Georgia's State Theater — and Edwin Booth's Unfinished Business
103 E 10th St, Columbus, GA 31901
Research updated June 2026
Age
Ghost tour recommended ages 12+
Cost
$$
Ghost tours approximately $25/person; tours with drinks approximately $32/person. Performance tickets priced separately.
Access
Wheelchair OK
Historic building with accessible accommodations
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1871 · Georgia State Theater · Historic Theater Preservation · Edwin Booth
The Springer Opera House was built in 1871 in Columbus, Georgia, funded by Francis Joseph Springer, a German-born merchant who wanted to bring professional theatrical culture to the city. In its early decades, it attracted a roster of nationally prominent performers: Edwin Booth, Oscar Wilde, John Philip Sousa, and others appeared on its stage during touring circuits that brought New York and European performers to Southern cities.
Edwin Booth — brother of John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln's assassin, and himself one of the most celebrated Shakespearean actors of the 19th century — performed at the Springer on multiple occasions. The shadow of his brother's act followed him throughout his career; he continued performing in part to rehabilitate the family name, and his later performances are understood by theater historians as acts of public penance as much as artistic expression.
The theater fell into disrepair in the mid-20th century and was scheduled for demolition before a preservation effort saved and restored it. In 1971, Governor Jimmy Carter designated the Springer the official State Theater of Georgia. The Springer continues to operate as a producing theater with a full performance season.
Sources
Edwin Booth performed at the Springer multiple times after his brother's assassination of Abraham Lincoln in 1865. He returned to the stage in part to publicly distance himself from his brother's act, continuing his career under the weight of a name that had become nationally synonymous with political violence. His performances at Southern theaters like the Springer took on additional complexity in that context.
Booth's ghost at the Springer is principally associated with the prop room — the backstage space where theatrical objects are stored. Staff have reported cold spots, lights that turn off without apparent cause, and a persistent sense of presence in that room. Paranormal investigators have documented equipment anomalies in the area during investigations.
The theater's ghost tours, approximately 45 minutes in duration, take visitors through the building and into backstage spaces. Two tour formats are offered: standard and with drinks. Advance booking is required.
Notable Entities
Approximately 45-minute guided ghost tour of the Springer Opera House, Georgia's official State Theater. Tours take visitors through the historic building including backstage areas and the prop room, where the most concentrated paranormal activity has been reported. Two pricing tiers: standard tour and tour with drinks. Book in advance through the theater's website.
The Springer produces a full season of professional theatrical performances in its restored 1871 auditorium. Performances range from Broadway productions to original works. The building's history, architecture, and resident ghost add atmosphere to the live performance experience.
Every HauntBound history is researched from documented sources. We clearly separate verified historical fact from paranormal folklore.
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