Search for Peter Stuyvesant's Ghost with Ghost of NY Tours

Discover New York history in a new and exciting way. Ghosts of New York Tours is no typical history lesson, as this fascinating and passionate company offers great fun with educational value. Following some of the most influential historical figures of the city, this ghost tour company offers participants a magical, unforgettable, out of the ordinary experience. In 90 minutes, and just under a mile, this walking tour will lead travelers to a time and place not typically experienced.

As one of Ghost Tours of New York's most popular tours, "Peter Stuyvesant and His Ghostly Friends of the East Village" follow the spirit of New York legend Peter Stuyvesant and other famous icons such as Edgar Allan Poe, August Belmont, Joe Papp, and Washington Irving.
In 1647, Stuyvesant served the city as governor of New York, known in his time as New Amsterdam. Historically documented as a harsh, racist, bigot, Stuyvesant hobbled the streets of New York on his wooden leg.

Peter Stuyvesant is the oldest European ghost in the city, with the most reports over a period of time—four centuries! Peter Stuyvesant pioneered the haunting business in New York upon his death at the very ripe old age of eighty in 1680 at his mansion of what is today the corner of Third Avenue and Eleventh Street. He is also unique in that he successfully transferred his ghostly activities to another location when the old one no longer proved to be suitable. When Stuyvesant’s mansion burned down in 1744, he moved his haunting to the Stuyvesant family mausoleum constructed inside St. Mark’s Church in the Bowery.

In 1954, the last direct male descendant bearing the family name Stuyvesant died. He and two sisters were too hoity-toity to marry anyone. He used to visit his famous ancestor every Sunday for hours at a time to commune with his ancestor’s spirit. At his funeral, some of the attendees claimed that they heard what appeared to be rapping of a peg leg as if greeting him when he was interred in the family vault. Many thought this would be the last they would hear or see of the ghost of Peter Stuyvesant.

However, on Christmas Day 1995, the congregation upon the conclusion of services heard “One hundred bottles of rum, ninety-nine bottles of rum, etc.” When they rushed into the room set aside for refreshments, they observed a figure in Dutch period costume and with a peg leg disappearing into the wall. They saw that the punchbowl was down an inch. To hear more about Peter Stuyvesant and other ghosts, you will have to take the tour!

Tour guides at Ghosts of New York believe they still see his hateful soul roaming the streets of the East Village.

The tour departs from the lion sculpture in Abe Lebwohl Park by St. Mark's Church, at the corner of Second Avenue and East 10th Street. Call Ghosts of New York Tours for information on times and rates.

Open your mind up to a world beyond yours and walk a little on the spooky side with a ghost tour.