St. Petersburg’s new Museum of Haunted History is scheduled to hold soft-opening preview events Friday and Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. at 4764 First Ave. N.
The museum is the project of Brandy Stark, founder of the SPIRITS of St. Petersburg paranormal research group. It is being created inside a 1939 bungalow that, according to Stark, was previously considered for demolition and later purchased by her after other sales fell through.
Stark told Patch that the museum will pair paranormal exhibits with historic preservation. The preview is expected to include Irene, a reportedly haunted wedding dress, along with a collection of haunted dolls that the SPIRITS team has evaluated. A haunted-doll adoption event will offer dolls for purchase.
The organization has also reported unexplained activity at the house, including electronic voice phenomena and a spirit-box response giving the name “William.” Stark said the name may correspond to one of the property’s original owners listed in 1939. Those claims are reported as paranormal findings, rather than independently verified facts.
Future plans for the work-in-progress museum include a haunted doll room, spiritual apothecary and classroom, psychic-reading space, classes, seminars and overnight investigations. Stark also hopes to incorporate salvaged architectural pieces and plants from historic sites investigated by the group, including grass propagated from St. Petersburg’s former inverted-pyramid pier.
An official opening is tentatively planned for February 2027, potentially alongside an art exhibition called Love Letters to the Dearly Departed.
