Garibaldi-Meucci Museum Offers Haunted Historical Tours, 10/26-10/27

The Staten Island Paranormal Society, the Eastern Paranormal Investigation Center and Haunted Times Magazine have declared the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum, the home of Italian culture and educational programming for all ages, "haunted."

On Friday October 26 and Saturday, October 27, visitors can go a ghost hunt of their own during a haunted historical tour hosted by the Staten Island Paranormal Society and the New York Paranormal Society. Each tour of the 160-year-old Gothic revival-style house and grounds is sure to be entertaining and chilling for believers and skeptics alike.

The Museum's phantom "guest" may be a woman domestic who's very upset that her kitchen was removed from the house. Or perhaps it is the Italian war hero, Giuseppe Garibaldi, wishing to return to his idyllic days on Staten Island. In "Big Book of New York Ghost Stories," author Cheri Revai wonders if the groans and coughing that have been heard are from Antonio Meucci's bedridden wife, Ester, who is buried in the front yard. Or perhaps the sound of something touching a camera, that was set up to record possible invisible entities, was caused by Meucci himself, testing the device and wondering what it was all about.

Come hear about strange experiences in the house, and review evidence gathered by the Staten Island Paranormal Society and EPIC Paranormal, including digital photos, videotape and Electronic Voice Phenomena captured by digital voice recorders. Share your own ghostly experiences, and be sure to bring a camera, digital voice recorder or other "ghost-hunting" equipment to perhaps capture a "spirit" of your own while touring the house and grounds. Hear Italian ghost tales, as well as the story of the house and its past tenants and the roles they played in the history of Staten Island.

Each night, 50-minute tours will be offered at 7:30 p.m., 9:00 p.m., 10:30 p.m., with admission of $15. A special 90-minute midnight tour will have admission of $20. Each tour has a minimum of 6 and maximum of 20 people.

All tours start promptly, so please arrive 10 minutes early. Prepaid reservations are required, and may be made at www.garibaldimeuccimuseum.org.

Due to the unpredictable nature of the spirits, these tours are not suitable for children. Private tours for large groups are available, special fees may apply. Please call 718-442-1608 for details.

The Garibaldi-Meucci Museum was the home of Antonio Meucci, the true inventor of the telephone, and a refuge to Giuseppe Garibaldi, the legendary hero who championed the unification of Italy. For over 50 years the museum has fulfilled its mission to preserve the legacies of these great men, and to promote understanding of the Italian-American heritage through cultural, artistic and educational programs and classes. The historic Italian landmark on Staten Island, the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum is owned by the Sons of Italy Foundation and administered by the NYSOSIA GMM?Board of Commissioners.

Regular museum hours are 1 p.m.-5 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. Admission is $5 per person, members and children under 10 are free. Call ahead for groups of 10 or more. The first floor of the museum is wheelchair accessible, however the restroom is on the second floor.

At press time, program funding has been provided through the Order Sons of Italy in America; by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council; Richmond County Savings Foundation; Northfield Bank Foundation; Coccia Foundation; JP Morgan Chase Regrant in partnership with the Council on the Arts & Humanities for Staten Island (COAHSI) and by grants allocated by New York City Council members Vincent Ignizio and James Oddo.