11. St. Marks Church-in-the-Bowery

Exterior of St. Marks in the Bowery Church

The ominous footsteps heard by some at St. Mark’s Church-in-the-Bowery sound a little different than the footsteps of other ghosts. This is because those footsteps are believed to be from the ghost of Peter Stuyvesant, the last Dutch Governor of New Amsterdam, who walked with a wooden peg leg. While his body is buried beneath the church, some claim his spirit roams free above.

Built in 1795, St. Mark’s is the oldest church structure in Manhattan. It stands on the former site of a small 17th-century chapel built for the personal use of the Stuyvesant family. The Stuyvesant family held onto the chapel and surrounding land for over 100 years. Legend says Stuyvesant’s spirit has made his presence known by ringing the church bells at odd hours.