Located on Sweetwater Avenue in Florence, Alabama, this plantation home was built in 1835 by Gen. John Brahan and first occupied by Robert Patton, Brahan's son-in-law and, eventually, the governor of Alabama.

Many spooky stories are associated with this mansion, including one about the home's caretaker, who one day witnessed a casket appear out of thin air. Inside, she found a man dressed in a Confederate uniform, believed to be one of General Brahan's sons who died in the Civil War, AL.com reported.

Other examples of reported supernatural activities include distant voices of children's giggles and a woman in old clothes wandering the halls, as reported by Forbes.

Property records indicate that the private home, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, was sold to a hospitality group in 2023. The Willingham, a graduate student magazine at the University of North Alabama, reported that although the sale was part of a hotel investment, the owners have since worked with the Sweetwater Foundation to restore the mansion and find a new purpose for it.

The foundation is led by a descendant of the original owners and also works with descendants of the estimated 300 enslaved people once connected to the property.

Opened in 1926 as a sanctuary for orphaned children, this property was damaged in a 1964 earthquake and has remained abandoned since.

According to a widely reported urban legend, the spirits of several children are said to roam the hallways of the home after it closed as an orphanage. Visitors reported experiencing "dread and despair" when they walked inside and hearing giggling children and the sounds of jump ropes and bouncing balls, per Haunted Rooms, a ghost tour company.

By 2021, the home was mostly demolished by Seward City, with future plans still under discussion, KDLL reported.

In 1931, a 26-year-old medical secretary named Winnie Ruth Judd fatally shot two of her friends in this bungalow.

Dubbed the "Trunk Murderess," Judd was caught trying to dispose of her victims' corpses in Los Angeles after she stuffed their bodies into two trunks and other luggage.

After a jury found her legally insane, she was held at a mental health facility, but she escaped in 1962, vanishing for almost seven years before she was found in California, The New York Times reported. Her sentence was commuted in 1971, and she was paroled.

The house remains infamous in the area. Today, it serves as a working office for attorney Robert Warnicke, according to the local outlet KJZZ.

Built in 1906 by local businessman Joe Lee Allen, this eye-catching home is said to be haunted by several spirits.

Local legend says Allen's daughter killed herself by consuming mercury cyanide on Christmas Day in 1948, according to the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism. Since then, her ghost is said to have haunted the two floors of this mansion.

While the house used to host ghost tours and haunted mazes, in 2024 the company running the tours announced it would no longer offer them because it was a private residence.

In 2023, the house was listed for $488,000. The listing was removed in March 2024, per Zillow.

This eerie mansion has an even creepier backstory. The home was built by Sarah Winchester after her husband, the creator of the Winchester rifle, died in 1881.

Since then, many have claimed, including Sarah herself, that the building is haunted by the spirits of those killed with her husband's invention, per Smithsonian Magazine.

She built the home to escape the angry spirits, and it has many quirks, including "a staircase that leads to nowhere, cabinets that open into walls, and a door that opens up to a 12-foot drop," Business Insider previously reported.

Today, it is open to visitors.

The history behind this quaint 1885 building, which is also known as Pioneer Park, is much darker than you'd think.

Henry Webber, a shoe and boot merchant who moved to Aspen in 1880, decided to build this home after making huge profits from his mining investments, per History Colorado.

The spooky story, though, involves Webber's wife, Harriet Webber, who died under "mysterious circumstances" and is said to haunt the house, The Aspen Times reported.

Today, the property is part of Pioneer Park and has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1987, although the house itself — which was sold in 2021 for $11.5 million — remains a private residence.

Formerly known as the Seaside Sanatorium, this building opened in the 1930s to treat children with tuberculosis.

In the 1950s, the property was renamed the Seaside Geriatric Hospital and served as a home for older patients for three years. After that, it reopened as the Seaside Regional Center, a home for people with mental illness, until it was closed in 1996.

Today, the abandoned spot is a popular destination for paranormal researchers, who claim to have seen ghostly orbs and other spooky phenomena, as reported by The New York Times.

In recent years, a developer has been fighting plans to demolish the property, which has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1996, according to the Connecticut Mirror.

Also known as Poplar Hall, this plantation home was the childhood home of John Dickinson, one of the Founding Fathers of the US.

Local lore says the home is haunted by Dickinson himself, and visitors have reported hearing the "sound of a quill pen scratching across parchment paper," Delaware Today reported.

The house is owned by the State of Delaware and serves as a park where visitors can learn about Dickinson's life and the stories of the 59 enslaved people who once lived and worked on the plantation, per the National Park Service.

Located in West Palm Beach, this private residence was first used as a funeral parlor in the early 1900s.

Legend has it that one of the homeowner's employees fell into financial hardship and hanged himself in the attic, the Palm Beach Post reported. His spirit is reportedly just one among many that haunt the home, said to be one of the most active haunted locations in South Florida.

Today, the house is part of the Yesteryear Village park and offers occasional ghost tours.

Also known as the Johnston-Felton-Hay House or the "Palace of the South," this historic residence was built in the late 1850s. Since then, various sightings of spooky figures and swinging chandeliers have been reported.

Today, the mansion is owned by the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation and serves as a museum. The property has been in the National Register of Historic Places since 1974.

In 2010, a photographer claimed he captured a ghost on camera — wearing a top hat, no less — while snapping pictures of a wedding at the Hay House, as reported by Macon's The Telegraph.

Located in Honolulu, this residence was home to the island's last royal family until the monarchy was overthrown in 1893.

Since then, visitors and staff members have reported hearing footsteps and seeing the figure of a woman believed to be Queen Lili'uokalani, Honolulu Magazine reported.

Most recently, the National Historic Landmark, which is owned by the state, has become a tourist attraction.

Built by a judge named D.W. Standrod in 1902, this mansion has a tragic backstory. Both of the Standrods' children died at a young age, and the home is said to be haunted by their spirits.

