El Paso Public Library, Main Branch

By Aaron Perez

Published 5/27/2025

Image Credit: El Paso Museum of History


   Building on top of a cemetery usually sparks hauntings, especially since many graves are disturbed during construction. The El Paso Public Library is no exception, as its main branch sits on top of what used to be one of the first, if not the first burial grounds in the area. This branch has also faced some renovations in order to modernize the building. While the original building was being built, there was a question of what to do with the bones of those buried in its grounds, the easiest answer being to move them somewhere else. Though some bodies have been moved to Concordia Cemetery, others may have been missed and their spirits now roam the property. One such spirit is that of an old time nurse, which can be seen on the main floor of the building which is actually the third floor. The other two floors below it are in the basement, which serve as housing and government archives respectively. Another notable ghost is that of a confederate soldier, which has been spotted reading on the first floor. Other spirits involve that of an African American man in 1920's style work clothing and with muddy boots. There are even reports of a specter roaming around in a black cape, showing how extensive the haunting is within this library. These ghosts don't just roam around, they even attack or interact with people when they get the chance. A female specter is said to knock over books off their shelves in the lowest floor of the building. This ghost is suspected to have attacked two librarians one night, throwing papers and even shoving one of them.


Sources:

Hudnall, Ken, and Connie Wang. Spirits of the Border: The History and Mystery of El Paso Del Norte. Omega Press, 2003.

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