Audubon House & Tropical Gardens

Built for Captain John Geiger, a wealthy 19th-century wrecker and harbor pilot, and named for naturalist John James Audubon who visited Key West in 1832. Multiple paranormal societies have certified the property as haunted.

Built in 1846 by sea captain and wrecker Captain John Geiger for his family, the Audubon House has been certified as haunted by numerous paranormal societies including Messengers Paranormal and CRIPT Seekers. Captain Geiger earned fortunes salvaging shipwrecks off Key West's rocky coast, receiving 25% of recovered valuables, though rumors persist he dabbled in piracy with treasure buried somewhere on the property. The Geiger family lived here for four generations over 108 years. William Bradford Smith, the last descendant, lived as a recluse for 25 years with no plumbing or electricity. Captain Geiger's ghost has been seen on the balcony and in the gardens—some believe he chases people away from where his fortune is hidden. His wife Lucretia also roams the halls, watching over children. Hannah, a young girl who died at age 10, has a painting that unnerves visitors—the eyes seem to follow you, and child footsteps run to and from it. EVP recordings have captured children laughing, and little Charles, the youngest Geiger child, is known to tap or tug at visitors. The house was also home to the Bye-Lo Baby doll, which disappeared under mysterious circumstances—locals joke Robert the Doll did not want competition.