In 2020, the Idaho State Journal reported that a new owner, Barbara Magin, originally from New Jersey, revamped the property and brought it back to life.

Magin shared with the publication that when she visited the home, she felt it was trying to communicate with her, saying, "Help me."

"There are ghosts. I've had experiences with them. And I just told them that I was here to take care of the mansion," she said in the interview. "[They're] welcome to stay." 

Built in 1869 for local businessman Henry McPike, this three-story, 16-room brick house is said to be haunted by several spirits.

People have reported hearing children laughing when no one was present, seeing faces appear randomly in the home's windows, feeling touched, and more, according to the mansion's website.

Today, the private mansion is owned by Sharyn and George Luedke and regularly offers ghost tours.

A 2014 feature by Business Insider reported that many locals believe the ghosts of the home's former owners and their servants still surround it.

The former home of William Culbertson, once the richest man in Indiana, this mansion and its carriage house are said to be haunted.

The carriage house burned down in 1888 after a lightning strike, killing everyone inside. Some believe their spirits roam the property, the Courier Journal reported.

Today, the historic site is owned by the state and offers haunted mansion tours in October.

In 1903, Josiah Moore moved into this residence with his family.

On the night of June 9, 1912, Moore, his five family members, and two guests were brutally murdered in the home. All eight victims were bludgeoned to death with an ax.

The horrific crime was never solved, and the home — per multiple reports — remains haunted by the spirits of the victims.

As of 2024, the private home is owned by Lance Zaal and serves as a local attraction, the Villisca Axe Murder House, which offers tours and even overnight stays for $199 per night, according to its website.

On the morning of November 15, 1959, wheat farmer Herbert Clutter, his wife, and his two teenage children were found bound and shot to death in this home.

Ex-convicts Perry Smith and Richard Hickock were later arrested, convicted, and executed for the crime. American author Truman Capote eventually immortalized the Clutter tragedy in his non-fiction bestseller, "In Cold Blood."

The home, which has been owned by Leonard and Donna Mader, was previously open to tours but is now closed to the public.

A shining example of Gothic Revival architecture, this elegant home was built in 1851 for Francis Key Hunt.

Some visitors have reported seeing a ghostly woman and capturing orbs in pictures, per Paranormal Traveling.

Today, the mansion is owned by the City of Lexington and is the home of the Lexington Art League and its galleries.

The Myrtles Plantation has been haunted by a series of deaths on its property, including that of two of the owner's children in the 1820s, per Nola.com.

Since then, the plantation has been said to be one of the most haunted homes in the US.

Today, the plantation functions as a hotel with restaurants on-site. The plantation also offers a variety of tours, including an evening "mystery" tour, per the hotel's website.

The 11th-oldest lighthouse in the US, Wood Island Light, was built in 1808 under the orders of then-President Thomas Jefferson.

According to one urban legend shared by the lighthouse's website, it is haunted by the ghost of a fisherman named Howard Hobbs. In 1896, Hobbs shot and killed his landlord, Frederick Milliken, before turning the gun on himself.

Today, the lighthouse is owned by the US Coast Guard and is maintained by the Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse, who run a variety of tours on the property.

This stone house, constructed in the mid-1700s, was built by German immigrant Jonathan Hager, the founder of Hagerstown.

The property is reportedly haunted by as many as 13 ghosts of former residents who died in the home. Visitors have reported hearing disembodied voices and footsteps, seeing objects move on their own, and other paranormal activity, per the Herald-Mail.

Today, the house is owned by the City of Hagerstown and serves as a museum that offers guided tours.

Known as the Witch House, this structure is the only remaining building with direct ties to the Salem witch trials.

It is the former residence of Jonathan Corwin, who served as a judge during the hearings that led to the executions of 20 innocent people, falsely accused of witchcraft.

Today, the building is owned by the City of Salem and opens seasonally as a museum, per its website.

Built by lumber baron John G. Bruce in 1876, this building has been a popular destination for paranormal investigators.

The house, which at some point served as a location for church events and funerals, saw multiple of its owners die on the property, including John Walker, who is said to have hanged himself in the mansion's central tower after running over a pedestrian and burying him in the backyard, the County Press reported.

Since then, multiple tenants in the house have moved out due to paranormal activity, the County Press also reported.

These days, the home is privately owned and hosts mystery tours, per its website.

On June 27, 1977, an 83-year-old millionaire heiress named Elisabeth Congdon and her nurse, Velma Pietila, were murdered in this massive mansion, as reported by Minnesota Public Radio.

Roger Caldwell, the husband of one of Congdon's adopted daughters, Marjorie, was later arrested and convicted of the crimes. Marjorie herself was charged, but acquitted, of aiding and abetting and conspiracy to commit murder.

In 1982, Caldwell's conviction was overturned based on new evidence introduced during Marjorie's trial. Although Caldwell was offered a new trial, he confessed to the murders after prosecutors cut him a deal.

However, Caldwell only served a little over five years before he was released from prison. He died by suicide in 1988.

Today, the mansion serves as a museum, venue, and beer garden, and offers a variety of tours, per its website.

Also known as Bellevue, this building was built in 1850 as a private home for slave trader and pirate Daniel Smith Graham.

According to local legend, the building is haunted by the ghosts of the men, women, and children who were abused by Graham, who is said to have been sadistic and cruel, per the house's historical marker.

Today, the private residence is one of the last antebellum houses on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Now part of the University of Missouri-Kansas City, this four-story building is known for its many secret passageways and reported hauntings.

Built by businessman Uriah Epperson in 1923, the 54-room house was donated to the university in 1942 after Epperson's passing over a decade earlier, and it briefly served as a Navy dormitory during World War II, per Fox 4 News in Kansas City.

Since then, the house has gathered local legends of paranormal activity, with reports saying people have heard footsteps and music.

