Alston House – Cryptozoology and Paranormal Museum

The Alston House stands as a significant historical structure in Littleton, North Carolina, dating back to the 1850s. This historic residence, which now serves as the Cryptozoology and Paranormal Museum, occupies a distinctive geographical position with a stream flowing beneath the foundation. The house contains an older section dating to its original construction period, along with later additions, and upstairs features a notable secret room. The property has been transformed into a unique museum space dedicated to housing collections of paranormal and cryptozoological artifacts.

The Alston House was established during the mid-nineteenth century as a residential dwelling. Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the property underwent various modifications and ownership changes. The decision to convert the space into a museum dedicated to paranormal and cryptozoological subjects represents a relatively recent chapter in the house's history. Founder Stephen Barcelo, a former journalist with an interest in paranormal subjects, established the museum and curated its collections, transforming the property into a destination attracting visitors interested in both historical significance and supernatural phenomena.

The paranormal reputation centers on documented experiences reported by residents, museum staff, and visitors. The most frequently reported phenomena involve disembodied voices heard throughout the structure, with accounts describing conversations between two distinct individuals occurring with no visible speakers present. Visitors and workers have reported unexplained odors, most notably the persistent smell of cigarette smoke occurring nearly daily despite a strict no-smoking policy. A particularly significant account involved a contractor who fled the property due to a strong paranormal presence, finding the environment too unsettling to continue work. Such accounts from tradespeople, who typically approach such situations skeptically, lend credibility to the reports of genuine paranormal activity.

Residents and visitors have reported objects moving, disappearing, and reappearing in unexpected locations. These kinetic phenomena suggest an interactive paranormal presence capable of physically manipulating the material environment. The manifestations are characterized as emanating from friendly ghosts rather than malevolent entities, indicating that residents generally do not perceive the paranormal presences as threatening. The specific areas most associated with activity include the living room, foyer, stair area, and upstairs spaces, with the older section appearing particularly active paranormally.

Today, the Alston House continues to function as the Cryptozoology and Paranormal Museum, housing a notable collection of paranormal artifacts and cryptozoological specimens. Among the most renowned exhibits is the haunted Mrs. Beasley Doll, displayed within a locked glass case, along with a coffin available for rent and a haunted hay crane. The building remains active with ongoing paranormal phenomena, creating a unique situation where visitors encounter both curated museum exhibits and genuine reported supernatural activity within the structure. Staff continue to document experiences occurring within the property, establishing it as a destination for paranormal enthusiasts, historical researchers, and those curious about the intersection of local history, folklore, and documented supernatural phenomena in the American Southeast.