The ‘Million Dollar Stair’ Haunting Of The New York State Capitol Building ~ CNY Paranormal

New York State is often well known for its beautiful architecture, especially within the capital of Albany. One of the most prominent buildings is not only the center of all things New York but also the center of a tragic haunting.

Construction on the New York State Capitol building was finished in 1899, and cost around $25 million to complete. At the time (and even today), it was considered and expensive and luxurious building, and was designed to draw attention and awe from all who visited.

Resembling a gothic castle from the outside, the inside is equally breathtaking. Decorated with vaulted ceilings and intricate stonework, the true attraction of the building is the western staircase, also referred to as the ‘Million Dollar Staircase’, as well as a set of murals that decorated the walls of the assembly chamber.

Made of sandstone imported from Scotland, the massive staircase is most notably known for the intricate carvings that decorate the stairs. 77 of these are the faces of famous individuals, and the rest are referred to as the ‘Capitol’s Unknowns’, as they remain unidentified. The stoneworkers, much of whom came from the United Kingdom and Italy, were allowed to decorate the stairs as they wished, once the main 77 faces were carved.
These two masterpieces are also behind some of the most well-known stories behind the haunted New York Capitol building.

The murals were created by William Morris Hunter, and were titled ‘The Flight of Night’ and the ‘Discoverer’, and were featured in a place of prominence on the upper walls of the assembly chamber. These murals were only on display for 10 years before structural problems in the building resulted in the ceiling being lowered, and the murals being covered. 22 years after the mural was covered, a fire broke out in the building.

Substandard construction materials had been used when creating the drop ceiling, which saved the assembly chamber from destruction, but most likely destroyed the underlying murals. Devastated by the callous treatment of his crowning achievement, Hunter fell into a deep depression and committed suicide.

To this day, people report feeling his angry presence in the assembly chamber; rattling doorknobs, flickering lights, and causing cold spots.

Also associated with this terrible fire is the spirit of a watchman William Abbot, who succumbed to the smoke and fire while trying to escort others to safety. His spirit allegedly remains in the building. People have reported hearing the sound of his keys, as well as seeing and feeling a grey blur on the 4th floor, where his remains were located.
The staircase is the focus of a haunting, as well as an urban legend. The ghost of the staircase is the spirit of a fruit vendor who threw himself off of the staircase, which stretches up multiple stories. People have reported feeling cold spots on the stairs, and seeing an apparition of a man reenacting his final plummet to his death.

The urban legend revolving around the stairs centers on one of the intricate carvings. As the stone carvers were allowed to decorate as they wished, the story goes that one of the carvers, disgruntled with their employer, carved the small face of a devil on the staircase, in a rather dark, hidden corner. While carving this face, he cursed his employers and the building. This face can only be seen with direct illumination, so the face is smudged from years of illuminations from lighters and matches.

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