HISTORIC YORK HAUNTING HISTORY:
GHOST TOURS ILLUMINATING YORK’S HIDDEN STORIES Rissa Miller blends investigative research with ghostly tales to reveal the rich history of Downtown York Photo by John Beck
“GHOST STORIES DON’T ONLY PUT A FACE ON HISTORY, THEY MAKE DEATH APPROACHABLE. IT’S NOT SCARY, IT’S HUMAN.”
22 | Downtown York | Haunting History: Ghost Tours Illuminating York’s Hidden Stories
Since 2022, Rissa Miller has led Ghost Tours of Downtown York featuring the stories of individuals who lived, died, and remain in our community. A native of York, Rissa had her first ghostly experience in a restaurant in York, England at the age of eight. Rissa’s professional journey as a tour guide began at the age of 15 when she started as a tour guide for Plough Tavern and the Gates House. The experience helped her to overcome childhood shyness and to develop the skills that would serve her well in a career in storytelling. Having worked as a newspaper reporter and editor for the Baltimore Sun, Rissa gained experience in investigative research. Today, she utilizes these experiences to explore the lives and stories of the ghosts who are featured in her tours.