Today, the house is planned to be renovated and turned into a boutique hotel, as reported by Fox 4 News.

This mansion was bought in 1886 by businessman Marcus Daly, one of the three "Copper Kings" of Montana during the Gilded Age.

Staff have reported paranormal activity in the mansion, such as the smell of roses when none are around and fire alarms going off inexplicably, the Missoulian reported.

Today, the property is owned by the State of Montana and run by the Daly Mansion Preservation Trust. The mansion can be rented for events like weddings and offers seasonal tours inside the property.

In 1975, the Lincoln Journal Star published a story titled "A Ghost at Ft. Sidney? Well..." which tried to determine whether the ghost of a young officer's wife still roamed the home. 

According to local legends, this historic building, which was once a supply station and trailhead for gold-seekers, is haunted by the ghost of a young officer's wife, who broke her neck in 1885 after falling down a staircase.

Upon her death, the husband boarded up the staircase. However, visitors have said they've heard noises of a person walking up or down the staircase and falling. 

Today, the property is privately owned and operates as a museum, opening seasonally and offering tours, according to its website.

Built in 1863 by millionaires Lemuel "Sandy" Bowers and his wife, Eilley, this historic building is said to be haunted by Bowers himself.

According to locals, after Mrs. Bowers' death, many people saw a green light floating around the grounds, along with shadows and the voices of spirits.

Today, the mansion is owned by Washoe County Parks and operates as a seasonal museum.

According to local lore, this home is haunted by a woman named Mary Wallace, a folklore figure more commonly known as "Ocean-Born Mary." Her spirit is said to protect the property, where her husband was murdered over a pirated treasure, per New Hampshire Magazine.

Today, the house is a private residence.

Also known as the Spy House, this property dates back to 1650, when it was a popular drinking spot for both British and Colonial soldiers.

Now, some say the old tavern is home to as many as 22 different ghosts, from a "devil-worshiping sea captain" to a "blood-thirsty pirate" in the basement, according to the Best of NJ.

Formerly a steakhouse, the Luna Mansion is said to be haunted by as many as four ghosts. The most famous is Josefita, who was once the lady of the opulent home, per local news outlet KOAT.

Patrons of the restaurant claimed to have seen an empty rocking chair move back and forth as Josefita appeared and watched them eat.

Today, the building operates as a historic event venue that hosts haunted house tours, according to its website.

In 1974, this expensive estate became the site of a horrific mass murder when 23-year-old Ronald J. DeFeo Jr. fatally shot his parents and four siblings. 

One year later, George and Kathy Lutz moved into the home with their three children. After only 28 days, however, the Lutz family left, claiming that they had been terrorized by paranormal phenomena such as strange odors, slamming doors, and a voice that screamed: "Get out."

Their claims eventually became the subject of Jay Anson's best-selling book, "The Amityville Horror: A True Story."

Among the largest private homes in the US, the massive 8,000-acre Biltmore Estate is said to be haunted by Edith, the wife of its original owner, George Washington Vanderbilt II, of the wealthy Vanderbilt family.

Visitors have reported hearing her laughing and calling for her husband inside the property, per Explore Asheville.

Today, the historic mansion serves as a museum, an attraction, and a winery.

Originally built in 1883 as a summer home for Antoine de Vallombrosa, the Marquis de Mores, the 26-room, two-story home is now a museum. However, some people believe this historic building is haunted by a female spirit, the Minot Daily News reported.

Today, the house is a historic site open to the public.

Built in 1896, the Ohio State Reformatory was designed as a middle-tier prison for criminals too old for a juvenile detention facility but who had committed lesser offenses than those sent to the state penitentiary, according to the building's website.

The state began withdrawing funding from the facility in the 1960s, and by the 1980s, the building had severely deteriorated, leading to its closure in 1990.

In 1994, the film "The Shawshank Redemption" was filmed on the property.

Once filming wrapped, the Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society, a nonprofit organization, purchased the property for $1 and opened its doors to the public for ghost tours. The home now attracts more than 120,000 visitors each year, and ticket sales help fund property restoration.

Visitors can tour the facilities during regular times or visit during the seasonal "Blood Prison" offerings, which include themed tours and escape rooms.

While Oklahoma has its fair share of haunted homes, the Skirvin Hotel is one of its most famous.

Over the years, many of the hotel's guests, including several NBA players, have claimed to see a ghost named Effie, who is said to have died at the hotel, The New York Times reported.

Now a museum, this mansion was built by American newspaper publisher Asahel Bush in the 1870s in Salem, Oregon.

Legend has it that Bush's youngest daughter, Eugenia, still haunts the home. Visitors have claimed they've heard female voices and described random cold spots when visiting the mansion, per the Oregonian.

This bed-and-breakfast is said to be haunted by the ghosts of Confederate soldiers, a nurse named Mary, several other women and children, and even some cats, as reported by Fox 43.

These days, the privately owned home is popular for its group dining experiences and ghost tours. 

The Breakers in Newport is the second Vanderbilt property on this list. The estate, which served as a summer home for Cornelius Vanderbilt II in the late 19th century, is said to be haunted by his wife, Alice, per Visit Rhode Island.

Today, the historic mansion is a museum open to the public.

Originally acquired by Stephen Fox in the early 17th century and passed down to his son-in-law Thomas Drayton, the Magnolia Plantation encompassed more than 1,700 acres of land cultivated by enslaved people prior to the Civil War.

The property still has four preserved slave cabins on its grounds.

Various reports of creepy voices, growls, and the sound of music have shrouded this Charleston plantation in mystery over the years, per CBS News.

Today, the plantation is a museum and is open to the public.

Some believe this building is haunted by its original owner, Seth Bullock, per Legends of America.

Guests have reported feeling a "ghostly presence" on the second and third floors of the hotel, while others have said they've smelled a cigar burning, heard boots and ragtime music, or seen floating glasses.

