The haunted places in Nevada City people talk about most are the National Exchange Hotel on Broad Street, the Firehouse No. 1 Museum on Main Street, and the old graves at Pioneer Cemetery. None of it is proven. It is lore, passed down in a town that has stood since the gold rush.
Old towns grow ghost tales the way old trees grow moss. This one has gas lamps, brick walls, steep lanes and long winter nights. That is all a good story needs. Here is where the tales live, what is real about each place, and how to see them.
Which places in Nevada City are said to be haunted?
Three spots come up again and again. Each one is real. Each is worth a visit, even if you never see a thing.
| Place | Built | The tale | Can you go in? |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Exchange Hotel | 1856 | Phantom guests, told on candlelit tours | Yes, it is a working hotel and bar |
| Firehouse No. 1 Museum | 1861 | A painting some say is haunted | Yes, on set days and hours |
| Pioneer Cemetery | 1851 | Old graves on a still hill | Yes, on foot |
| The gas lit streets | Gold rush era | The town's ghost tour | Yes, by download |
Is the National Exchange Hotel haunted?
That depends on who you ask. The hotel says it was built in 1856, in what grew to be one of the grand gold rush camps. It has stood for about 170 years. That is a lot of check ins. Some guests, the tales go, never checked out.
In 2022, NBC Bay Area wrote about the hotel's ghost tales. It said the hotel ran candlelit Haunted by History tours that fall, led by the hotel manager. The tours came with a two night stay. We could not find them on the books this year. Ask the hotel first if that is why you book.
- Where: 211 Broad Street.
- What it is now: A hotel with a bar and a place to eat.
- Good fit if: You want to sleep in the story, not just walk past it.
For the full tale of the building, read our piece on the hotel.
What is the ghost story at the old firehouse?
It is a painting. Tips on the Roadside America site speak of a haunted painting in the old fire hall. One local who grew up here wrote that the rumor is fifty fifty. Most folks in town, the tip says, give it no thought. That is about as frank as ghost talk gets.
The real history is strong on its own. The Nevada County Historical Society says the fire hall was done in the spring of 1861. Fire crews rolled out of it until 1938. It has housed a small museum since 1947.
- What to see: Things from the Donner Party cabins.
- Also: Temple altars from the old Chinese quarter in Grass Valley, and Nisenan baskets.
- Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 1 to 4 pm, through Oct. 31.
- Winter: Call to set a time. It is for groups of six or more.
So if you want the painting, go by Oct. 31. After that, call first.
Where are the old graves?
Pioneer Cemetery sits at the top of West Broad Street. The chamber's graveyard walk page says it was set up in 1851. It is on a knoll behind the First Methodist Church. About 400 graves rest on close to two acres. Some date back to the 1850s.
We know of no ghost tied to it. It does not need one. Go late in the day, when the light gets low and the leaves come down. Walk slow. Read the names. Be quiet and kind. These were real people.
Is there a ghost tour in Nevada City?
Yes. The chamber's Halloween page says Mark Lyon, a local teller of tales, has run Haunted Nevada City tours for over sixteen years. Now you buy his tour as a download at the chamber office, 132 Main Street. Then you walk it on your own. He also gives private tours.
Here is a short route that links the spots:
- Start at the fire hall on Main Street while it is still light.
- Walk up Broad Street and stop at the old hotel.
- Keep climbing to the top of West Broad and the graves.
- Head back down as the gas lamps come on.
- Play the tour on your phone for the stops in between.
For more on the brick fronts you pass, our self guided history walk fills in the facts.
Questions people ask
What is the most haunted place in Nevada City?
No one can prove a ghost, so there is no true answer. The National Exchange Hotel has the best known tales. Its own staff once led candlelit tours of them.
Is there a ghost tour in Nevada City?
Yes. The chamber sells Mark Lyon's Haunted Nevada City tour as a download at its office on Main Street. He also gives private tours if you ask.
Can you stay in a haunted hotel in Nevada City?
The National Exchange Hotel on Broad Street dates to 1856 and has a long run of ghost lore. It is a working hotel, so you can book a room and judge for yourself.
Is the Firehouse museum open in winter?
The town's history group lists it as open Wednesday to Sunday, 1 to 4 pm, through Oct. 31. From November to April, groups of six or more can call to set a time.
Our own old walls
We will be straight with you. We have no ghost to sell. What we have is old brick and a long past. The room burned in 2002. It came back because the town would not let it go. Sherwood has kept a table here since 1973. You can read how that went on our about page, then come warm up at the bar after your walk.
