Famous Dead Nashvillians Who Might Still Be Ghosts

One of the best things about taking a Nashville ghost tour is that you don’t just hear random spooky stories — you meet the characters of the city’s past. Nashville has been home to presidents, millionaires, captains, and musicians, and a lot of them left behind legacies big enough that maybe, just maybe, they couldn’t quite walk away.

Here are some of the most famous historic figures who might still be lurking in the shadows of Music City.

1. President James K. Polk — The Restless President

James K. Polk was the 11th President of the United States, and today his tomb sits right outside the Tennessee State Capitol in downtown Nashville. But here’s the thing: Polk’s body has been moved three times since he died in 1849. First to the Nashville City Cemetery, then to his home at Polk Place, and finally to the Capitol grounds. Some say all that relocating stirred up his spirit. Visitors report cold drafts, flickering shadows, and the uneasy feeling of being watched when they linger near his tomb at night. On a Nashville ghost tour, Polk often tops the list of “restless residents.”

2. President Andrew Jackson — Old Hickory Rides Again

If there’s one person who’d refuse to stay dead quietly, it’s Andrew Jackson. “Old Hickory” was known for his fiery temper, duels, and booming voice — and it seems like that temper carried over into the afterlife. Soldiers during the Civil War swore they heard Jackson’s voice echoing through his old home, and some even claimed to see him storming through halls, ordering them to leave. In Nashville, whispers of Jackson’s ghostly presence still float around — from phantom footsteps to the faint smell of pipe smoke. If you catch a glare in the dark that feels a little too sharp, it might just be Old Hickory keeping watch.

3. Adelicia Acklen — Nashville’s Belle of Belmont

Adelicia Acklen was one of the wealthiest women in the South, known for her grand parties, expensive tastes, and an iron will. She built the Belmont Mansion, which is still standing today, and some say her spirit refuses to let go of it. Guests have reported mysterious footsteps, doors opening on their own, and the unsettling feeling of being scrutinized by someone they can’t see. If anyone in Nashville had the personality strong enough to stick around after death, it’s Adelicia.

4. Thomas Ryman — The Riverboat Captain Turned Legend

You probably know the Ryman Auditorium as the “Mother Church of Country Music,” but before it became a music hall, it was built as a gospel tabernacle by Captain Thomas Ryman. He swore to change his ways after attending a fiery tent revival, and the Ryman became his legacy. Some say his ghost still watches over the place. Performers and stagehands have reported strange lights, ghostly shadows, and the feeling of someone unseen keeping tabs on the show. On a Nashville ghost tour, the Ryman is always one of the spookiest stops.

5. The Soldiers of Nashville — Thousands Who Never Came Home

While not a single person, the Civil War left a ghostly army behind in Nashville. More than 10,000 soldiers died in and around the city, and their restless spirits are said to wander downtown streets, old hospitals, and hidden corners. Guests on ghost tours often describe sudden cold spots or the eerie sensation of a figure standing just behind them. Could it be that Nashville is still haunted by its own history of bloodshed?

Final Thoughts

What makes a Nashville ghost tour so unique isn’t just the ghost stories — it’s the history behind them. The city’s most famous figures, from presidents to wealthy socialites to riverboat captains, all left legacies too big to disappear completely. Whether you believe in ghosts or not, you’ll leave a tour feeling like you brushed shoulders with the past… and maybe with a few spirits who refused to let go.