This plantation served as a field hospital on November 30, 1864, during one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. The site is said to be haunted by the ghosts of fallen Confederate soldiers, per a town website.

The Menger Hotel, which opened its doors in 1859, is among the oldest hotels in San Antonio.

Its founder, William Menger, a brewer from Germany, began by opening a tavern, only to realize that those who came to drink there often needed a place to sleep afterward. That's when he and his wife, Mary Menger, launched a small inn next to the tavern.

Soon after, the place became successful and was revamped into a bar similar to the House of Lords Pub in London, according to local news outlet KSAT. It was frequented by famous figures, most notably Theodore Roosevelt.

Legend has it that this historic hotel is haunted by several spirits, from a murdered maid named Sallie White to famed riverboat captain Richard King, per Texas Monthly.

The construction of this Victorian mansion began in 1898 and was completed in 1901.

In 1999, the McCarthey family purchased it and helped restore it to its original architectural style. Since then, many people have booked the place for private events such as weddings.

However, according to local reports, this popular wedding venue is said to be haunted by two spirits: a man believed to be Alfred McCune and a young girl, per Only In Utah.

James Hartness, a politician, inventor, and astronomer, built the Hartness House in the early 1900s. During that time, several underground tunnels were built on the estate to support the former owner's work and create private office space for him.

In the 2000s, the small hotel underwent renovation and reopened as a boutique inn. 

Since then, many locals have reported several paranormal activities, suggesting that the underground tunnels are home to several ghosts, per NewEngland.com.

Built in the 1640s, this plantation is reportedly home to 11 spirits, including that of Henry, an enslaved man who was likely born on the plantation, per WHRO, Norfolk, Virginia's public radio.

Today, the historic house is owned by the City of Virginia Beach and run by The Friends of the Ferry Plantation House. The house offers a variety of paranormal tours.

Local legends claim that this estate, located in the town of Lakewood, is haunted by the ghosts of several former residents.

Interestingly, in 2002, the castle was featured as a haunted mansion in Stephen King's miniseries, "Rose Red."

This creepy site operated as a prison for the state of West Virginia from 1876 to 1995.

The Gothic-style building is said to be haunted by numerous spirits, and visitors have reported feeling their hair being pulled and hearing voices telling them to leave, local news station WTRF reported.

The building, owned by the state, operates today as a tourist facility, offering a variety of tours.

This charming bed-and-breakfast is also a popular destination for ghost hunters and paranormal investigators. 

The property is said to be home to at least three known spirits, and visitors have reported seeing shadowy figures and moving chairs, per Paranormal Milwaukee.

Today, the 1910 privately owned building serves as a bed-and-breakfast and event venue.

Over the years, this historic 1880 hotel has been home to gold miners and criminals, and it even served as a brothel.

Guests reported sightings of a female ghost on the first floor as early as the 1880s, according to the hotel's website.

Hank Williams, who was born in Mount Olive, Alabama, is widely considered the father of country music and the genre's foremost songwriter. Before the pioneering musician tragically died at 29 years old in 1953, he released a slew of singles that rocketed to the top of the country music charts, including "Kaw-Liga," "Honky Tonk Blues," and "Hey Good Lookin'."

Although his career was cut short, his impressive catalog of songs lives on in the contemporary musical landscape, thanks to covers by artists including James Brown, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Ray Charles.

He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

Although she was born in Payson, Utah, Jewel Kilcher grew up near Homer, Alaska, and is by far the state's most successful musical export. The singer has earned four Grammy nominations and sold more than 30 million records. She's best known for hit songs including "Who Will Save Your Soul" and "You Were Meant for Me."

Jewel, 52, is also known for her yodeling, which she learned from her father, Atz Kilcher, a local musician and star of the reality show "Alaska: The Last Frontier."

Hailing from Tucson, Arizona, Linda Ronstadt, 80, is one of America's most successful and versatile singer-songwriters.

Since her Grammy Award-winning breakout album "Heart Like A Wheel" hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and went platinum, she hasn't looked back. Ronstadt has won 11 Grammys from 27 nominations, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, and released numerous hit singles spanning many genres beyond pop, including rock, folk, Latin, and country. 

There are few musicians in the history of music who are as accomplished and influential as Johnny Cash, who was born in Kingsland, Arkansas.

The Man in Black won 13 Grammys out of 35 nominations and received the Recording Academy's Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999. He was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. Cash died just over a decade later in 2003 at 71.

He saw multiple albums reach the top of the Billboard 200 chart, including "At San Quentin" and "American V: A Hundred Highways," both of which hit No. 1. 

There never was and never will be another musician like Jerry Garcia. While he's best known for his role in the Grateful Dead, he also released dozens of live and studio solo albums.

His spirited guitar solos emitted an energy that could mesmerize entire stadiums of fans while his vocals could rock your socks off just as easily as they could soothe your biggest troubles. 

Garcia wasn't in it for the awards or recognition — he just loved to play. And that genuineness is what contributed to his legacy. He was a working-class kid from San Francisco who changed rock 'n' roll forever. 

In fact, he was so influential that he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as part of the Grateful Dead, in 1994. He died the next year, in 1995, at 53.

Thanks to iconic hits like "Rocky Mountain High" and "Take Me Home, Country Roads," John Denver, who died in 1997 at 53, cemented his place in the arena of folk-rock legends — and as the creator of some of the best campfire songs. Denver only won one Grammy from four nominations, but his legacy is unquestionably larger than his awards résumé suggests. 

The singer wasn't actually born in Colorado and spent much of his childhood moving around the US due to his father's job in the Air Force. But he settled in Aspen later in life and adopted his stage name after Denver, the capital of his favorite state, according to his website.

Since his debut album "Room For Squares" in 2001, John Mayer has evolved into one of the most talented singer-songwriters and guitarists in the game — so much so that surviving members of the Grateful Dead tapped him to play lead guitar in their touring spinoff, Dead & Company.

Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Mayer, 49, has won seven Grammys out of 19 nominations and continues to please listeners with his soulful solos and gentle croonings — including his most recent single, "Tom and Jerry."

With more than 15 million albums sold during a career just shy of five decades, 76-year-old George Thorogood is one of the most accomplished blues-rockers out there.

With mega-hits including "I Drink Alone," "Move It On Over," and of course, "Bad To The Bone," Thorogood and his band, The Destroyers, are known for their gritty tone and catchy riffs. Thorogood was born in Wilmington, Delaware.

Some of the most iconic singles populating classic rock radio have been penned by Tom Petty, who died in 2017. From "American Girl" to "Learning to Fly" and "Wildflowers," it seemed as if anything Tom Petty touched turned to gold. Or rather platinum.

Petty's breakout third album, "Damn the Torpedoes," went triple platinum and launched the musician and his band, the Heartbreakers, into superstardom.

Throughout his nearly 40-year career, Petty, born in Gainesville, Florida, won three Grammys out of 18 nominations. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.

Dubbed the "Godfather of Soul," James Brown set a new standard of showmanship while simultaneously molding the future of funk, soul, and rap music. Thanks to songs including "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag," "I Got You (I Feel Good)," and "It's a Man's Man's World," Brown scored 17 No. 1 hits and sold 50 million records during his career.

Brown won three Grammys out of eight nominations and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the inaugural class of 1986. 

He died in 2006 at 73.

Honolulu's Israel "Iz" Kamakawiwo'ole became the state of Hawaii's first platinum-selling artist in 2005 after the singer's hit 1993 album "Facing Future" sold more than 1 million CDs, according to the Honolulu Star Bulletin.

"Bruddah Iz," who died in 1997 at 38, has posthumously hit 1.6 billion views on YouTube for his iconic rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."

The outlet also reported that the medley has spent "a record 541 weeks on the World Digital Song Sales chart, including 332 non-consecutive weeks at No. 1 starting in 2011."

Although Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx, 67, wasn't born in Idaho, he has revealed that he spent a few formative teenage years living in the state.

Sixx helped Mötley Crüe receive three Grammy nominations, sell over 100 million albums worldwide, and record numerous chart-topping hits, including "Kickstart My Heart" and "Girls, Girls, Girls." 

Miles Davis, who died in 1991 at 65, is one of the most influential and innovative musicians in jazz history.

Born in Alton, Illinois, the trumpeter's landmark 1970 album is an improvisational jazz masterpiece that inspired countless fusion musicians and went platinum.

Albums like "Kind of Blue" and "In a Silent Way" were critically acclaimed and have remained among the best-selling jazz records of all time. Davis won eight Grammys out of 32 nominations, received the Recording Academy's Lifetime Achievement Award, and 10 of his recordings have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.

What else can be said about the "King of Pop" that you don't already know? With 13 Grammys out of 38 nominations, a 2001 induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and a 2026 biopic that grossed $1 billion worldwide, the wunderkind turned pop legend from Gary, Indiana, reigns supreme as one of the best performers in music history.

Jackson boasts a remarkable arsenal of hits, including "Thriller," "Beat It," and "Billie Jean," but was just as famous for his moonwalking.

Although his legacy has been marred by accusations of sexual abuse (most recently brought to light in the 2019 documentary "Leaving Neverland"), Jackson's music remains incredibly popular around the world, even 17 years after his death in 2009.

Glenn Miller, founder of the iconic jazz orchestra that bears his name, is a big-band pioneer responsible for dozens of Top 10 hits, including "In The Mood," "Moonlight Serenade," and "Chattanooga Choo Choo."

Miller, born in Clarinda, Iowa, was posthumously awarded the Recording Academy's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2003, and many of his songs have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. His orchestra still tours and plays his music around the globe nearly 82 years after his death in 1944.

Melissa Etheridge, 65, who is from Leavenworth, Kansas, is known for her LGBTQ+ rights activism as much as she is for her raspy vocals and chart-topping singles.

Her breakthrough 1993 album "Yes I Am," which yielded the single "Come to My Window," peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard 200 and went 6x platinum. To date, Etheridge has been nominated for 15 Grammys and won two.

She was also part of the 2026 class of nominees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Jim James of Louisville, Kentucky, fronts the popular rock band My Morning Jacket and is known for his dreamy falsetto and masterful songwriting.

Since the band's debut album in 1999, James, 48, has become one of the most in-demand musicians, collaborating with everyone from The Roots to Elvis Costello and Kermit the Frog. With the Jacket, James has earned three Grammy nominations. He has also released a number of solo albums and collaborations. 

We named My Morning Jacket's "The Waterfall II" the best rock album of 2020. 

With a legendary career spanning from the 1920s to the '60s, Louis Armstrong emerged from New Orleans as an integral musician who would influence nearly every era of jazz music.

More importantly, before Armstrong, jazz was largely orchestrated and did not feature much improvisational soloing. The trumpeter made extended solos a mainstay of his performance and changed the landscape of how cats approached jazz standards forever, becoming one of the hottest musicians of the early 1900s in the process.

He's so important to New Orleans that the airport was named after him in 2001 to commemorate what would've been his 100th birthday.

Ray LaMontagne's guitar playing deeply affects listeners, and his intimate lyrics are a gut punch to the soul, evoking the happiest or saddest moments in life. Hits like "You Are The Best Thing" and "Jolene" have helped earn LaMontagne two Grammy nominations and one win.

The 53-year-old singer moved to Maine after high school and worked at a radio station, which is where he heard a Stephen Stills song that inspired him to pursue music.

Frank Zappa is one of the most prolific yet misunderstood composers of the 20th century, releasing 62 albums before his death in 1993. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame two years later.

