Apparitions of forgotten soldiers, the sound of footsteps behind you, and the presence of a crypt that is centuries old are just a few of the ghoulish details associated with this historic building located on the campus of one of Virginia’s oldest colleges.
Take a step back in time and discover why Williamsburg is considered the most haunted city on the east coast. Schedule your tour with Williamsburg Ghost Tour today!
Is the Wren Building Haunted?
Known for being one of the oldest historical buildings in the nation that is still operational, the Wren Building is connected to many important figures and events of days gone by. And not everything from this building’s past has been pleasant.
The History of the Wren Building
The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, was founded on February 8th, 1693, under a Royal Charter issued by King William III and Queen Mary II. One of the buildings on campus is the Wren Building. It is the oldest building at the university and the second oldest seat of higher learning in the nation.
Opened in 1695, this Renaissance-style academic building was where many reputable people from our nation’s past received their higher education. Former students include Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, John Tyler, and John Marshall. George Washington was also a chancellor of the college.
The building was originally known as The College and served as both a classroom and a dormitory during the early years. It was also known as The Main Building until it was officially renamed in 1931 after Sir Christopher Wren.
How the Wren Building Played a Role in Historical Battles
During the Revolutionary War, the building was used as a makeshift hospital for wounded French soldiers. During the Civil War, the Wren Building was converted into a temporary Confederate hospital and quarters for soldiers. Before the Battle of Williamsburg on May 5th, 1862, Confederate troops under the command of Brig. Gen. Jubal Early camped inside the building.
The Wren building has endured its fair share of tragedy over time, including three devastating fires that took place in 1705, 1859, and 1862. The fire of 1862 was a work of arson during the Civil War after the Fifth Pennsylvania Cavalry set fire to the building to prevent Confederate sniper soldiers from hiding inside.
Directly underneath the chapel inside the building is a crypt where several distinguished residents of Virginia are buried. Among them are Sir John Randolph and his two sons, Bishop James Madison, and Lord Botetourt, who was a beloved governor during colonial times. A statue of him is located in front of the building.
Who Was Sir Christopher Wren?
The Wren Building was designed by and named after Sir Christopher Wren. He was a world-renowned architect whose most notable work includes the infamous St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. Wren was known as a polymath and had experience working in the areas of astronomy, mathematics, and anatomy. He was also a founding member and president of the Royal Society.
The Haunting of the Wren Building
Being one of the oldest academic buildings in the United States, the Wren Building has witnessed its share of misfortune over the years. Because of this, there is now a dark energy hovering over the property that is too resilient for even the biggest skeptics to ignore.
The Dead Soldiers from the Revolutionary and Civil Wars
While serving as an improvised hospital for soldiers during both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, many young men lived out their final hours inside this historic building. Some students and faculty members feel that the spirits of those soldiers linger still within the halls of the Wren Building.
Students have reported hearing footsteps following behind them in the stillness of the night. There have also been reports of apparitions of soldiers wandering through the halls. But they quickly disappear out of sight within a few seconds.
Native American Apparitions
Over the past four centuries, multiple unexplained deaths and suicides have occurred at the Wren Building. And it is suspected that more may have gone undocumented. For a while, the college was used as a type of “re-education” center for the Native American boys in the area. While that may sound like a positive gesture, the intentions of those over the program were anything but considerate.
According to stories, the young men were forcibly taken from their homes against their will to attend the school. Many of them tried to escape, but unfortunately, they were unsuccessful.
Students and staff members at the Wren Building have reported seeing the spirits of Native American boys running throughout the courtyard at night, possibly still trying to return to their homes.
The Ghost of Sir Christopher Wren
Students and visitors who are on campus late at night have mentioned hearing strange noises and voices inside the Wren Building. It is believed the spirit of the architect—Sir Christopher Wren himself is wandering the halls of the building named after him. Others suggest that the ghosts could be the spirits of the people who were buried inside the crypt underneath the chapel.
The Crypt Beneath the Chapel
One of the main reasons why so many people are convinced the Wren Building is haunted is because it is situated on top of an old crypt built in 1729. Although it is no longer open to the public, this crypt is the final resting place for some of Virginia’s most notable residents.
However, this tomb has been disturbed multiple times, so much in fact that it’s no surprise people experience a feeling of unease and dread while they are inside the Wren Building.
It has been said that during the Civil War, Union soldiers would raid and rob the crypt, disturbing the bodies, which is never a good thing to do. More recently, vandals have broken into the crypt using steam tunnels underneath the Old Campus.
The tunnels are used to connect phone lines and cables for internet use at the college. However, some members of fraternities at William and Mary have used the tunnels to carry out their secret rituals for several years. There are at least nine known secret societies at the school, all of which focus on the progress of the institution using philanthropy of a surreptitious nature.
Wren Building Ghost Encounters
For reasons unknown, the hauntings at the Wren Building tend to be the most frequent during the fall season. It could be due to Halloween or the Day of the Dead. Or perhaps the ghosts simply enjoy the cooler temperatures and colorful leaves in this southeastern town.
The most common ghostly activities students have reported include lights turning on and off inside the residential halls when no one is around, apparitions running through the outdoor Sunken Garden, and multiple spirits of those who lost their lives on the William and Mary campus.
Haunted Williamsburg
For hundreds of years, stories about the haunted locations with the City of Williamsburg have fascinated and frightened locals and visitors. No one knows for certain why this city is so haunted, but if the legends are true, it could be because the land it was founded upon was originally a sacred burial ground belonging to the Powhatan tribe.
If you love a good scare, booking a tour with us at Williamsburg Ghost Tour is sure to be an experience you won’t soon forget.
To keep up with all the haunting tales from the Williamsburg area, be sure to check out our blog. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for scary tales from haunted sites throughout the country.
Sources:
- https://www.wm.edu/about/history/historiccampus/wrenbuilding/
- https://www.wm.edu/about/history/historiccampus/plan-your-event/weddings/guests/history/#:~:text=Among%20those%20buried%20in%20the,front%20of%20the%20Wren%20Building.
- https://www.virginia.org/listing/wren-building/5045/
- https://masonrymagazine.com/Default?pageID=1546
- https://steptowardsuccess.pages.wm.edu/2024/10/31/the-haunted-history-of-wm/
- https://magazine.wm.edu/online-exclusives/halloween-2019.php
- https://www.reddit.com/r/Paranormal/comments/7e8iu8/haunted_history_of_americas_second_oldest/
- https://www.flathatmagazine.com/blog/i-went-on-a-ghost-tour-so-you-dont-have-to
- https://clubwyndham.wyndhamdestinations.com/us/en/resorts/featured-destinations/travel-inspiration/haunted-history-colonial-williamsburg
- https://heritagecalling.com/2023/02/24/a-brief-introduction-to-christopher-wren/#:~:text=Sir%20Christopher%20Wren%20(1632%20to,greatest%20architect%20of%20his%20time.
- https://homepages.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/virginia/williamsburg/wmandmary/wmandmary.html#:~:text=By%20tradition%2C%20this%20academic%20building,the%20restoration%20of%20colonial%20Williamsburg.