The Dakota's reputed hauntings and folklore

The Dakota, the landmark apartment building at the northwest corner of 72nd Street and Central Park West, opened in 1884 and has long been the subject of anecdotes and rumors about unusual occurrences and resident ghosts. Its distinctive architecture, famous residents, and the 1980 shooting of John Lennon at the building's Dakota entrance have contributed to its mythic status in city lore. Reports of hauntings are part of the building’s popular reputation but remain anecdotal and debated rather than documented historical fact.