is unable to secure a congressional tour for the sites you selected, most locations are available for public tours. Please visit  house.gov  for information about public tour information for many of the sites in Washington D.C.  Admittance is determined by the individual tour site or agency, not by the Congressional office. Unless specified, tours are available Monday through Friday.

ProudDad72 Photography

Franklin Castle Ohio: History, Mystery & Death Fill This Cleveland Haunted House

Franklin Castle, an ominous Victorian-style manor in Cleveland, Ohio, is rich with history, tragedy, and some believe a never-ending supply of spirts (the ghostly kind, not the liquid kind). Legends surrounding the castle tell stories of a dark, sinister past filled with sex, scandal, murder, and even espionage, all of which allegedly contribute to the spooky happenings that continue to plague the home even in the present day. Regardless of what’s fact or fiction, one thing is for sure – Franklin Castle got its title as “the most haunted house in Ohio” for a reason. Here is an in-depth look at the history of Franklin Castle Ohio, the mysterious deaths that took place there, and the legends about the property that are both fascinating, and terrifying.

Where Is Franklin Castle in Ohio?

Franklin Castle is located at 4308 Franklin Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44113.

Franklin Castle Cleveland

Named after the road for which it was built on (Franklin Boulevard), Franklin Castle, also sometimes referred to as Tiedemann House, was built in 1864 by the architectural firm Cudell Richardson for a wealthy German immigrant by the name of Hannes Tiedemann. Hannes had the 4-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom home built for his family; Tiedemann’s wife Louise, their 3 children, and his mother.  

Around the late 1800s to early 1900s, extensive structural changes were made to the home by Tiedmann, including the addition of a ballroom, windowed turrets, and gargoyles on the home’s exterior. By the time Tiedmann’s additions had been completed, the four-story castle featured 6,356 square feet of space and over 20 rooms.   

Interior images are few and far between, but below is a shot from inside the home in the mid-1970s. WKYC Studios also got some exclusive images from inside – those can be seen here .

Franklin Castle Floor Plan

It’s important to remember that Franklin Castle has undergone extensive renovations since originally being built in the 1800s. Despite thorough research, it seems that there are no up-to-date floor plans publicly available for the castle as it is today. So, instead of showing you what the layout is like now, we’re giving you the floor plan as it was prior to the updated construction. 

The Main Level : Making your way through the formal entrance to the house, you are greeted by the entrance hall. Immediately to the left sits the stairs that lead to the upper levels of the home, and past this is the entrance to the ballroom as well as the pantry. On the immediate right of the entrance hall is the door to the parlor, next to this is the music room, and then finally the dining room on the far right of the hall, which leads into the breakfast room, kitchen, head servant’s room, and the stairs that lead to the lower level. Off the kitchen is a storage room as well.

The Second Floor : Going up the stairs from the entrance hall to the second level, you will find a bedroom to the right (with a private balcony), and across from that sits the master bedroom on the tower section of the house that overlooks the street. Attached to the master is a bathroom, which is shared with one of the other bedrooms. More bedrooms of varying sizes line the right side of the hall and two additional bedrooms can be found at the end. On the left of the hall sits the entrance to the bandstand above the ballroom, beyond that is another bathroom, and beyond this is the stairs that take you to the third floor.

The Third Floor : Taking the stairs to the third floor, you will immediately be standing in what was once the library. To the direct left of the stairs is the bathroom, and on the opposite side of the library are three more bedrooms and another shared bathroom.

The Basement : In the basement, accessed by the stairs near the head servant’s room on the main floor, there is a senior servant’s room (with a private bathroom), and a servant’s secondary kitchen on the left. Directly across from the stairs is the servant’s dining room, and along the same wall are four separate servant’s quarters. Directly to the right of the stairs are two bathrooms positioned side-by-side, and deeper into the basement is the servant’s common room. To the right of the common room is a large storage area and off the storage is the laundry room, a workshop, and a utility room.

