Local Legends & Tall Tales

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Beyond the landmarks and attractions, the Mid-Atlantic is full of stories that refuse to fade. Ghostly encounters, enduring folklore, and colorful local legends have become part of these destinations’ identities, adding a little mystery to every visit.

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MARYLAND

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Calvert County (MD)
Take a Spooky Solomons Ghost Tour and hear tales of mystery and intrigue during a guided walk through the waterfront village of Solomons. Explore Buehler’s Marketplace Museum and Gift Shop in St. Leonard, where historic photographs celebrate the community’s past and present. At the Bayside History Museum in North Beach, uncover stories of the Chesapeake Beach Amusement Park, Camp Roosevelt and local life through the decades. Then step inside the Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum, housed in the original 1898 railway depot, to learn how the railroad transformed the area into a resort destination and how it evolved over time.
Visit Calvert

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Howard County (MD)
The ghost tales of Howard County, Maryland are unforgettable, making it one of the most haunted regions on the East Coast and the perfect place for a legendary weekend getaway. Maryland History Tours LLC offers weekend explorations through Historic Savage Mill, where 19th-century buildings host lingering spirits. Stay overnight at the haunted Wayside Inn, a Revolutionary War-era bed-and-breakfast known for stories of a resident “housekeeping spirit” named Jenny. Continue your trip with historic sites, shops, and restaurants, turning a ghost tour into an overnight escape between Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
Visit Howard County

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Talbot County (MD)
Located on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, the waterfront town of St. Michaels is known through local folklore as ‘the town that fooled the British.’ As it’s said lanterns were used to misdirect enemy gunfire high above the town during the War of 1812. This picture-perfect town is famous for its charm, but ghost stories abound. Take a walk with Chesapeake Ghost Tours for a chance to encounter the spirits who linger in the old colonial port – when the town was once alive with sailors, taverns, and temptation.
Tour Talbot

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PENNSYLVANIA

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Butler County (PA
Nestled in a small historic town is The Harmony Inn, a popular restaurant serving locally crafted brews and dishes to die for. The Inn was formerly an Italianate-style home when it belonged to a prominent banker and railroad executive in the 1850s.

Paranormal investigators claim to have proof of unearthly activity, and employees have reported strange sights and sounds that couldn’t be explained. Some have claimed to see a woman in white floating by the bar after hours. Employees claim furniture moves on its own overnight. You’ll have to visit Harmony, PA, to investigate for yourself!
Experience Butler County

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Bradford County (PA)
Bradford County is home to some of the state’s most historic Victorian buildings that are always rumored to be places to experience things that go bump in the night. The Towanda Public Library is one of those amazing structures. Built in 1897, this historic landmark is said to be a place to experience phantom footsteps echoing after hours and shadowy figures passing the stained-glass windows that are believed to be spirits still lingering inside. Experiencing the architecture of Towanda is a great way to travel to the past and consider the possibilities!
Bradford County Tourism Promotion Agency

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Juniata River Valley (PA)
Long before Lewistown took shape, Dorcas Buchanan carved out a life here on the frontier. A spirited immigrant from Ireland, she became the first European woman to call this place home in the early 1700s. Dorcas was as strong as she was resourceful—raising her children, helping run a tavern, and hunting to feed her family, with legends telling of her taking down a great elk with her bare hands. After her husband’s death, she carried on, running the tavern herself and earning the respect of all who knew her including Native Americans and President George Washington.
Juniata River Valley Visitors Bureau

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Potter & Tioga Counties (PA)
Looking to spot some UFOs or other heavenly phenomena? A visit to experience Dark Skies at Cherry Springs State Park in Potter County is a way to observe the night skies where visitors from time-to-time report seeing shooting stars, unidentified skycraft and other night sky anomalies. At a spot where you can see the Milky Way on a clear night with your own eyes, bringing a telescope or night vision camera allows you even better ways to observe the “unidentified objects” or other intergalactic mysteries of the night sky. Plan a visit to have your own close encounter this year! Photo by Curt Weinhold
Visit Potter-Tioga

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York County (PA)
History and mystery intertwine at the ruins of Codorus Furnace, where the remains of one of York County’s earliest iron furnaces have inspired local legends for generations. Built in the 1700s, the site is said to be home to unexplained sounds, shadowy figures, and tales of lingering spirits. Pair a visit with an evening exploring the historic streets of downtown York, where centuries-old buildings have stories of their own, and you’ll discover why York County is a favorite destination for those who enjoy a little history with a side of mystery.
Explore York

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About the Mid-Atlantic Tourism Public Relations Alliance
The Mid-Atlantic Tourism Public Relations Alliance (MATPRA) is a collaborative network of tourism partners across Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The alliance is dedicated to supporting travel journalists by providing resources that transcend geographic boundaries, much like travelers themselves. By identifying common themes and regional highlights, MATPRA offers a wealth of story ideas for journalists interested in showcasing the diverse destinations of the Mid-Atlantic region as a unified whole. For more information, visit matpra.org.

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