HAUNTED PLACES

Queen Mary

The RMS Queen Mary is a retired British ocean liner that sailed primarily on the North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967 for the Cunard line (known as Cunard-White Star Line when the vessel entered service) and built by John Brown & Company in Clydebark, Scotland.

When World War II broke out in 1939, luxury travel immediately ceased and the ship was transformed into a troopship that would become known as "The Grey Ghost." During this time her capacity was increased from 2,410 to 5,500. By the end of World War II, the ship had carried more than 800,000 troops, traveled more than 600,000 miles and played a significant role in virtually every major Allied campaign. She had also survived a collision at sea, set the record for carrying the most people ever on a floating vessels, and participated in the D-D invasion.

It's duty to the war complete, the Queen Mary was refurbished and resumed her elegant cruises in July 1947, maintaining weekly service between Southhampton, Cherbourg, and New York. However, by the early 1960's, transatlantic cruises were falling out of fashion, due to air travel becoming affordable for the masses. In 1963, the ship began a series of occasional cruises, first to the Canary Islands, and later to the Bahamas. However, without central air conditioning, outdoor pools or other amenities now commonplace on cruise ships, she proved ill-suited for the work. In 1967 she was withdrawn from service after more than 1000 transatlantic crossings.

That same year, the Queen Mary was sold $3.45 million to the city of Long Beach, California for use as a maritime museum and hotel. On December 9, 1967, she made her final voyage to Long Beach. After 1001 successful Atlantic crossings, she was permanently docked and soon became the luxury hotel that she is today.

                        "The deck on the Queen Mary still sport their original wood flooring."

Internationally recognized, the historic floating hotel and museum attracts thousands of visitors every year. It has also attracted a number of unearthly guests over the years. In fact, some say the Queen Mary is one of the most haunted places in the world with as many as 150 known spirits lurking upon the ship. Over the past 60 years, the Queen Mary has been the site of at least 49 reported deaths, not to mention having gone through the terrors of war, so it comes as no surprise that spectral spirits of her vivid past continue to walk within her rooms and hallways.

Located 50 feet below water level is the Queen Mary's engine room, which is said to be a hotbed of paranormal activity. Used in the filming of the Poseidon Adventure, the room's infamous "Door 13" crushed at least two men to death, at different points during the ships history. The most recent death, during a routine watertight door drill in 1966, crushed as 18 y/o crew member. Dressed in blue coveralls and sporting a beard, the young man has often been spied walking the length of shaft alley before disappearing by door #13.

Two more popular spots for the Queen's other worldly guests are its firdt and second class swimming pools. Though neither are utilized today for their original purpose, spirits seemingly are not aware of that. In the first-class swimming pool, which has been closed for more than three decades, women have often been seen appearing in 1930's style swimming suits wandering the decks near the pool. Others have reported the sounds of splashing and spied wet footprints leading from the deck to the changing rooms. Some have also spied the spirit of a young girl, clutching her teddy bear.

In the second class poolroom, the spirit of another girl named Jackie is often been seen and heard. Allegedly, the unfortunate girl drowned in the pool during the ship's sailing days and reputed refused to more on as her voice, as well as the sounds of laughter have been captured here. However, author and paranormal investigator, Cher Garman points out that there are no known drownings to have ever occurred on the ship, although she says Jackie is there.

In the Queen's salon, which once served as the ships first-class lounge, a beautiful young woman in an elegant white evening gown has often been seen dancing alone in the shadows of the corner of the room.

Yet more odd occurrences have been made in a number of first class staterooms. Here, reports have been made of a tall dark-haired man appearing in a 1930's style suit. as well as water running and lights turning on in the middle of the night, and phones ringing in the early morning hours with no one on the other end of the line. In the third class children's playroom, a baby's cry has often been heard, which is thought to be the infant boy who died shortly after his birth.

Other phenomenon occurring throughout the ship, are the sounds of distinct knocks, doors slamming and high pitched squeals, drastic temperature changes and the aromas of smells long pasts.

These are but a few of the many reports of apparitions and strange events occurring at this luxury liner turned hotel.