Hotel del Coronado
San Diego, California
By Shannon Reinbold-Gee
For a hotel as grand and large as the Hotel Del Coronado in California, it seems a pity it hosts only one ghost. But once you’ve heard the tale of this tragic young woman, perhaps you’ll understand why in some cases one is enough.
The Hotel Del Coronado, affectionately called “The Del,” sits overlooking the San Francisco Bay, dominating the beach with its brick colored roofs and sharp white walls. A true American beauty, it remains a stunning and sprawling example of the traditional wooden Victorian seaside resort. Opening in 1888, the Del has hosted such famous folks as “Lucky Lindy” (Charles Lindbergh), Thomas Edison, Charlie Chaplin, Humphrey Bogart, Brad Pitt, L. Frank Baum, Babe Ruth, President Benjamin Harrison, Madonna and King Edward VIII (at the time only the Prince of Wales). The Del was also used as a backdrop to Marilyn Monroe’s 1958 movie “Some Like It Hot.”
But one of the Del’s most famous guests has never checked out and rumors still circulate about her identity. Kate Morgan was supposedly a grifter working the rails in the late 1800s with her husband, Thomas. The two set up poker games on trains all across the country, pretending to be brother and sister so that Kate could use her wiles to help blindside the playing men. They were gifted cheats, but it seems (according to somewhat reluctant eyewitness testimony) they got into a lover’s spat and Kate drifted into the Del, signing in under the name of Lottie Bernard (a passenger on the same train she had recently ridden). Logging in to the Del just before Thanksgiving of 1892, “Lottie Bernard” carried no luggage and looked to be in poor health and a poorer state of mind. She essentially told the staff not to worry about her—she claimed her brother (a Dr. M. C. Anderson) would arrive shortly with her luggage. He would take care of her.
And perhaps “Lottie” truly believed her partner in crime would come to her rescue, but even after several days, he had not appeared. Lottie just got sicker. Distraught, she got transportation into San Diego where she made the biggest decision of her life. She returned to the Del. Returned to room number 3327 (then room 302). The next morning she was found dead on the stairs outside the Del, shot by the pistol she had purchased the day before in town. Nicknamed “the beautiful stranger” by the papers, her identity was finally revealed. But why did she and Thomas quarrel? Why the sudden separation? Police found quinine when they searched her possessions, leading some to believe she had been pregnant, and realizing her life could not continue in the same manner once her condition showed, she decided to try a home abortion. Or perhaps Kate wanted to settle down with a family and Thomas had other plans… Either way, the story seems to end the same way—in tragedy.
Recently, a medium located in San Diego claimed to have contact with this famous ghost and said that the ghost is truly Lottie Bernard and not Kate Morgan at all. Supposedly Lottie stays on at the Del waiting for her real story to be told.
Regardless of who haunts the Del, several odd things are often reported. People have claimed to see a woman dressed in the proper period and style as Kate paging through books and walking the halls. Lights flicker on and off in Kate’s room and the sheets and blankets are played with. In the gift shop, the Marilyn Monroe merchandise used to literally jump off the shelves when it had a prominent place, but stopped its crazy behavior when it was moved to a less visible location. Was Kate angry with sharing the spotlight or might she have had a jealous streak because of some anonymous blonde bombshell making things difficult while she was still alive and with Thomas? Unfortunately we will probably never know, and it seems the more research done into Kate’s story only raises more questions—not more answers.
59 comments on this haunted house. Share your story »
59 Comments |
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kassidy and briana says: |
January 1, 2007, 12:00 am |
excuse me brittany i hate to burst ur bubble but please SHUTUP!!!!!!!!!!!
Senovia says: |
February 2, 2007, 5:36 pm |
What is the real story? I believe Tag because Tom was his grandmother’s brother. Tag, How did Tom die? If you get this comment email me at naimasmama200@yahoo.com. Stop talking about mexicans. I like all races. Xcept Arabs.
red says: |
March 9, 2007, 8:06 pm |
how do you know wich story to beleve I’ve been and saw strainge things to.
car says: |
March 9, 2007, 8:07 pm |
how do you know wich story to beleve I’ve been and saw strainge things to.I’ve heard so many stories by now.
Wild Child says: |
March 24, 2007, 5:02 pm |
wat a *******! wat should he care if his wife left him;he alredy had another woman!this story is ret@rted!!!!!
