Entry No. 24 — the Oklahoma City file — filed under: haunted
Overholser Mansion — History & Haunts tour
“visitors on tours have reported having their hair pulled”
This 1903 French chateau-style mansion is a house museum frozen in its original furnishings, but the lesser-known draw is its ghost lore. A woman in a white territorial-style dress is said to be seen staring from the third-floor tower window, often assumed to be Anna Overholser, and visitors on tours have reported having their hair pulled or hearing children's toys rattle in a long-unused nursery. The museum runs specialty 'History and Haunts' tours that lean into these stories.
The story
When Henry and Anna Overholser finished building their French chateau-style mansion in 1903, Oklahoma City was still a dusty, rough-edged boomtown trying to prove it belonged on the map. Most of early OKC’s territorial-era homes have long since been knocked down or paved over, but this corner of Heritage Hills remains completely frozen in time—stuffed with the actual, original furniture, wall hangings, and personal fixtures the family bought at the turn of the century.
What draws people back after dark isn't just the carved woodwork, but what reportedly stayed behind. Staff and tour visitors have logged a persistent routine of strange occurrences over the years: hair pulled by unseen hands on the stairwell, the distinct sound of mechanical toys rattling inside a long-disused nursery, and a woman in a high-collared territorial dress standing by the third-floor tower window. The local assumption is that Anna Overholser never quite vacated her perch.
While standard museum tours cover the pioneer history, Preservation Oklahoma—the organization managing the property—leans directly into the lore every autumn. Their seasonal 'History and Haunts' tours guide small groups through the darkened rooms at dusk, stripping away the polished museum veneer to tell the unscripted stories recorded by house docents over the decades.
What it's like
Park on the street directly outside along NW 15th or Hudson, but keep your voice down—you are stepping straight into a quiet residential neighborhood of grand occupied homes. You cannot just walk up to the front porch and expect entry; access is strictly by timed, pre-booked guided tour, and the History & Haunts edition runs specifically around October. Inside, expect dim, atmospheric lighting, creaking floorboards, and a tight 45-to-60-minute walk through the multi-story house. Tip: confirm tour schedules on their site before heading out, as slots fill fast and schedule changes occur.
The move: Book the History and Haunts specialty tour and walk the original rooms together at dusk, watching the third-floor tower window for the woman in white and listening for the nursery toys staff describe.
📍 Before you go You will find the mansion on the northwest corner of NW 15th and Hudson, anchoring the historic Heritage Hills district; park on the street right out front. This is not a walk-in — entry is by timed, advance-booked tour only, and the History and Haunts version is a seasonal specialty that leans into the cooler, darker months around autumn, so plan ahead and confirm it is running. Tours run roughly 45 minutes to an hour. Remember you are inside a real neighborhood of occupied historic homes, so keep noise down outside. Afterward, stroll the surrounding blocks to admire the other grand mansions on foot.
- 📍 Heritage Hills
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 405 NW 15th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73103
Hours: Tours typically Wed-Sat; specialty History & Haunts tours are seasonal. A 2026 listing showed a temporary closure, so confirm tour availability before going.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Skirvin Hotel — Double down on early Oklahoma City ghost lore by heading downtown to the historic Skirvin Hotel, famous for its own territorial-era hotel hauntings.
- Lunar Lounge — Pair a cold dusk walk through Heritage Hills with a hidden, celestial-themed cocktail inside an unassuming Midtown office building.
- Architectural DNA — Keep the architectural oddity theme going half a mile south by checking out a salvaged 19th-century spiral fire escape suspended between two Midtown buildings.
- Alice Cocktail Lounge — If walking through a darkened 1903 nursery leaves you needing a drink, disappear through the red bookshelf in nearby Uptown 23rd.
Good to know
How do I get tickets for the History and Haunts tour?
You must book in advance online through the mansion's official site or Oklahoma Historical Society event listings. Entry is strictly by timed reservation.
How much are tickets for the specialty ghost tour?
Tickets for the specialty History and Haunts tours run $20 per person.
Are the furnishings inside the house original?
Yes. Unlike typical historical restorations that source period-accurate antiques, the Overholser Mansion retains the actual original furnishings brought in by the Overholser family in 1903.
Can I visit the house without booking a tour?
No. The interior is only accessible via guided tours. Without a ticket, you can only view the exterior and grounds from the public street.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · okcfox.com · visitokc.com · kfor.com
last checked: 2026-06-06