1. The Chair of Death
Tucked away in a museum in Thirsk, England, this unassuming wooden chair has a terrifying backstory. Known as the “Busby Stoop Chair,” it’s said that anyone who sits in it meets an untimely death. Legend has it that Thomas Busby, a convicted murderer, cursed the chair before being executed in the early 1700s. Since then, stories have circulated about people sitting in it and dying mysteriously shortly after shares the Unsolved Mysteries Wiki.
Museum staff eventually hung the chair high on a wall to prevent anyone from accidentally taking a seat. Still, workers claim it sometimes shifts position overnight, despite being securely fastened. Some believe it rocks slightly on its own, as if daring someone to try their luck. Whether it’s the curse or just creaky wood, no one’s willing to risk it anymore adds Medium.
2. Robert the Doll
Robert might look like a regular vintage doll at first glance, but the stories surrounding him are anything but ordinary. He was gifted to a boy named Robert Eugene Otto in Key West, Florida, and soon strange things began to happen. The family claimed the doll would move on its own, change expressions, and even speak. Neighbors swore they saw him staring from windows when no one was home adds Wikipedia.
Today, Robert lives in a museum, but visitors still report eerie experiences. People say he moves ever so slightly behind the glass case, and cameras malfunction around him. If you want to take his photo, you’re supposed to ask permission—or risk a string of bad luck. The museum keeps apology letters from people who didn’t believe the stories until something spooky happened to them says Reddit.
3. The Crying Boy Painting
It’s just a painting of a sad-looking child, but it caused a media frenzy in the UK during the 1980s. The “Crying Boy” artwork was found undamaged in several house fires, sparking rumors of a curse. People who owned the print started reporting weird occurrences, like the painting falling off the wall by itself or making small items move nearby.
Some homeowners claimed it would rotate slightly overnight or be found in different rooms. Even those who didn’t believe in curses started getting rid of their copies, just to be safe. Firefighters were apparently so spooked by the connection that some refused to have the painting in their homes. While experts chalk it up to coincidence, the stories just keep coming.
4. Annabelle the Doll
If you’ve seen The Conjuring movies, you’ve already met a fictional version of Annabelle, but the real doll is locked away in a Connecticut museum. Originally a Raggedy Ann doll, Annabelle was said to move from room to room, leave notes, and even scratch people. Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren were so concerned, they sealed her in a glass case with a warning sign.
Museum staff have claimed she sometimes shifts slightly in her box, even though no one has touched her. There’s also talk of her blinking or turning her head ever so slightly during tours. People who mock her or tap on the glass have allegedly left the museum only to get into accidents. The glass case is blessed regularly now, just in case she gets any ideas.
5. The Myrtles Plantation Mirror
This mirror at the Myrtles Plantation in Louisiana might look like any other antique, but visitors say it’s got a mind of its own. Legend says the spirits of a murdered woman and her children are trapped inside it. Guests have reported handprints appearing on the glass when no one is near it, and some say they’ve seen figures moving within the reflection.
Staff insist the mirror is cleaned regularly, yet the smudges return almost immediately. Some even claim to have seen the glass ripple, as if something was pushing against it from the inside. It doesn’t help that the rest of the plantation is considered one of the most haunted places in the U.S. With or without the story, it’s hard to look into that mirror without getting a chill.
6. Harold the Haunted Doll
Harold looks like a simple, well-loved doll, but he has a reputation for being one of the most disturbing haunted objects out there. He first gained attention in the early 2000s when he was listed on eBay with claims of unexplainable crying, laughter, and physical illness. Since then, he’s reportedly caused nightmares, back pain, and electronic failures around anyone who keeps him too close.
He now resides with a paranormal investigator who treats him like a ticking time bomb. Cameras placed near Harold have allegedly captured him shifting ever so slightly. Even skeptics admit they feel uneasy being in the same room. Some visitors refuse to be alone with him, claiming he gives off a deeply unsettling energy.
