Listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, the impressive Pythian Castle looks like it could have been plucked right out of medieval Europe. Learn about the unusual history of this striking structure as you explore the vast interior. Be alert to notice any unusual paranormal activity during a ghost-themed tour.
Take a guided tour of the castle to learn more about its history. The castle was originally built in 1913 by the Knights of Pythias, a fraternal order founded in Washington D.C. in 1864. In the 1940s, the castle came under the ownership of the U.S. military who kept prisoners of war here during World War II. The building is now privately owned but can be explored by the public as part of guided tours and specially scheduled events.
Admire the grand gray stone castle from the outside. The two-story castle was designed in late Gothic-revival style and features decorative turrets, an arcaded stone porch and recessed windows. Look for an inscription bearing the building’s historic name, the Pythian Home of Missouri, visible on the exterior.
Follow a guide around the interior, surveying the main lobby, the ballroom and the basement cells where prisoners of war were once kept. As you explore, listen as your guide recounts anecdotes and stories from the castle’s history. For an eerier exploration, opt for a guided nighttime tour that focuses on the ghosts said to haunt the castle’s corridors.
Find Pythian Castle in central Springfield, Missouri, near Evangel University. History tours of the castle take place twice daily from Monday to Saturday, and once daily on Sundays. A fee is charged, and at least four participants are required for the tours to go ahead. Nighttime ghost tours also take place periodically check ahead on the website to find out when the next paranormal investigation is scheduled. It’s also possible to rent out the castle for big groups and for murder-mystery nights, which include dinner.
