Photographer Visits Real Life Haunted Houses Across America

Oct 31, 2014

Michael Zhang

Locals say the owner of Ohio’s Milan Mansion was a practicing witch.

For his book 13: An American Horror Story, photographer Seph Lawless visited a number of real life “haunted houses” across the United States. The houses are crumbling on the outside, and the insides were the stage for some some of the creepiest crimes and incidents throughout history.

The house above is Milan Mansion found in Ohio. The locals claim that the owner was a practicing witch.

Here are some other photos from the book and descriptions of why the houses were included in the project:

This is the Akron, Ohio childhood home of Robert Berdella, one of the most notorious serial murderers in US history.

The Hooley Haunted Mansion in Texas was a bed and breakfast in the 70s. It was also the site of a number of strange deaths.

The Cater House Estates in Buffalo, New York is the home in which a local sheriff committed suicide by shooting himself. Locals say they hear voices from the home.

The Sayer House is supposed where a couple committed suicide, leaving their four children to fend for themselves for more than a decade.

You know the TV show "American Horror Story?" This house, the Bailey House in Hartford, Connecticut, is what inspired that show. — You know the TV show “American Horror Story?” This house, the Bailey House in Hartford, Connecticut, is what inspired that show.

The Temple Haunted Mansion in Detroit, Michigan is where a triple murder occurred in 1942.

This house in Brush Park, Michigan is called the Haught Mansion. It used to be a brothel. A number of bodies were discovered in the cellar.

This house in Chester, Pennsylvania is called the Oliver Family Mansion. In 1898, the family went missing and were never found. Locals say there have been sightings of the family in the windows.

This house in Philadelphia, PA is called the Doll Mansion. It simply contains dolls and various tools.

Serial killer Michael Madison tortured and killed people in his Cleveland house.

This house in Youngstown, Ohio, called the Nova House, is where a man named Benjamin Albright accidentally shot his son to death. Albright then killed himself and his wife out of anguish, and the house has been vacant ever since with the family's stuff still inside. — This house in Youngstown, Ohio, called the Nova House, is where a man named Benjamin Albright accidentally shot his son to death. Albright then killed himself and his wife out of anguish, and the house has been vacant ever since with the family’s stuff still inside.

The book can be picked up for $99 over from Lawless’ online store. It’s a coffee photography book that contains 13 short stories about each of the houses.

You can find more photographs from Lawless’ urban explorations here. You can also follow along with his work on Facebook and Instagram.

Image credits: Photographs by Seph Lawless and used with permission

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