Franklin Castle Story

As previously mentioned, Hannes Tiedemann built and resided at Franklin Castle with his wife, their three children, and his mother after the castle’s construction 1864 by a well-respected architectural firm of the time. The home would see its first death in 1891, when the Tiedemann’s fifteen-year-old daughter, Emma Tiedemann, died due to complications from diabetes. A few weeks after Emma’s death, Hanne’s mother, Wiebeka, would also pass away in the home. Three additional Tiedemann children also died at the manor. Finally, Hanne’s wife, Louise Tiedemann, would succumb to liver disease and pass away at the residence on March 24, 1895. Franklin Castle was sold a year after Louise’s death to the Mullhauser family, and Hannes Tiedemann would pass away himself, of a stroke, in 1908.

Franklin Castle Murder Rumors

On the surface, these deaths seemed nothing more than a series of tragic events that struck the unfortunate residents of this haunted castle in Ohio at the time; until speculation began to arise that perhaps the deaths that occurred were not of natural causes, but something more sinister. Despite Emma’s death being attributed to diabetes, there are rumors that this was a cover-up for her actual cause of death; hanging – from the rafters of the attic.

Additionally, the cause of death for the three other Tiedemann children was never identified, nor was the death of Hanne’s mother. It is also believed that other children were born and died in the home, but Hannes kept their fates a secret, only adding to the growing theory that Hannes himself was actually murdering members of his family. It was even rumored that Hannes may have been behind the death of his wife since he married a younger woman only a year after her passing. He was also accused of murdering his niece (believed to have been hung in one of the secret tunnels under the home), the strangulation of a mistress, and the murder of a young servant with whom he had been carrying on an affair with. As far as legends go, it’s said that Hannes actually murdered the servant girl on her wedding day.   

Franklin Castle Tours

Though this haunted Ohio home is privately owned and not open to the public, there are occasional tours held by Haunted Cleveland Ghost Tours that pass Franklin Castle during their guided bus tours of famous haunted locations in Cleveland.

Franklin Castle Ghost

The Franklin haunted house Cleveland Ohio is believed to have quite a few spirits wandering within its walls, including some of the Tiedemann family members that once lived and eventually died on the property. Former residents of Franklin Castle, as well as visitors of the manor, have reported everything from ghostly footsteps, disembodied screams throughout the halls, the sound of a baby crying, and full-bodied apparitions – one of which being a woman wearing a black gown that has a pension for staring out the tower window (anybody reminded of “ The Woman in Black ” movie right now? Yeah, creepsville here we come!). 

Cleveland Ghost Tours

Haunted Cleveland Ghost Tours hold both walking tours as well as guided bus tours that feature some of the most haunted hotspots in the city of Cleveland Ohio.

Tickets range between $54 to $60 each, but tour routes and times vary so it’s important you check their site for further details. If you’re interested in the deranged parts of Cleveland, you won’t be disappointed.

Franklin Castle After the Tiedemann Family

The Mullhauser family, who bought the home from Hannes Tiedemann, would remain the owners of Franklin Castle for around two and a half decades before finally selling the manor to the German Socialist Party, who was thought to have used the residence as a German culture center between 1921-1968; however, the actual function of the home was never quite fully known, leaving some to suspect it may have been a secret meeting place for German spies and that assassinations took place at the home during this time. It’s also rumored that a doctor, who is believed to have rented a room within the castle, was conducting unusual experiments with human specimens inside the residence.

There was also allegedly an old still discovered in one of the castle’s secret rooms, making some theorize that the place was once used as a speakeasy during Prohibition and that one of the tunnels underground was used to move alcohol out of the home.

By 1968, the Romano family took possession of the property and almost immediately report experiencing strange activity with such severity that they even attempted to have the home exorcised, but the catholic priest that visited the home reportedly became deeply troubled by the paranormal occurrences that he witnessed and refused to do the exorcism – instead advising the family to move since he believed there to be an evil presence in the castle. The Romano family would later sell the home to a man by the name of Sam Muscatello in 1974. Muscatello began holding ghost tours at the residence, with future plans of turning the building into a church. In 1975, he claimed to have found human bones in one of the home’s closets; but the bones were never confirmed to be real and many felt this was a publicity stunt by Muscatello to attract more visitors.