~W.C.~
Shana says: |
June 11, 2007, 4:19 pm |
There’s actually a book written about the entire case, but I’m not sure it came to an actual conclusion. I read it so long ago I almost forgot about the whole story until I came upon this site. But it’s definitely closer to the truth than some kid’s story on here.
pumpkin says: |
July 12, 2007, 1:26 pm |
this story is cool. if u have a story to tell me email me at alyssag527@comcast.net
barb says: |
July 16, 2007, 10:21 pm |
the travel channel says that she fell to her death, never said anything about being shot,, this hotel is wonderful and beautiful.
michael says: |
October 7, 2007, 11:01 pm |
hey i used to live in san diego, i went to that hotel with the boy scouts. very interesting, i heard that isn’t the only haunting their. my bro once told me that sum guy got like poisoned or sumthing from the resturant and haunts that area. any 1 else herd that.
meg says: |
October 13, 2007, 6:18 pm |
I went there this past summer me and my mom heard a low moan like a man thing we asked my aunt’s sister if it was haunted and she said yes. its a beautiful but it is haunted.
Maria says: |
October 26, 2007, 1:27 pm |
When my family visited San Diego this summer, a friend of my brother-in-law took us to this hotel. We went in [although we didn't go to the rooms because we were not guests of the hotel, just visitors] and it seemed pretty normal, there were no paranormal activities. When we were leaving, we wanted to know the story of the hotel so we asked one of the workers who worked there for many many years and he said something like this:
“[the story about her husband and the gambling and how she shot herself] but he also added that the husband was having an affair with the maid. When she found out that Morgan killed herself, she also killed herself in her room, two floors above. When visitors visit, they say that the maid’s room is more haunted than Kate’s room. There were instances of when the Bellhop carrying luggage to the room and then all of a sudden the bed was unmade.”
So that’s what he said. I’m really adamant about this story, but it’s a good one to tell.
kathy says: |
October 26, 2007, 3:54 pm |
this story is a lie i know the true story of how kate morgan died…… i have researched on kate morgan and the cause of her death was unexplainable……these are all jiberish lies if you want to know the truth…. stop posting up the fake stories and actually do something……
JNET says: |
October 27, 2007, 5:22 am |
Kate Morgan was born Kate Farmer in Hamburg Iowa. She married Tom Morgan and the couple earned a living by riding the trains, cheating and conning their fellow passengers. Kate traveled by the name of Miss Lottie A. Bernard. Her husband Tom went by the name Dr. M.C. Anderson. Usually Kate would attract a male passenger and tell him that if he wanted to continue seeing her that he must gain the approval of her brother. Of course, her brother was actually her husband Tom. This would eventually lead to a game of cards. Tom would then swindle the man out of whatever he could. Kate would then dump the suitor and the young man would leave with little or no money, and no girl. Tom and Kate would then keep moving with the trains.
In November of 1892, Kate found herself pregnant and wanted to stop the scams and settle down. Tom not only was upset about a possible child, but did not want to stop his lifestyle. The couple quarreled and Tom got off the train in Orange California. Kate continued on to San Diego to stay at the Hotel del Coronado. She expected her husband to meet her there for Thanksgiving. She checked into the hotel on November 24th and told the employees that she was waiting for her brother. Tom never did arrive, and Kate never left. Kate was very depressed and tried to induce an abortion by taking a huge amount of quinine. She also made a trip to town and purchased a gun and shells. Five days after checking into the hotel, she was found dead of a single gunshot wound to the head. Her body lay on an outside staircase leading to the beach. Blood was found on the gun and on her hand. It was quickly ruled a suicide.
In 1990, a book called “The Legend of Kate Morgan: The Search for the Ghost of the Hotel del Coronado” was written by Alan May . His book refutes the suicide claim and gives compelling evidence that Kate was murdered by her husband. A maid that may have befriended Kate is said to have also disappeared at that time. Some suggest that she was also murdered but the body removed by the hotel staff and the story hushed up so as not to arise anxiety with the hotels guests. Since Kate’s death in 1892 there have been many instances of paranormal activity at the hotel. One of the hot spots of activity is Kate’s room, number 302 which is now 3312. The activity is not confined only to that particular room though. Voices are heard when no one is there. Objects seem to move by themselves, lights flicker, TV’s turn themselves on and off. There are unexplained noises, strange unexplained smells, sudden temperature changes, strong drafts even when the windows are closed and even sightings of Kate herself. One of the better known cases is of a secret service agent that was staying at the hotel protecting the president. The agent was staying in Kate’s old room. He complained to the management that there was too much noise coming from the room above him. The only problem is Kate’s room is on the top floor.
kelsey says: |
October 31, 2007, 6:58 pm |
This story is false, i bought the book about Kate Morgan.
