Museum on the Main (MOM) hosted its first Ghost Walk of the season on October 10th. The Ghost Walk started in 2008 as a fundraiser for MOM. The museum itself, as of 2024, is 110 years old and began as a police station. The Ghost Walk has had a remarkable communal and historical impact on the city itself and people who attend.
“It gets people in downtown learning about the history of the town. [The Ghost Walk] gets people familiar with the downtown area and gives a sense of community . It also gets us down to the museum, and we get to see what they give us in the community,” said attendee Marianne Eisberg.
Impact on youth
Ghost Walks boost the museum’s funding and community spirit, while teaching high school students valuable life skills. Most of the students leading the tours are high school students who take time out of their weekend to research, dress up, and perform for the community.
“I did ghost walk all 4 weekends last year for a total of 40 performances, and it was really really fun. We are given like a sheet, with information about it and also told to do our own research, and then come up with a plan for what we are going to do and say as the ghosts. And between each one it changes a little because we kind of improve it,” said Allie Schumacher (‘28).
A dedicated team behind the scenes
The success of the Ghost Walk is the result of the hard work staff and volunteers at MOM put in. They lead the Ghost Walk, narrate the history of Pleasanton, making it an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.
“I like to do it because it supports the museum and schools. and I used to be a teacher here, so it’s just like taking kids on a field trip. It’s always fun, sometimes we get people saying ‘what’s that?’ or ‘what’s going on?’ and it’s always fun explaining to them that we do this as an event through the museum. It is always fun raising awareness,” said Ghost Walk leader Janet Sears.
The ghost walk has been a staple of Pleasanton’s history, bringing community and aspiring actors together for a greater cause. Upcoming Ghost Walks are scheduled for October 17 and 18.
