The Queen Mary

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Location: The RMS Queen Mary, Long Beach, California, United States of America
Dates Active: 1934 to Present
Category: Haunting, Mass Deaths, Mysterious Sounds, Nice Spirits
Cause: Multiple Deaths
Status: Ongoing
Entry ID: 012824A-00045

Summery: 

The Queen Mary is considered by many to be one of the most haunted locations in the United States.

In Depth:

This British passenger ship was constructed from 1930 to 1934 for the Cunard Line, and was considered one of the most luxurious ocean liners at the time. She had numerous amenities, including seven different dining rooms and cocktail bars, two indoor swimming pools, beauty salons, libraries, a music studio, a squash court, and a grand ballroom. She even had its own hospital. She ran passenger cruises from 1936 to 1939, during which time she captured the Blue Riband (an unofficial for crossing the Atlantic Ocean with the highest average speed), and carried famous passengers such as Clark Gable and Bob Hope. 

In 1940 the Queen Mary was converted into a troopship during World War II. She was outfitted with anti-aircraft guns on the decks, a degaussing coil was installed on the outside hull to protect against mines, and the entire hull was painted a standard navy gray, becoming known as the "Gray Ghost." During the war, she transported more than 750,000 troops from the US to Europe, with some trips during the summer taking on over 15,000 troops at once if the men slept on the deck. Even Winston Churchill was a passenger onboard on several occasions, and even spoke of the Queen Mary being responsible for shortening the war by a whole year. The Queen Mary was one of the largest and fastest troopships during the war, making it difficult for enemy ships to catch her, but did not free her from any wartime tragedy.

One such event took place on October 2, 1942, when the Queen Mary struck one of her escort ships, the HMS Curacoa. Captain Gordon Illingsworth ordered accompanying destroyers to look for survivors, but only 99 survivors out of a crew of 338 were managed to be saved. Of the 239 lives lost in accident, some survived the initial sinking only to be caught in the Queen Mary's propellers.

After the war the Queen Mary was refitted back to passenger service, and ran cruises once again from 1947 until her final voyage in 1967. She was purchased by Long Beach, California for $3.45 million dollars, and arrived in the city December of 1967 where it permanently moored and converted into a hotel and attraction. It opened on May 8, 1971 to tourists, but operations changed hands several times over the years, even at one point being owned by the Walt Disney company (which, interestingly, was responsible for starting the first ghost tours onboard the ship). It still operates as a hotel today, and holds both historical and paranormal tours of the ship.

There are at least 49 confirmed deaths that have occurred onboard, not including those who died in the incident with the Curacoa. It is sometimes claimed that as many as 150 spirits roam the ship.

Reported Activity:

  • The Lady in White is one of the most famous spirits onboard the ship, supposedly seen wandering the halls wearing a flowing white gown. According to legend she supposedly died on her wedding day, but no records of such a death exist.
  • Door 13 in the ship's engine compartments is supposedly host to all sorts of activity, as it was the location where an 18-year-old, bearded engineer named John Pedder was crushed to death by the closing water tight door during World War II. According some witnesses, his spirit can be seen haunting the area around Door 13 wearing blue coveralls.
  • Children spirits are often reported on the ship, especially around the first class pool. There, some people claim to hear giggling, see wet footprints of children around the edge of the pool, and can sometimes even see children occupying the upper balconies. One such child spirit is known as Jackie, who supposedly having a long conversation with psychic Peter James.
  • Other spirits have been reported around the pools, such as women in late 1930s style swimsuits appearing in the hallways.
  • There have been reports of an apparition of a woman wearing a white evening gown appearing the Queen's Salon (one of the main dinning areas). She is said to dance alone in one of the corners of the room.
  • Stateroom B340 was constructed when the Queen Mary was moved to Long Beach, taking three existing third class rooms and combining them into one larger room. According to legend, one of the rooms that made up B340 had a passenger named Walter J. Adamson, who died in 1948, and people who have stayed in the room claim that they have encountered his ghost standing at the foot of their bed and having the covers pulled off. Hotel maids claim that they have come into the room to find the sink running when no one had stayed in the room, and bed sheets being pulled off the bed shortly after they had made it. The room itself is commonly used as a stop on the ship's ghost tours.
  • The sound of a baby crying can be heard coming from the third class children's playroom.
  • Areas of the engine room at the stern near where the propeller shafts lead outside there have been reports of people hearing the cries of men banging on the outside of the ship.
  • Some of the phones installed in the room ring in the middle of the night, but when answered there is no one on the line.
  • The smell of cigar smoke can occasionally be found permeating the bridge. Supposedly, Captain Treasure Jones, the ship's last captain and the one who sailed her to Long Beach, loved to smoke a good cigar.
  • Supposedly a young girl named Dana was murdered in B474 along with her entire family by her father, who then killed himself. No such murder had ever been reported onboard the ship, but people claim to encounter Dana in the archives, the cargo area, and the second class pool calling for her mother.
  • One ghost supposedly belongs to an officer by the name of William Stark, who according to some stories died after being poisoned by mistaking drinking cleaning fluid from what he thought was a gin bottle. He has been reportedly seen near the Captain's cabin on the main deck, and sounds of a man choking have been attributed to him.
  • Growling has been recorded inside of a closet area under the stairs at the first class swimming pool.
  • Most areas of the ship report the sound of knocking, doors opening and slamming shut, drastic temperature changes, and phantom smells of perfume.
  • Shadow people have been reported in most areas of the ship at all hours of the day.
  • Balls of light have also been reported.

External Links (Last checked January 28, 2024):

  • The Queen Mary - The Queen Mary's official website for booking rooms and tours.

The RMS Queen Mary in Media:

Related Entries and Connections: 

Last Updated: March 23, 2024

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