The Ghosts of the Queen Mary

The RMS Queen Mary served as a luxury ocean liner from 1936 to 1967, crossing the Atlantic 1,001 times and carrying everyone from royalty to wartime troops. Since 1967, she has been permanently moored in Long Beach, California, serving as a hotel, museum, and—allegedly—home to dozens of ghosts. The Queen Mary is widely considered one of America’s most haunted locations.

History

The Queen Mary was launched in 1934 and began service in 1936 as one of the most elegant ships afloat. During World War II, she was converted to a troopship, carrying as many as 16,683 soldiers in a single voyage. Her speed earned her the nickname “Grey Ghost.”

During her service, the Queen Mary saw deaths both peaceful and violent. At least 49 documented deaths occurred aboard, including drownings, accidents, and natural causes. During the war, she accidentally struck and sank the HMS Curacoa, killing 338 crew members.

The Most Active Areas

Certain areas of the ship are consistently reported as haunted. The first-class swimming pool, now empty and dry, produces reports of women in 1930s bathing suits, wet footprints appearing from nowhere, and the sound of splashing when no water is present.

Door 13, a watertight door in the engine room, was the site of a fatal accident. John Pedder, a young crewmember, was crushed by the door during a drill in 1966. His ghost is reportedly seen in the engine room, often near the door that killed him.

The ship’s former first-class salon is now a hotel. Guests report cold spots, objects moving, and the sensation of presences in their rooms.

Jackie

The most famous ghost of the Queen Mary is Jackie, believed to be a young girl who drowned in the second-class pool in the 1930s. Her spirit has been seen and heard in the pool area for decades.

Visitors describe seeing a young girl in a bathing suit near the pool. They hear her voice calling for her mother. Some report that she has spoken to them or led them through the ship.

Investigations

The Queen Mary has been investigated by numerous paranormal research groups, including the cast of Ghost Adventures and other television programs. Investigators have captured electronic voice phenomena (EVPs), temperature anomalies, and photographs showing apparent figures not visible at the time of capture.

The ship’s isolated location, controlled environment, and documented history make it an attractive subject for paranormal research.

Assessment

The Queen Mary presents a compelling haunting case. The ship has a well-documented history of deaths, a controlled physical environment, and consistent reports spanning decades from witnesses with no connection to each other.

Whether the spirits of those who died aboard have remained, whether the ship holds psychic impressions of its dramatic history, or whether atmosphere and expectation create the experiences, the Queen Mary continues to produce reports. She was the Grey Ghost once; perhaps she remains one still.