The Lizzie Borden House in Fall River, Massachusetts, where Andrew and Abby Borden were murdered in 1892, has transitioned into a bed-and-breakfast and ghost tour destination, offering overnight stays starting at $259 per night.
The property, last listed for sale in 2021 for $2 million, has become a focal point for true-crime enthusiasts, drawing visitors to the site of one of America’s most infamous unsolved cases. The murders occurred on August 4, 1892, when the victims were found hacked to death in their home during the afternoon. Lizzie Borden, the 32-year-old daughter of Andrew Borden, was the primary suspect, as she was present at the time of the killings and had a strained relationship with her stepmother, Abby.
Despite the overwhelming suspicion surrounding Lizzie—including the discovery of a small hatchet in the basement, believed to be the murder weapon—she was acquitted in 1893 after a two-week trial. The all-male jury deliberated for just over an hour before delivering the verdict. No other individuals were ever charged in connection with the crimes, and the case remains officially unsolved more than a century later.
The house has since been preserved as a historical site and commercialized for tourism. Visitors can tour the bedroom where Abby Borden was killed, now part of the bed-and-breakfast experience. The property’s transformation into a revenue-generating attraction has sparked debate among historians and true-crime fans about the ethics of monetizing such a grim chapter in American history.
The Lizzie Borden case continues to inspire adaptations, including Netflix’s upcoming "Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story", premiering September 17 as part of Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan’s anthology series. While modern investigations, such as a 2019 CBS "48 Hours" segment, have revisited the crime scene—including an overnight stay in the infamous bedroom—no definitive answers have emerged. Notably, the murder weapon was later determined to be not an ax, and Abby Borden suffered fewer than a dozen stab wounds, contradicting the popular nursery rhyme that suggests excessive violence.
The house’s dual role as a historical landmark and commercial enterprise reflects broader cultural fascination with the case, balancing preservation with profit. For those seeking to engage with the mystery firsthand, the property offers guided tours, themed stays, and an immersive look into the events that shaped one of America’s earliest true-crime sagas.