In the historic heart of Waterloo, the Waterloo Library & Historical Society has stood as a cornerstone of culture, knowledge and memory for more than a century. But beyond its impressive architecture and rich educational offerings, these buildings also hold something a bit more... mysterious. Many believe that the spirits of the past never truly left—and they occasionally like to make their presence known. 
The story begins in 1888, when the public library first opened its doors in a stately Queen Anne-style building. Attached to it is Terwilliger Hall, home to the Historical Society, which showcases permanent and rotating exhibits of Waterloo’s past. Just a block away stands the National Memorial Day Museum, a separate historic home dedicated to telling the story of Memorial Day’s origins in Waterloo in 1866.
While each building offers fascinating glimpses into the area’s history, they’ve also earned a reputation for ghostly activity. In the library, staff and visitors have witnessed books mysteriously falling from shelves, and ghost hunters captured a chilling photo of a man dressed in 1800s attire standing in the upstairs theater balcony—long after the building was empty. During a 2023 Halloween display, staff returned to find a vintage fox mask mysteriously turned around inside a locked case—no one had touched it.
Terwilliger Hall also has its share of unexplained events. The museum’s artifacts—many of which are tied to personal stories—seem to carry energy all their own. Most curiously, bottles of brandy used as souvenirs have slowly worked their way across shelves each year, despite being glued down.
But it is the National Memorial Day Museum that is said to be the most haunted. Once a private home, a doctor’s office and later a boarding house, the structure is rich in emotional history. Several strange experiences have been reported, including knocking sounds, the spirit of a young girl and a mysterious “ghost cat” has been heard—its footsteps pattering across floors—though no live feline has ever been seen…
Whether you come for the history or the haunts, the Waterloo Library & Historical Society and The National Memorial Day Museum offer a glimpse into lives once lived—and maybe, still lingering.
Days/times of operation:
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Library & Terwilliger Hall
Mon–Wed: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thurs–Fri: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Sat: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
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National Memorial Day Museum (Seasonal)
Open Memorial Day through Labor Day
Thurs–Sat: 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM