Beneath Charleston’s historic Exchange Building lies one of the city’s darkest secrets—the Provost Dungeon, where colonial justice was served with brutal efficiency and where tortured souls still linger.

A Dungeon’s Dark History

Built in 1771, the Provost Dungeon held pirates, criminals, and Revolutionary War prisoners. During British occupation (1780-1782), the dungeon became a nightmare chamber where American patriots were chained, starved, and tortured.

The Pirate Spirits

Members of Stede Bonnet’s pirate crew were held here before their execution in 1718. Visitors report:

• The sound of chains rattling
• Rough voices speaking in maritime slang
• The smell of unwashed bodies and salt water
• Feeling of hands grabbing at ankles

Revolutionary Ghosts

Isaac Hayne, executed despite promises of reprieve, is the dungeon’s most active spirit:

• His apparition appears in colonial military dress
• Visitors hear him pleading for mercy
• Cold spots follow guests through the dungeon
• Some report feeling overwhelming despair near his cell

Physical Manifestations

The dungeon produces intense paranormal activity:

• Visitors report difficulty breathing
• Unexplained bruises and scratches
• Cameras and phones malfunction
• Feeling of being pushed or held down
• Panic attacks in normally calm individuals

Our Investigation

The Provost Dungeon provided our most disturbing investigation. Multiple team members experienced physical contact, and our equipment recorded temperature drops of 20+ degrees. EVPs captured agonized screams and pleas for help in colonial-era English.

Location: 122 East Bay Street (Old Exchange Building), Charleston, SC

Tours: Daily tours include dungeon access

Warning: Not recommended for claustrophobic individuals or those sensitive to oppressive energies