Born in Baltimore, Zappa was known for using intricate time signatures, syncopation, and zany (though sometimes offensive) topics in his songs. For Zappa, it wasn't about writing hit singles; it was about getting his genius on tape so that he could enjoy it, and if anyone else did, it was a bonus.

There are few singer-songwriters whose careers have been as successful as James Taylor.

The Boston-born musician has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, won six Grammys out of 19 nominations, and has been presented with countless awards including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Kennedy Center Honors, and a 2000 induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Taylor, 78, broke onto the scene in 1970 with his hit single "Fire and Rain" and went on to release dozens of other original songs and covers that continue to be crowd-pleasers at concerts. 

Stevie Wonder, 76, started his remarkable career as a child prodigy on Motown's Tamla label at age 11. He scored his first No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 a year later with the single "Fingertips, Pt. 2," which made him the youngest solo artist to top the chart.

Wonder continued his career, releasing hit album after hit album and winning an incredible 25 Grammys from 75 nominations. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in 1989.

Wonder is one of only four artists to win album of the year three times in their career. His discography covers many genres from R&B to funk and blues, and Wonder's use of synthesizers helped launch R&B into new stylistic directions. 

Prince hit the ground running with his 1979 self-titled LP featuring the iconic jam "I Wanna Be Your Lover," which immediately established the singer as a force in the pop/funk realm.

Prince truly proved his genius with the 1984 release of "Purple Rain" — and its accompanying soundtrack — which launched him and his band into superstardom. The "Purple Rain" album sold over 13 million copies, spent 24 weeks at the top of the charts, and produced hits "When Doves Cry," "Purple Rain," and "Take Me with U."

Prince won seven Grammys and was nominated for 38, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004 before his death in 2016.

Across his career, he was closely tied to Minnesota, calling the state home for most of his life. His house, Paisley Park in Chanhassen, is open for Prince fans to tour. In fact, when the Super Bowl was played in Minneapolis in 2018, halftime headliner Justin Timberlake paid tribute to the "Let's Go Crazy" singer.

Elvis Presley, better known as the "The King of Rock and Roll," was a transformative figure who played an undeniable role in the trajectory of popular music in the US.

His sex appeal, matched with an electrified catalog of original materials and covers, propelled him to the top of the charts while laying the foundation for the electric blues and rock of the '60s and '70s. He was inducted posthumously into the inaugural class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 (he died in 1977 at age 42).

Elvis was born and raised in Tupelo, Mississippi, before moving to Memphis, Tennessee, as a teenager. 

Similar to Elvis, Chuck Berry, nicknamed "The Father of Rock and Roll," played an integral part in the proliferation of the electric blues and rock 'n' roll.

His playing and, more importantly, his solos on songs like "Roll Over Beethoven," "Maybellene," and especially "Johnny B. Goode" turned thousands of listeners and guitar players onto this new genre of music, directly setting the course for the future of rock music.

Berry, who was born in St. Louis, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in its 1986 inaugural class and has topped many lists of the greatest musicians and guitarists. He died in 2017 at age 90.

Pearl Jam bassist and cofounder Jeff Ament, 63, was born in Havre, Montana, but moved to Seattle in the 1980s, where he then met the rest of the guys from Pearl Jam, with whom he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.

Ament is recognized for his skill on the upright and fretless bass, in addition to the electric bass. He also played in the band Temple of the Dog and has released three solo albums.

Bright Eyes front man Conor Oberst, 46, takes the top spot for the state of Nebraska.

The Omaha-born rocker and his band have had notable chart success: In 2005, their album "I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning" peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard 200, and their 2007 album "Cassadaga" peaked at No. 4.

After a nine-year hiatus, the band released a new album, "Down In the Weeds, Where the World Once Was," in 2020. Another album, "Five Dices, All Threes," came out in 2024.

Brandon Flowers, 45, lead singer of the Las Vegas band The Killers, has contributed some of the most popular alt-rock tunes of the past 20 years.

Flowers and Co. have had three albums reach No. 1 on Billboard's rock charts — but their legacy, at this point, will be the enduring millennial classic, "Mr. Brightside."

He also has his own solo career, with his latest album "Thrasher" getting released in August 2026.

We listed The Killers' "Imploding the Mirage" as one of the best rock albums of 2020. 

Noah Kahan, 29, is probably equally associated with Vermont and New Hampshire (and, to some extent, Maine), but we're putting him with the Granite State because he went to high school in Hanover.

Kahan's been nominated for two Grammys, has one of the best-selling albums of 2026 with "The Great Divide," and his signature song, "Stick Season," has been streamed nearly 2 billion times on Spotify.

There are many great musicians from New Jersey, including Frankie Valli, Bruce Springsteen, and Bon Jovi, but Frank Sinatra stands preeminent above all others.

Born in Hoboken, Sinatra went on to sell over 150 million records and win 9 Grammys from 31 nominations.

Hits like "(Theme From) New York, New York," "Fly Me To The Moon," and "You Make Me Feel so Young" were favorites for many generations of Americans and established Sinatra as one of the most prolific singers, performers, and actors of the 20th century before his death in 1998.

Demi Lovato, the Disney star turned pop sensation from Albuquerque, New Mexico, has dominated the charts for more than a decade.

She's had multiple albums and singles hit the top of the Billboard charts, including "Give Your Heart a Break" and "Sorry Not Sorry," earning serious airplay. Lovato, 34, has been nominated for two Grammys and, in 2015, launched Be Vocal: Speak Up for Mental Health, an organization that promotes mental health awareness.

Like Sinatra, Bennett became one of the greatest singers and showmen of the 20th century.

Bennett continued to perform well into his nineties before his death in 2023, while hit songs like "I Left My Heart In San Francisco," "The Way You Look Tonight," and "Rags to Riches" have been covered by numerous musicians.

Bennett, who was born in Astoria, Queens, won 19 Grammys out of 41 nominations, received the Kennedy Center Honors, and won a host of other impressive awards. 

