The 1890 House Museum is Cortland’s historic house museum. The home belonged to the entrepreneur and industrialist Chester Wickwire, and has a long history of reported ghost activity. Visitors and staff have reported a number of different types of haunted activity - footsteps in an otherwise empty building, shadows moving through rooms, doors opening and closing, knocking and wrapping, and silhouettes of human figures in windows. These ghostly activities have been attributed to several historical figures who lived and died within the walls of Cortland’s Castle. Contact the Museum if you are interested in a ghostly encounter, or check out our robust Haunted Programming around Halloween!

We offer several Ghost Hunting opportunities. See below for the types of programs available, and contact the Museum to arrange your haunted visit today!

1) Arrange a late night rental of the Museum to conduct your own ghost hunting trip. Rates are significantly lower than our standard rental packages because the Museum remains in its current arrangement. The rental only provides access to the Museum during night hours. We can arrange discounted over-night accommodations for interested groups.

2) For a guided ghost hunting experience, we have partnered with Dream Seekers Paranormal to conduct private ghost hunting events. These private sessions occur during Museum closed hours, and around availability. If interested in arranging a ghost hunting experience at the 1890 House, call or email to discuss further.

May - December: Thursday - Saturday: 11 AM - 5 PM, Guided tours at 12 PM, 1:30 PM and 3:00 PM; Sunday: 11 AM - 3 PM, Guided tours at 12 PM and 1:30 PM 

*Closed in January - available by special appointment

February - April: Thursday - Saturday: 11 AM - 5 PM, Guided tours at 12 PM, 1:30 PM and 3:00 PM; Closed on Sundays

Adults are $8, Students, Educators, and Seniors are $5. Active military, family, and veterans are free of charge.

Ghost Hunters, 2013: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1axfhh