Guided Tour
Crypt tour
Docent-led tour through the under-sanctuary crypt preserving 137 colonial headstones in situ, including those of New Haven Colony founders.
- Duration:
- 45 min
Other Dark Tourism Site
Center Church on the Green (The Crypt)
Congregational meetinghouse on the New Haven Green built 1812-1814 directly over the colony's original 1638 burying ground, with an in-situ crypt holding 137 marked stones (from 1687) and the remains of more than 1,000 colonists.
250 Temple Street, New Haven, CT 06511
Research updated May 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
Crypt tours are offered free or by donation on a seasonal schedule.
Access
Limited Access
Stairs to the crypt level; sanctuary entrance has steps.
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1814 · Congregation organized 1639 by New Haven Colony founders Davenport and Eaton · Present meetinghouse built 1812-1814 over a portion of the 1638 burying ground · In-situ crypt preserves 137 colonial headstones (earliest 1687) and 1,000+ remains · Burials of Theophilus Eaton, Rev. James Pierpont, and other founders
The First Church of Christ in New Haven (now Center Church on the Green) was organized on August 23, 1639 by Puritans led by Reverend John Davenport and Theophilus Eaton, who served 19 years as the first governor of the New Haven Colony. The present brick Federal-style meetinghouse — the congregation's third — was constructed between 1812 and 1814 on the New Haven Green.
When the building was sited, the congregation chose to build directly over a section of the colony's original 1638 burying ground rather than disturb the graves. The graves and stones were left in their original positions and an enclosed chamber was constructed around them, protected by the church's foundation. The resulting Crypt contains 137 identified headstones dating from 1687, along with the likely remains of more than 1,000 unidentified colonists. Among the documented burials are Theophilus Eaton; Rev. James Pierpont, a founder of Yale College; the first wife of Benedict Arnold; and ancestors of President Rutherford B. Hayes.
The Crypt is one of very few colonial burying grounds in New England to survive untouched beneath a still-active church building. Center Church operates a seasonal Crypt tour program through its history office, and the site is documented by the New England Historical Society, Atlas Obscura, and the Connecticut Museum Quest.
Sources
- https://www.centerchurchonthegreen.org/history/crypt/
- https://newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/new-havens-center-church-crypt-the-puritan-city-of-the-dead/
- https://historicbuildingsct.com/first-congregational-church-new-haven-1814/
- https://nhba.yale.edu/building?id=205
Disembodied male voice asking 'have you been saved?'Shadowy figures descending into the cryptCold spots near specific historical markers
Ghost-walk operators including US Ghost Adventures include the Crypt as a stop on their New Haven tours, citing decades of parishioner and visitor accounts of disembodied voices echoing in the underground chamber. The most-circulated story attributes a deep, masculine voice asking 'have you been saved?' to Theophilus Eaton, the New Haven Colony's first governor whose remains are interred in the crypt. Tour narratives also describe shadowy figures glimpsed descending the stairs into the crypt and atmospheric cold spots near specific markers.
These accounts are documented in ghost-tour materials and atmospheric travel writing rather than in academic or newspaper sources. Center Church's own history page describes the Crypt in straightforwardly historical terms and does not endorse the paranormal claims; the building's official identity is as a working United Church of Christ congregation. The crypt is treated with reverence by the congregation, and visitors are expected to do the same.
Notable Entities
Voice attributed to Theophilus Eaton (per ghost-tour lore)
Plan Your Visit
1 way to experienceSources & Further Reading
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Center Church on the Green (The Crypt) family-friendly?
Quiet historic crypt visit appropriate for school-age children and older; younger children may find the underground setting unsettling. Overall family fit: Moderate.
How much does it cost to visit Center Church on the Green (The Crypt)?
Crypt tours are offered free or by donation on a seasonal schedule. This location is free to visit.
Do I need to book in advance?
No advance booking is required, but checking availability is recommended.
Is Center Church on the Green (The Crypt) wheelchair accessible?
Center Church on the Green (The Crypt) has limited wheelchair accessibility. Terrain: Stairs to the crypt level; sanctuary entrance has steps..