John Coltrane is one of the most influential saxophonists and composers in jazz music history. Coltrane's experimentation with free and avant-garde jazz, and with modes and cyclical chord progressions, helped propel the genre into new boundaries.

During his career, Coltrane, who was born in Hamlet, North Carolina, collaborated with many of the genre's best, including Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk. In 2016, the jazz icon was posthumously awarded a Pulitzer Prize. He died at age 40 in 1967.

Wiz Khalifa released his debut album in 2006, but didn't truly break into the mainstream until his debut single for Atlantic Records, "Black and Yellow," hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

Since then, the 39-year-old rapper (who was born in Minot, North Dakota, before eventually settling in Pittsburgh) has remained one of the most popular, earning 10 Grammy nominations and appearing on some of the hottest songs of the past two decades.

The singer, actor, and comedian Dean Martin was born in Steubenville, Ohio, and got his start singing in nightclubs near his hometown.

Martin quickly outgrew his humble upbringing and went on to become one of America's greatest entertainers, pleasing viewers with his suave croonings for over five decades. He enjoyed a bountiful solo career singing jazz and contemporary standards before becoming the host of his eponymous, iconic variety show. Martin died in 1995 at 78.

Garth Brooks is one of the best-selling solo artists of all time with over 162 million album sales. Additionally, he's the only artist to appear on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in five consecutive decades: the '80s, '90s, '00s, '10s, and '20s.

Brooks, 64, has had multiple albums top the Billboard charts, and he has won two Grammys out of 14 nominations. Brooks is from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and is a graduate of Oklahoma State University. 

Elliott Smith, to quote another iconic musician, is your favorite artist's favorite artist. The indie legend, who grew up in Portland, Oregon, has been covered by everyone from Frank Ocean to Billie Eilish to Madonna.

His signature song, "Needle in the Hay," has been immortalized on film in Wes Anderson's classic "The Royal Tenenbaums." Pitchfork also named it one of the best songs of the '90s.

Smith was nominated for an Academy Award for the song "Miss Misery," which was used in "Good Will Hunting."

Sadly, he died in 2003. He was just 34.

What is there to say about Taylor Swift? She's the only artist to ever win album of the year four times at the Grammys — and has won 14 from 58 nominations — and has countless other records to her name. The Eras Tour was a cultural phenomenon and the first tour to gross $1 billion; it eventually surpassed $2 billion.

Swift may have gotten her start in country music and has an association with Nashville, but her roots are in Pennsylvania. She was born in West Reading and lived in PA until she was a teenager.

Abraham Orellana, 37, better known by his stage name araabMUZIK, is a producer and DJ from Providence, Rhode Island, who has worked with rap and hip-hop giants including Cam'ron, ASAP Rocky, and Joe Budden.

He contributed to Jay Electronica's Grammy-nominated 2020 album and has played major festivals, including Coachella and Pitchfork. 

Darius Rucker, 60, rose to fame as the singer and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Hootie and the Blowfish, which produced multiple Top 10 singles and the hit album "Cracked Rear View," which sold over 16 million copies in the US.

Following his stint with Hootie, the Charleston, South Carolina, native has enjoyed a successful solo career, yielding eight studio albums and hit songs like the Grammy Award-winning "Wagon Wheel" (a cover of Old Crow Medicine Show's song) and "Come Back Song." 

Singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin's claim to fame came during the late '80s and '90s when her 1989 album, "Steady On," won a Grammy for best contemporary folk album.

Her fourth studio album, 1996's "A Few Small Repairs," won her another pair of Grammys and produced the chart-topping single "Sunny Came Home." Colvin, 70, was born in Vermillion, South Dakota. 

As we wrote in our timeline of the singer's impressive career: Parton was "equal parts country megastar, actor, and philanthropist."

Parton released a whopping 49 studio albums, won 10 Grammys out of 55 nominations, and generated millions in revenue for her hometown near Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, thanks to her theme park, Dollywood.

Her death in 2026 at age 80 caused such an outpouring of grief around the world that the president ordered the flags to be lowered.

Willie Nelson is an absolute legend in the folk and country worlds. He was born in Abbott, Texas, in 1933, and moved back to Austin in 1972. He's lived there ever since.

He's responsible for writing and performing some of the genre's most iconic songs and helping develop the outlaw country subgenre.

Nelson, 93, scored 20 No. 1 and 40 Top 10 hits during his six-decade career. He also won 12 Grammys out of 59 nominations.

Dan Reynolds, 39, is the front man of Imagine Dragons, a band with close ties to Salt Lake City. While Reynolds was born and raised in Nevada, he moved to Salt Lake City for college, where he formed the band. They went on to win a Battle of the Bands contest, laying the groundwork for their current success.

Imagine Dragons was the first rock act to have four songs surpass 1 billion streams on Spotify ("Radioactive," "Demons," "Believer," and "Thunder"). They've also won one Grammy from four nominations and are among the best-selling rock acts of the 21st century.

In addition to his work as guitarist and lead vocalist for the Grammy-nominated jam band Phish — which was formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 — Trey Anastasio, 62, has released a score of solo albums and is a member of the band Oysterhead with Primus bassist Les Claypool and The Police drummer Stewart Copeland.

He has also collaborated with the Grateful Dead, Dave Matthews, and Herbie Hancock, and has performed original compositions with orchestras around the country.

Ella Fitzgerald, known as "The First Lady of Song," was the most popular jazz singer for more than half a century, according to her website, and sold more than 40 million records before her death in 1996.

Known for her scat singing and dynamic range, Fitzgerald, who was born in Newport News, Virginia, worked with many of the great performers of the 20th century, including Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Frank Sinatra.

Among other accolades, Fitzgerald won 13 Grammys out of 20 nominations, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and won the National Medal of Arts. 