Finally, Michael DeVinko, an entrepreneur and the 5 th and final husband of actress Judy Garland, purchased the property and went on to spend the next decade making massive renovations to the castle, spending around $1 million to fix the place up. DeVinko used the manor for parties until eventually selling it in 1994.

Who owns Franklin Castle now?

In the present day, the castle-like residence stands as a historical landmark and the Cleveland headquarters for Oh Dear! Productions, a foreign limited liability company that purchased the property for $260,000 in 2011.

Most Haunted Places in Ohio

Though Franklin castle is considered one of the most haunted locations in the state of Ohio, there are many other places there that come in at a close second in The Buckeye State – here are some noteworthy locations in Ohio that are believed to house some ghostly residents of past.

Sedamsville Rectory

Once a property owned by Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, the Sedamsville rectory, located in Sedamsville Ohio, is believed to be haunted by an evil, and some speculate demonic, spirit. The building was even featured on the Travel Channel series Ghost Adventures because of its notorious hauntings. Visitors of the rectory have reported hearing disembodied voices, feeling cold spots, and seeing doors close and open on their own as well as witnessing the apparition of a young boy wearing a noose around his neck. As if this wasn’t scary enough, people have also been shoved and scratched by an unknown force on the premises.

Ohio State Reformatory

Located in Mansfield, Ohio, the Ohio State Reformatory was opened originally as a prison around 1890 and remained opened until the facility was forced to close its doors in 1972. In the span that it was active, however, Ohio State Reformatory was the site of numerous deaths due to disease caused by severe overcrowding, suicides by hanging, and murders. Tours of the old penitentiary are available for a price – but visitors beware! The spirits that still remain inside the walls of this former prison are far from welcoming; in fact, people that have visited the reformatory have reported being shoved, struck, and hearing cell doors slam.

If you want to get an inside look at the prison without the risk of running into one of its former residents, you can always watch The Shawshank Redemption (1994), which was primarily filmed on-site at the building.

Now known as The Ridges, this Ohio University was formally the site of the Athens Lunatic Asylum and once partially acted as a tuberculosis ward. The facility once housed Civil War vets, children, seniors, and the homeless. The asylum provided “treatments” to its patients that often involved the use of psychotropic drugs and lobotomies. Anything from masturbation, to “menstrual derangement”, to even mild alcoholism could earn you a stay at Athens Lunatic Asylum in those days, and many who found themselves residents of the asylum were often never the same due to the neglect and cruel & unusual treatment they were subjected to there. Some even died at the facility and were buried in one of three graveyards on the property if they were unclaimed by family after death.

To make matters worse, and even more tragic, the headstones for these poor souls were not even properly marked with the deceased’s name but instead labeled with a number. Disembodied screams, voices, and apparitions have all been witnessed at The Ridge in the present day, and many believe these could be from the patients that never left Athens Asylum, even in death.   

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/4308-Franklin-Blvd_Cleveland_OH_44113_M45266-96280

http://daunek.blogspot.com/2011/11/franklin-castle-floor-plan.html

https://photos.citybeat.com/the-25-most-haunted-places-in-ohio-to-visit-this-halloween/?slide=5&ohio_state_reformatory_wikimedia_pubdomain

https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2018/06/new_york_garage_rock_record_company_moving_to_franklin_castle_and_screw_factorycompany.html

http://hauntedcleveland.net/product/variety-is-the-spirit-of-cleveland-ghost-tour-friday-october-4th-2019-copy/

https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2013/10/haunted_cleveland_tours_a_guid.html

http://www.deadohio.com/franklincastle.htm

.css-16urd06{margin:0;font-family:Roboto,sans-serif;font-weight:400;font-size:1rem;line-height:1.5;} .css-1eo6nkc{color:rgb(0, 0, 238);font-size:24px;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;} Sarah Paschall

Sarah has written and edited for numerous media outlets in a variety of different niches – though entertainment is her all-time favorite topic to cover. When she is not hard at work researching and writing about Hollywood’s top talents for Velvet Ropes, Sarah enjoys working on her fiction novels, developing her blog, and gaming. You can follow Sarah on Twitter at: Twitter.com/tuspock91