Old Cahawba, near Orrville, is an archaeological park with a haunted reputation due to its history as Alabama's first capital and subsequent abandonment after the Civil War, leading to reports of children's laughter in the "New Cemetery," the appearance of a "Pegues' Ghost" (a will-o'-the-wisp), disembodied voices, and paranormal investigator-led tours into the park's historic, eerie structures and grounds. A well-known apparition, this spectral, darting light was first seen in 1862 and has been described as a will-o'-the-wisp that appears and disappears around the former Colonel Pegues' home, often close enough to touch before vanishing. In the park's "New Cemetery," some visitors have reported hearing the sounds of children laughing and playing, though no living children are ever found. Other reported paranormal activity includes disembodied voices and distortions on radios, with occurrences sometimes extending beyond typical ghost-hunting hours. The town was abandoned after the Civil War, leaving behind many historic structures and an overall sense of decay and lost history. During the Civil War, the Confederate government seized Cahawba's railroad, and a lice-infested prison housed thousands of captured Union soldiers in the center of town. Even during daylight hours, the park's moss-covered ruins, abandoned streets, and historical cemeteries contribute to its hauntingly beautiful and eerie atmosphere.