The Ghosts of Cahawba: Alabama’s Forgotten and Haunted Capital



Once a thriving town and the very first capital of Alabama, Old Cahawba (also spelled Cahaba) now stands as a hauntingly beautiful ruin, whispered to be one of the most haunted places in the American South. Located at the confluence of the Alabama and Cahaba Rivers, this abandoned town blends Southern Gothic charm with legends of tragedy, mystery, and restless spirits.

A Brief History of Cahawba

Founded in 1819 as Alabama’s first permanent state capital, Cahawba was envisioned as a grand political and commercial hub. But the town’s low-lying, swampy geography made it vulnerable to frequent flooding, disease outbreaks, and political instability. By 1826, the capital had been moved to Tuscaloosa, triggering a slow but steady decline.

Despite brief revivals most notably as a prosperous cotton port and later a Civil War prison town Cahawba was ultimately abandoned by the early 1900s, leaving behind crumbling structures, moss-draped ruins, and lingering spirits.

Haunted Legends and Ghostly Sightings


The Spirit of Colonel C.C. Pegues

One of the most enduring tales from Cahawba involves the Pegues family, particularly Colonel C.C. Pegues, a Confederate officer who lived in a grand home near the town square. His house served as a meeting point for soldiers and officers, and legend has it that his ghost still walks the grounds, dressed in his uniform, appearing most often in the early morning mist.

The Floating Orbs of the Slave Cemetery

In Cahawba’s historic slave burial ground, visitors and paranormal investigators have reported strange floating orbs of light, cold spots, and feelings of overwhelming sorrow. The area is deeply tied to the emotional residue of enslaved people who lived and died in Cahawba—many of them buried in unmarked graves.

The Civil War Prisoners

During the Civil War, Cahawba was home to Castle Morgan, a Confederate prison that held thousands of Union soldiers. Harsh conditions, disease, and neglect caused many deaths. Witnesses have claimed to see phantom soldiers patrolling near the former prison site and hear disembodied voices and moans carried on the wind.

The Bell Tower Mystery

An old tale tells of a ghostly woman in white who is seen near the remnants of Cahawba’s church bell tower. Some say she was a bride-to-be who died tragically before her wedding; others believe she was mourning a soldier lost in the war. Her apparition is said to appear before storms, her veil glowing faintly in the dark.

Paranormal Investigations

Paranormal teams and historians alike have explored Cahawba's eerie landscapes, capturing EVPs (electronic voice phenomena), strange fluctuations in EMF readings, and visual anomalies like shadow figures and light distortions. The town’s silence—broken only by birds, wind, and the occasional unexplained sound makes it an ideal location for ghost hunting.

A Hauntingly Beautiful Historic Park

Today, Old Cahawba Archaeological Park preserves what remains of the town. The skeletal brick structures, forgotten cemeteries, and lonely pathways attract both history lovers and ghost seekers. It’s a place where nature has reclaimed the past, but whispers of those who once called Cahawba home still seem to linger.

Whether you believe in spirits or not, there’s no denying the chilling atmosphere that hangs over this Southern ghost town where history is etched not only in stone but in the air itself.

Want a travel guide for haunted Cahawba or tips for exploring respectfully at night? Let us know and we’ll conjure one up.