Jimi Hendrix's guitar playing is among the most influential of all time, his albums are consistently ranked among the best in rock history, and his mark on the rock landscape is unforgettable.

For many, Hendrix, who died in 1970 at 27, is the best to ever pick up the guitar, thanks in no small part to the innovations he brought to the instrument, including fuzz distortion and the wah-wah effect. Simply put, there's no denying that Hendrix, who was born in Seattle, is deserving of the most famous spot from Washington state. 

Dubbed the "Prince of Motown," Marvin Gaye, who died in 1984, originally burst onto the scene with hits like "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" to become one of the label's brightest stars.

Gaye dropped his biggest album, "What's Going On," in 1971 to critical acclaim. Subsequent albums such as 1973's "Let's Get It On" and 1982's "Midnight Love" yielded chart-topping hits and directly influenced the future of funk and R&B.

Gaye, who was born and raised in DC, won two Grammys out of 12 nominations and posthumously received the Recording Academy's Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996. He was also posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.

Since his debut album "Who Needs Pictures" dropped in 1999, Brad Paisley, 53, has found nothing but success, winning three Grammys, two American Music Awards, 15 Academy of Country Music Awards, and 14 Country Music Association Awards.

The Glen Dale, West Virginia, native has had 33 songs reach the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot Country chart, 18 of which were No. 1 hits.

Hailing from Eau Claire, Wisconsin, Justin Vernon, 45, is known for his high-reaching falsetto and mix of traditional and boundary-pushing folk/indie rock songwriting.

Vernon has found commercial and critical success as the singer and front man of the indie rock band Bon Iver, which has won two Grammys out of 11 nominations, including best new artist and best alternative music album for the group's self-titled album "Bon Iver, Bon Iver."

Although his brother Seth was born in North Carolina, the state from which the band The Avett Brothers originates, Scott Avett, 50, was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

The Grammy-nominated band Scott helped form is a delightful mix of bluegrass, folk, and indie rock known for its intimate sound and lyrics. The Avett Brothers have released 16 studio albums and EPs, the most recent of which, "The Avett Brothers," dropped in May 2024.

New Mexico is always at the top of my list of recommendations. Nicknamed "the land of enchantment," it lives up to its moniker — and then some.

Those who haven't visited New Mexico may think of the state as a mostly barren desert, but it's actually the diverse landscapes that keep me coming back.

From the otherworldly dunes of White Sands National Park to the snow-capped Sangre de Cristo Mountains, there's beauty to be found around every corner.

Outside the natural beauty, the state is chock full of history, art, food, wine, and culture.

Every time I visit California, I feel like I'm entering a completely different reality.

The sheer size and diversity of the state are impressive, and it has gorgeous beaches, cities, forests, deserts, mountains, and even volcanoes.

I love road-tripping up the coast, visiting Yosemite National Park, taking a boat to the Channel Islands, and wine tasting in places like Napa and Sonoma.

With its vast open spaces, majestic mountains, and endless opportunities for outdoor adventure, Montana is a must-visit state for any outdoor enthusiast.

The state is home to the breathtaking Glacier National Park and parts of Yellowstone National Park. The sky is vast and open, the mountains are towering, and the lack of development makes me feel like I'm entering another world entirely.

Although it may not get as much attention as some of the other states on this list, I've returned to West Virginia multiple times since my first visit.

The state's natural beauty is stunning, from New River Gorge National Park to ample lush forests, underground caverns, historic small towns, and over 200 waterfalls.

Wisconsin has so much more than first meets the eye, from the natural beauty of the Apostle Islands and the 15,000 lakes in the state to the classic cheese curds, breweries, and wineries that dot the landscape.

I love spending time along the shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior, dining at one of the state's famous supper clubs, and exploring the many Wisconsin state parks.

There's so much to love about Maine, but my favorite part of the state is the coast. With jagged and dramatic cliffs, lighthouses, and lobster shacks, visiting the Maine coast is an unforgettable experience.

It's easy to find peace in the state that sees the first sunrise of the year and is home to Acadia National Park, which is one of the country's most-popular national parks.

I love to road trip up the coast, stopping in beautiful towns like Kennebunkport, Bar Harbour, and Lubec.

I couldn't write a list like this without including my home state of Colorado. The state has so much to offer, from beautiful views to fun activities.

On the Front Range, I enjoy hiking in Boulder and exploring Cheyenne Cañon. I like to spend the night at the The Broadmoor hotel in Colorado Springs before heading over to Great Sand Dunes National Park.

In the Rockies, I love driving Independence Pass to Aspen, as well as exploring the underrated Grand Mesa, which is the biggest flat-top mountain in the world. I also enjoy taking road trips to the charming mountain towns of Telluride, Buena Vista, and Steamboat Springs.

No matter where you find yourself in Colorado, there's no shortage of incredible natural beauty and outdoor adventure.

The Northeast is famous for its fall foliage, but I can't help but think that New Hampshire is sometimes overshadowed by its neighbors, Maine and Vermont.

I was stunned by its natural beauty during my first trip to the state. From the White Mountains to Franconia Notch State Park, the state boasts some of the best skiing and hiking in the Northeast.

Utah is a state that you have to see to believe. With five major national parks, 46 state parks, 15 ski resorts, and hidden gems at every turn — you'll never get bored here.

I love visiting Moab to hike in Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Dead Horse Point State Park before heading south to Bryce Canyon National Park, Kodachrome Basin State Park, and Zion National Park.

I also like making stops in Park City and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument.

Arizona is well known for the Grand Canyon, but the state has much more to offer. From Flagstaff's high-altitude forests to Sedona's iconic red rocks, Arizona's diversity is surprising and worth a trip.

I love hiking among the cacti in Sedona or Scottsdale before heading to one of the many resorts to jump in a pool or hit the spa — the perfect escape for adventure and relaxation.

This story was originally published on April 5, 2024, and most recently updated on October 23, 2026.