Queen Anne Hotel — headmistress Mary Lake's ghost in San Francisco

The Queen Anne Hotel at 1590 Sutter Street in San Francisco's Pacific Heights neighborhood was originally built in 1890 as a girls' finishing school run by headmistress Mary Lake. Miss Lake was deeply devoted to her students and the school, and she was devastated when the building was sold out from under her and converted to a men's social club. Mary Lake died not long after, and her spirit is said to have returned to the building she loved. When the structure was converted into a boutique hotel in 1981, reports of paranormal activity began immediately. Room 410, which was Miss Lake's personal office, is considered the most haunted room. Guests sleeping in Room 410 report waking to find their belongings unpacked and neatly arranged in the closet and drawers. Some describe the sensation of being tucked into bed by unseen hands and feeling a comforting, maternal presence. Other guests have reported the scent of lavender perfume, seeing a woman in Victorian dress standing near the fireplace, and hearing the sound of a music box playing in the early morning hours. Unlike many haunted locations, the Queen Anne Hotel's ghost is consistently described as warm and welcoming. The hotel openly embraces its haunted reputation and offers Room 410 to guests who specifically request the paranormal experience.