The Ghost of Mary Ellen Pleasant: San Francisco’s Most Haunted Corner and the Woman Who Won’t Be Forgotten

Do ghosts walk among the eucalyptus trees on Octavia and Bush Streets? In San Francisco’s Pacific Heights, locals and ghost hunters believe the spirit of Mary Ellen Pleasant—a millionaire, abolitionist, and accused “Voodoo Queen”—still lingers, watching from beyond.

In the heart of San Francisco, a quiet corner hides a powerful story few truly know. Between Bush and Octavia Streets stands the smallest park in the city, marked by a simple plaque and six towering eucalyptus trees. But some say it holds something far greater than trees—something supernatural. The ghost of Mary Ellen Pleasant, a 19th-century civil rights legend and entrepreneur, is said to haunt this space. Her life was bold. Her legacy was fierce. And now, even in death, she refuses to be forgotten.

The site was once the grounds of a sprawling mansion owned by Pleasant and her business partner, banker Thomas Bell.

By the late 1800s, they had amassed a fortune worth what would now be over $600 million. Pleasant lived lavishly—but used her wealth to wage a quiet war for justice. She was a major force in California’s Underground Railroad and even funded John Brown’s historic 1859 Harpers Ferry rebellion with $30,000—a sum today worth nearly a million dollars.

But not everyone admired Pleasant’s power.

As a Black woman passing as white and rubbing shoulders with California’s elite, she was both respected and feared. Some accused her of using voodoo, brainwashing, and even murder to maintain her influence. Rumors swirled about a secret life filled with séances and shadowy dealings. After Bell’s mysterious death from a fall inside their mansion, tongues wagged louder than ever. Though never proven, whispers that she may have been involved only fueled the legend.

So, why do so many believe her spirit still lingers at Octavia and Bush?

Visitors report strange phenomena—dogs barking at empty space, sudden cold chills, and the sensation of being watched. Some say she throws eucalyptus nuts at passersby. Others claim to feel her protective presence, especially when injustice is discussed. For ghost tours in the city, Mary Ellen Pleasant Memorial Park is often the first stop—and the most chilling.

Skeptics call it superstition, but believers point to the uncanny consistency of the stories.

Whether Pleasant is a vengeful spirit, a guardian of the oppressed, or simply an energy too powerful to rest, her presence endures. And perhaps that’s the point. Mary Ellen Pleasant broke every rule, shattered every boundary, and redefined what it meant to be a Black woman in 19th-century America. Why should death stop her?

In her lifetime, Pleasant lifted others while carrying her secrets in silence.

She sued for civil rights, funded schools, and even gave thousands to rebuild Saint Mary’s College after a fire—all while hiding her true race from San Francisco society. Her legacy was nearly erased, slandered by newspapers after her death in 1904. But today, the truth—and the haunting—have outlived the lies.

So if you find yourself walking under those old eucalyptus trees, take a moment.

Feel the breeze. Listen for the leaves. Maybe, just maybe, Mary Ellen Pleasant is still there—watching, waiting, and reminding us that some spirits refuse to be silenced.

Because legends never die. And neither do the ghosts of justice.