Queen Anne Hotel

Built in 1889 by Senator James G. Fair, one of the Silver Kings of the Comstock Lode, the Queen Anne Hotel was constructed for an astronomical sum of $28,000 – a fortune in those days. The senator spared no expense, incorporating elaborate architectural details including hand-carved wooden staircases, Bavarian wood paneling, crystal chandeliers, and intricate stained glass windows that still grace the building today.

Originally established as the Mary Lake School for Girls, the institution quickly gained recognition as one of the West Coast’s premier educational establishments for young ladies from affluent families. Miss Mary Lake, recruited from the East Coast for her impressive educational credentials and refined manner, served not only as headmistress but also taught etiquette, literature, and proper social graces to her students.

The school’s curriculum was progressive for its time, offering not only traditional subjects like literature and mathematics but also art, music, and sciences – unusual for a girls’ school of that era. Under Miss Lake’s guidance, the school became known for producing well-educated, culturally sophisticated young women who went on to become prominent members of San Francisco society.

The building’s history took a dramatic turn in 1896 when the school suddenly closed due to financial difficulties following the Silver Crash of 1893. Miss Mary Lake, who had invested not only her career but her entire life savings in the school, was left destitute. Historical records indicate she remained in San Francisco, teaching private lessons until her death several years later, though she never recovered from the loss of her beloved school.

Following its closure, the building served various purposes – first as a social club, then as a restaurant, and briefly as apartments before being converted into a hotel in the 1980s. During the extensive restoration process, workers reported numerous unusual occurrences, including tools disappearing and reappearing in different locations, the sounds of a woman humming Victorian hymns, and unexplained footsteps on the grand staircase.

Today’s Queen Anne Hotel features 48 uniquely decorated rooms, each maintaining its Victorian charm while offering modern amenities. Room 410, Miss Lake’s former office and living quarters, is the most supernaturally active space in the building. This room, now known as the “Mary Lake Suite,” features a magnificent bay window, original fireplace, and period furnishings that Miss Lake herself might have used.

Documented paranormal experiences in Room 410 are remarkably consistent. Guests have reported:

• Waking to find their suitcases unpacked and clothes meticulously arranged in drawers, with antique-style folding techniques no longer in common use
• Personal items being arranged in perfect symmetry on dressers
• The sensation of someone sitting on the edge of the bed, accompanied by the sound of rustling silk
• A woman’s reflection appearing in mirrors, described as wearing a high-necked black dress with her hair swept up in a Victorian style
• Temperature fluctuations that create cold spots moving around the room

Throughout the hotel, staff and guests have documented numerous supernatural encounters. The grand parlor, where Miss Lake once hosted tea parties for students and parents, is known for its unexplained piano music, typically heard in the early evening hours. The music consists of period-appropriate pieces that would have been taught to students in the 1890s.

The former library, now a meeting room, experiences frequent paranormal activity, including:

• Books mysteriously relocating to different shelves
• The smell of leather-bound books and ink, even though the original library materials are long gone
• The sound of a woman’s voice softly reading aloud
• Chairs being rearranged overnight into classroom-style formations

The hotel’s fourth floor, which housed dormitory rooms for boarding students, reports the most paranormal activity after Room 410. Guests regularly experience:

• The sounds of young girls giggling and running down hallways
• Doors opening and closing on their own
• The scent of chalk and lavender, common smells from the school era
• Items being moved or straightened while guests sleep
• The sensation of someone brushing or braiding their hair during the night

Modern paranormal investigations have yielded interesting results. EMF readings spike inexplicably in certain areas, particularly around the grand staircase where Miss Lake was often seen greeting parents and visitors. Multiple EVP (Electronic Voice Phenomenon) sessions have captured what appears to be a woman’s voice providing instructions or gentle corrections, much as a teacher might.

The hotel maintains detailed records of guest experiences, with some particularly compelling accounts coming from skeptics who arrived doubtful but left convinced. One notable incident involved a business executive who awoke to find his presentation materials, which he had left scattered across the room, organized neatly with Post-it notes marking important sections – in handwriting matching samples of Miss Lake’s preserved in historical records.

Unlike many haunted locations, the Queen Anne Hotel’s supernatural activity seems to increase during school terms, particularly September through June, following the academic calendar Miss Lake would have observed. The spirit’s activities also appear to focus more on female guests and children, perhaps reflecting Miss Lake’s dedication to educating young women.

The hotel embraces its unique history while maintaining its reputation as a refined establishment. Monthly historical tours combine architectural appreciation with ghost stories, and the hotel staff are well-versed in both the building’s history and its supernatural occurrences. Most remarkably, many guests report leaving with a sense of having been cared for by an unseen presence, making the Queen Anne Hotel a rare example of a haunting that brings comfort rather than fear to those who experience it.

For those seeking to experience Miss Lake’s benevolent presence firsthand, the hotel offers special “Ghost Packages” that include a night in Room 410, historical documentation about the school and Miss Lake, and the opportunity to add their experiences to the hotel’s ongoing collection of supernatural encounters. Whether skeptic or believer, visitors to the Queen Anne Hotel find themselves immersed in a unique blend of historical elegance and supernatural mystery, where the dedication of one remarkable educator continues to influence guests more than a century after her death.