Mathias Ham House

The Mathias Ham House in Dubuque is a well known hot spot for paranormal activity. The home was once owned by its namesake, Mathias Ham, who came to the city in the 1830s to join the steamboat business. He met his wife in Dubuque and eventually expanded the home to accommodate their six children. Over the years, many family members died while in the home, including Mathias himself, his first wife, and their daughter May. Along with these members of the family, an intruder was shot and killed by their daughter Sarah.

The home was transformed into a museum in 1964 and both employees and visitors have reported various mysterious occurrences. These include cold breezes, objects being moved from room to room, lights flickering, phantom footsteps, moving furniture, and music from an inoperative organ. No apparitions have been spotted in the home, but it seems those who died there have never left.