Haunted History: Exploring the Lizzie Borden House and Fall River's Dark Past

The unassuming Greek Revival at 230 Second Street doesn't look particularly menacing from the outside, but this is where one of America's most notorious unsolved murders took place in 1892. Lizzie Borden was accused (and later acquitted) of hacking her father and stepmother to death with an axe in this very home.

The house now operates as both a museum and B&B, allowing visitors to choose between a daytime tour ($25) or the full overnight experience (starting around $250). As someone who appreciates value, I opted for the comprehensive 90-minute tour, which provides access to all rooms where the gruesome events unfolded.

Our guide, dressed in period-appropriate attire, recounted the crime with theatrical flair while presenting compelling evidence from both sides. The house maintains much of its original furniture and fixtures, creating an immersive step back in time. The most unsettling moment? Standing in the sitting room where Abby Borden's body was discovered, feeling distinctly unwelcome by... something.

For capturing the eerie atmosphere, I relied on my night vision voice recorder – perfect for documenting both the guide's stories and any unexplained sounds that might appear later in playback.

While the Borden house might be the main draw, Fall River itself tells a fascinating story of American industrial boom and bust. Once known as 'Spindle City,' it was among the leading textile manufacturing centers in the country during the 19th century.

The Fall River Historical Society (admission $8) provides excellent context for understanding the city during Lizzie's time. Housed in an elegant granite mansion, the society maintains an extensive collection of Borden case documents and evidence, including the actual handleless hatchet suspected as the murder weapon.

I spent a contemplative afternoon wandering Maplecroft, the mansion Lizzie purchased after her acquittal, where she lived until her death in 1927. The neighborhood offers a glimpse into the lives of Fall River's wealthy elite during the industrial era.

For a deeper dive into the region's textile heritage, I visited the Fall River Heritage State Park along the Taunton River. The boardwalk offers beautiful views and interpretive signs explaining how water power transformed this region. I found myself reaching for my pocket flashlight as dusk fell earlier than expected – essential for navigating some of the historic areas as daylight fades.

As twilight descended over Fall River, I joined a small group for a guided ghost walk through downtown ($15 per person). Our guide, a local historian with a flair for storytelling that reminded me of the elders in my Tlingit community, led us through shadowy streets where textile magnates and immigrant workers once crossed paths.

The tour included several reportedly haunted locations beyond the Borden house, including the Quequechan Club, where wealthy industrialists gathered, and St. Anne's Church with its whispered tales of spectral priests. The stories wove together threads of immigration, labor struggles, and family tragedies that shaped the city.

The crisp fall air added to the atmosphere, with fallen leaves crunching beneath our feet as we moved from site to site. I was glad I'd packed my thermal mug filled with hot apple cider from a local farm stand – the perfect companion for a chilly evening walk through haunted history.

Many in our group came equipped with EMF meters, hoping to detect paranormal activity. While I remain skeptically open-minded about ghost hunting gadgets, the devices certainly added an interactive element to the experience, with occasional unexplained spikes near particularly tragic historical sites.

While staying overnight at the Lizzie Borden House B&B is a bucket-list experience for true crime enthusiasts (from $250/night), my mid-range budget led me to more affordable options. The Hampton Inn Fall River/Westport (around $120/night) provided clean, comfortable accommodations just a short drive from downtown attractions.

For those seeking local character without breaking the bank, I discovered several charming vacation rentals in Fall River's historic neighborhoods starting around $85/night. These offer the added benefit of kitchen access – perfect for preparing simple meals and reducing food costs.

Fall River's culinary scene reflects its diverse immigrant history. Portuguese influences dominate, with several family-owned restaurants serving authentic cuisine at reasonable prices. I particularly enjoyed Sagres Restaurant, where hearty Portuguese kale soup and bacalhau (salt cod) dishes warmed me after a day of exploration. Most entrees were under $20, with generous portions that could easily stretch to two meals.

For breakfast, Mee Sum Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge offers a quirky combination of American diner classics and Chinese cuisine in a vintage setting. Their chouriço and egg breakfast kept me fueled well into the afternoon for under $10.

I packed my favorite food thermos which allowed me to bring homemade soup for lunch, stretching my food budget while exploring between scheduled tours.

While the haunted history brought me to Fall River, the autumn scenery convinced me to extend my stay. The city's position along the Taunton River offers surprising natural beauty, especially as fall foliage reaches its peak in mid-October.

I spent a refreshing morning hiking the trails of Copicut Woods, part of the Southeastern Massachusetts Bioreserve. As someone who grew up surrounded by Alaska's vast wilderness, I find myself drawn to forest spaces wherever I travel. The 516-acre woodland preserve features well-marked trails through hardwood forests that explode with color in autumn. The quiet provided a welcome contrast to the previous day's immersion in murder mysteries.

For capturing the vibrant foliage, I relied on my polarizing lens filter which enhanced the rich reds and golds while reducing glare – a must-have for fall photography in New England.

Nearby, I discovered Heritage State Park along the waterfront, offering picturesque views of Battleship Cove – home to the world's largest collection of naval vessels. The USS Massachusetts provided an unexpected historical counterpoint to my macabre explorations.

To navigate between these scattered attractions, I used the offline maps app which proved invaluable in areas with spotty cell service around the nature reserves.