Nemacolin Castle

Built in 1786 on a bluff above the Monongahela River, this 235-year-old structure sits on top of a Native American burial ground and the site of Fort Burd from the French and Indian War. It's considered one of the oldest castles in the U.S.

Nemacolin Castle, perched high atop a hill overlooking the Monongahela River in Brownsville, is said to be the third-oldest castle in the United States at 235 years old. The story begins with Jacob Bowman, who relocated from Hagerstown, Maryland in the late 1780s and recognized the strategic importance of this location. He built a simple 2-room log structure and trading post in 1789 on land that held an Indian burial ground and the site of Fort Burd, a French and Indian War garrison from 1759.

Jacob named it Nemacolin Castle in honor of his friend Chief Nemacolin, the Native American leader who blazed the trail over the mountains for settlers to travel westward. Bowman opened numerous factories producing nails, glass, and paper, and even a bank. George Washington appointed him as Brownsville's postmaster, gifting him a desk that remains on display today. An ardent abolitionist, Jacob made the castle a station on the Underground Railroad. He had nine children before his death in 1847.

His youngest son Nelson added the octagonal tower and east wing, greatly expanding the family's wealth before his death in 1892. The castle was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

Up to ten spirits are said to inhabit the property. Jacob Bowman's ghost is most often seen in the library, where he apparently still tosses objects around—books are moved and knocked off shelves, and an antique cane kept in the room is frequently thrown to the ground, sometimes multiple times a day. A little girl, normally seen in the middle part of the house, has been reported dozens of times. A small boy, a stern-looking woman, a ghostly little dog, and an elderly man also roam the halls.

The upper floor hosts an elegant woman in a white dress, a matron in black, a woman in a purple period dress, and a curly-haired girl. Mary, an orphan who was a ward of Jacob's, is among the named spirits. Heavy stomping footsteps wander through the house at odd hours, accompanied by slamming doors.

The castle offers guided tours and ghost hunts, where visitors continue to add to its growing collection of supernatural encounters.