The Pirates’ House Savannah: Shanghaiing, Secret Tunnels & a Haunted Past

Step inside one of the oldest and most mysterious buildings in Savannah—The Pirates' House—where colonial history and chilling legend collide. In this episode of The Strange History Podcast, we explore the real origins of this iconic tavern, dating back to 1734 and the nearby Trustees' Garden, one of Georgia’s earliest colonial experiments.As Savannah grew into a major port city, its waterfront became a hub for sailors, trade, and darker practices. Historical evidence confirms that “crimping,” or forced recruitment of sailors—also known as shanghaiing—was common in port cities, and many believe The Pirates’ House played a role in these disappearances. According to legend, unsuspecting men were drugged, taken through underground tunnels, and forced onto ships bound for unknown destinations.Adding to the intrigue are the building’s connections to maritime history and the Golden Age of Piracy, with cultural ties to figures like Blackbeard and literary inspiration linked to Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.Today, visitors and staff report unexplained footsteps, moving shadows, disembodied voices, and the unsettling feeling of being watched—especially in the lower levels where tunnels are believed to exist. Is it just legend… or did something from Savannah’s maritime past refuse to leave?Blending real colonial history, documented maritime practices, and eerie firsthand accounts, this episode uncovers one of Savannah’s most enduring and sinister mysteries.Because in some places… people didn’t just leave.They disappeared.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-strange-history-podcast--5773362/support.🎧 The Strange History Podcast Love bizarre true stories, forgotten scandals, and history’s most unhinged moments?Submit your ideas for The Strange History PodcastFollow The Strange History Podcast wherever you listen and never miss an episode. 🔗 Listen & Subscribe:Apple PodcastsSpotifyiHeartRadioAudibleNew episodes regularly. History gets weird here.