Built to Scare: A History of Haunted Houses

By: Leland Berg

As October comes into full swing, the Halloween fright slowly creeps in like a dull fog. Scents of apple cider and sounds of bonfires crackling bring a sense of eeriness. You can’t talk about this spooky season without mentioning haunted houses.

Haunted houses are a special multi-sensory experience that spikes your adrenaline with jump scares and actors dressed in horrifying costumes. The idea of a haunted house has been around for centuries with people entertaining themselves by sharing scary stories. But, the version of haunted houses that exist today have evolved quite a bit.

Haunted houses originated in 19th-century London when attractions and gruesome illusions caught the attention of the public. In 1802, Marie Tussaud created an exhibition of wax figures depicting prominent French leaders. When the exhibition caught the attention of locals, she made it permanent, and called it the “Chamber of Horrors”. This event inspired other Europeans and eventually made its way to the US during the Great Depression. 

The first American haunted houses were very simple, normally just involving families decorating their basements and holding parties that would scare kids as they traveled from house to house. The haunted house really became an icon in 1969, when Walt Disney decided to build the “Haunted Mansion” in Disneyland. This attraction became an instant hit and within a few years haunted houses had spread throughout the entire country.

Today, haunted houses are a staple of the Halloween season. They are a tradition that would not exist without Halloween, but Halloween would not be the same without it. As you get ready to celebrate the scariest season of the year, remember to enjoy the thrill of a haunted house with your friends or family.