7. The Dybbuk Box
This old wine cabinet is said to be haunted by a dybbuk, a restless spirit from Jewish folklore. The box gained notoriety after being sold on eBay, along with a description of terrifying experiences like hair loss, bad dreams, and even strange smells. Its owners have reported doors opening by themselves and lights flickering when it’s nearby.
Some say the box shakes or emits an odd hum, especially at night. One owner claimed it moved slightly on its own, even when placed on a stable surface. Eventually, the box was locked away in a secure location. But even now, those who’ve come in contact with it describe it as overwhelmingly dark and heavy.
8. Mandy the Haunted Doll
Mandy lives in a museum in British Columbia and has become one of its most talked-about exhibits. The doll has a cracked face and eyes that seem just a little too aware. Staff say they’ve found her in different positions than they left her, and some even claim to hear footsteps or faint crying when she’s nearby.
Visitors sometimes report feeling cold spots around her display case or claim she turns her head slightly. Cameras malfunction often in her presence, and volunteers have said they refuse to close the museum alone because of her. There’s even a rumor that she doesn’t like being next to other dolls and will knock them over. Whether it’s coincidence or something more, Mandy gives almost everyone the creeps.
9. The Hands Resist Him Painting
This painting, often called “the eBay haunted painting,” features a young boy and a doll-like girl standing in front of a glass door with disembodied hands reaching out. The image alone is unsettling, but what really caught people’s attention were the claims that the characters in the painting would move. One owner said they’d seen the figures leave the painting at night and wander their home.
Others said they felt watched or experienced sudden temperature drops while the painting was nearby. Some buyers even returned it, too disturbed to keep it in their homes. It’s now owned by a gallery that keeps it out of view most of the time. The artist insists it’s just a misunderstood piece of art, but the stories persist.
10. Okiku the Doll
Okiku is housed in a temple in Japan and is said to contain the spirit of a little girl who died young. What makes her truly unsettling is her hair, which reportedly continues to grow despite being trimmed. Monks have claimed that they regularly cut her hair only for it to grow back—slightly different each time.
Even more disturbing, some say she occasionally shifts position or changes expression. Visitors sometimes report hearing whispers when they’re near her case. The doll has become a cultural legend in Japan, with many treating her with deep respect. Whether you believe the stories or not, her presence is undeniably eerie.
11. The Belcourt Castle Chairs
Belcourt Castle in Rhode Island is filled with antique treasures, but some of them come with baggage. Two throne-like chairs in particular have become infamous for their haunted reputations. Guests who sit in them report sudden chills, dizziness, and even being pushed out by an unseen force.
Others claim the chairs rock slightly or creak as if someone invisible is sitting down or getting up. Staff have tried moving the chairs, only to find them back in their original spots. People now steer clear of them, even during tours. If a chair can make you feel like you’re not welcome, these ones definitely qualify.
12. The Tallman Bunk Beds
These secondhand bunk beds might seem like a strange haunted item, but their story became national news in the 1980s. A family in Wisconsin claimed they experienced months of paranormal chaos after bringing them home. The beds were said to move slightly, and children sleeping in them reported seeing shadowy figures.
Objects in the room would shake, and even the family radio was said to change stations on its own. Eventually, the family moved the beds outside and set them on fire just to be rid of them. After that, the activity reportedly stopped completely. No one knows where the bunk beds came from, but no one’s eager to find out either.
13. Peggy the Doll
Peggy might not be as well known as Annabelle, but she’s earned a reputation all her own. Paranormal investigators say she causes nausea, headaches, and even heart attacks in people who look at her too long. She’s known to move slightly in her chair and has reportedly changed positions between video recordings.
Visitors have fainted or burst into tears near her, claiming they felt overwhelmed with grief or dread. Some say she communicates through electronic devices, including EMF readers and spirit boxes. The current owner keeps her in a secure room with constant monitoring. Whether or not you believe in haunted dolls, Peggy is one you probably don’t want to meet in person.