True horror fans know that H.P. Lovecraft is known as the father of modern horror fiction. Many other authors have been influenced by his way of twisted words to create unnerving stories, full of mythical creatures and tales that have sent shivers down the spines of many readers. Location encompasses a large part of many of Lovecraft's stories, with each place spawning unknown wickedness, forcing a sense of foreboding doom on the reader.
The Lovecraftian world that the author created is nothing short of chaos, with ancient monsters and evils that only those familiar with his works are familiar with. Luckily, for fans of the horror legend, many of these stories were inspired by real-life places... all of which can still be visited to this day.
Copp's Hill Burial Ground In Boston, Massachusetts
Massachusetts is the basis for many of Lovecraft's stories, just as Maine is synonymous with famed horror author Stephen King. Many Lovecraft stories drew their inspiration from New England which seems to be commonplace for many a horror story. Copp's Hill Burial Ground in Boston is a setting that's mentioned throughout Pickman's Model, which was published back in 1927. It's known as the second-oldest cemetery in Boston with its origins dating all the way back to 1659.
The combination of the history associated with this cemetery as well as the famed Puritans who are buried there also sit at the basis for Lovecraft's stories. Featuring tales of monsters and the undead, Copp's Hill Burial Ground is the perfect real-life setting for the darkest crevices of the human mind. Mainly, Lovecraft's mind.
Bradford College In Haverhill, Massachusetts
Those who are fans of Lovecraft likely would have loved to spend a day in his mind and see the world as he did, finding inspiration in historic buildings such as Branford College. Fans also know that one of Lovecraft's most famous and well-known literary creations was that of Arkham County, which was a fictional location in Massachusetts and strongly associated with the mythos of Cthuhlu.
The demon of the sea himself was brought to life by Lovecraft, as was the well-known Miskatonic University, which was found in Arkham County and was also inspired by Branford College in Haverhill.
Mystery Hill In Salem, Massachusetts
Mystery Hill is an eerie location on its own and is often called 'America's Stonehenge' due to its unknown origins. Its this eerie and unsolved nature that Lovecraft pulled into his story The Dunwich Horror, in which a town is haunted by the supernatural and bears witness to an unnatural, evil being that thrives off the wickedness of the town itself. The stones are the basis from which the evil stems, correlating directly with those which stand in Salem, Massachusetts. It's said that Lovecraft even visited this location one year prior to writing the novel, according to Atlas Obscura.
Salem Witch House In Salem, Massachusetts
Many are familiar with the Salem Witch House as it's part of many a day trip to Salem. While visitors will learn the history of the Salem Witch Trials on their trip to the museum, Lovecraft drew a different type of inspiration from this historical location. The Dreams in the Witch House was written in 1933 and pays a sort of homage to the Salem Witch House. The novel itself is set in the Cthulhu mythos, the terror felt by the Witch Trials is ingrained throughout his writing.
Also known as the Jonathan Corwin House, it was home to one of the judges who presided over the Salem Witch Trials. With so much turbulent and tragic history surrounding this period and the judge's house, it's not surprising that many have drawn inspiration from it.
Danvers State Hospital In Danvers, Massachusetts
Arguably one of the most haunted mental institutions in the country, this is said to be the inspiration for the Arkham Sanitarium in The Thing on the Doorstep. It's said that this also may have played a role in the famous Arkham Asylum in the Batman comics as well, and Danvers State Hospital has been mentioned several times in the works of Lovecraft.
Prior to the hospital becoming condominiums, just the sight of Danvers was unnerving. It was the location of many tragic stories, featuring tales of the criminally insane that would have anyone fearing its grounds. After the hospital fell out of use in 1992, its remains stood as a scary reminder of what once was and was visited by many who were fascinated with the lore and true horror stories that occurred within its very walls.