Her husband did not shoot her, i have read that she killed herself, and not in her room but on a staircase in the del.
so stop telling lies, this is stupid.
there are hauntings in her paticular room, but that is NOT where she died.
if your going to make a website about “actual” haunted houses, or places at least get the story right.
ive read at least 6 or more comments saying youve lied, so you should probably get the hint to CHANGE YOUR STORY.
celly says: |
December 6, 2007, 3:04 pm |
this is what i know about her…
The Story of Kate Morgan
Kate Morgan was born Kate Farmer in Hamburg Iowa. She married Tom Morgan and the couple earned a living by riding the trains, cheating and conning their fellow passengers. Kate traveled by the name of Miss Lottie A. Bernard. Her husband Tom went by the name Dr. M.C. Anderson. Usually Kate would attract a male passenger and tell him that if he wanted to continue seeing her that he must gain the approval of her brother. Of course, her brother was actually her husband Tom. This would eventually lead to a game of cards. Tom would then swindle the man out of whatever he could. Kate would then dump the suitor and the young man would leave with little or no money, and no girl. Tom and Kate would then keep moving with the trains.
In November of 1892, Kate found herself pregnant and wanted to stop the scams and settle down. Tom not only was upset about a possible child, but did not want to stop his lifestyle. The couple quarreled and Tom got off the train in Orange California. Kate continued on to San Diego to stay at the Hotel del Coronado. She expected her husband to meet her there for Thanksgiving. She checked into the hotel on November 24th and told the employees that she was waiting for her brother. Tom never did arrive, and Kate never left. Kate was very depressed and tried to induce an abortion by taking a huge amount of quinine. She also made a trip to town and purchased a gun and shells. Five days after checking into the hotel, she was found dead of a single gunshot wound to the head. Her body lay on an outside staircase leading to the beach. Blood was found on the gun and on her hand. It was quickly ruled a suicide.
dana says: |
June 26, 2008, 3:58 pm |
Is there anyone here who lives in a house they feel may be haunted? Do you wake up in the middle of the night feeling like you are being watched? We want to hear from you!! A major production company in the Los Angeles area is looking to document your story and help find answers!! This is not Ghost Hunters…It is a new show that will be on Network TV. Great opportunity to get answers from amazing experts in the field. Families will be compensated if they are chosen!! Hurry we need to hear from you ASAP!!!
Lady Drizzt says: |
September 7, 2008, 8:39 pm |
San Diego…MICHIGAN???? Did no one else catch this? Unless there was some sort of massive cross country re-location effort, last I checked San Diego AND Hotel del Coronado were in California. In fact, I am due to be IN San Diego later this month-maybe I had better inform the airline that our flight may have to be re-routed.
Where are the editors or web masters?
“Please use correct grammar, capitalization, and punctuation. Let’s try to keep this place looking classy.”
How about adding, “let’s keep this place looking credible?”
Andy Powell says: |
September 9, 2008, 12:13 am |
Lady Drizzt — That was my mistake. I was doing some updates yesterday, and my clumsy fingers must have hit too many checkboxes. Anyhow, it has been fixed.
I was in San Diego earlier this summer and I can assure you that the hotel is still there. Enjoy your trip!
jordan says: |
September 12, 2008, 8:27 pm |
this is true: ok i lived in a haunted house! and the ghost’s lives in my room! and i was ashleep one night and my closet door kept opening and closing… so i got up and went to my closet and my bears were moved all over my floor so i was creeped out…. but then i went back to sleep and about a hour later i woke up and my blankets kept pulling off of me so i was afficaly freaked… TO BE CONTINUED
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Heather says:
December 3, 2006, 4:31 pm
I agree with Dreamz, that is the truth, the person the posted the other story doesnt know what happened…