Just in time for Halloween! Join Chicago Studies for a spine-chilling tour based on true stories (and a few urban legends) from Chicago's sordid, tragic, and even gruesome past. Restless spirits, unsolved mysteries, and tragic endings haunt many of Chicago's historic buildings, neighborhoods, and streets; the Chicago Studies staff has curated and researched 15 such tales into this tour, itself a collection of "stepping off" points in neighborhoods around the city. The tour can be experienced either in person, across the city of Chicago using the Vamonde app, or remotely from anywhere in the world.
Join us...if you dare.
15 Terrifying Tales from 14 Neighborhoods
- "Eternal Silence" - gaze into the eyes of death in Graceland Cemetery (Wrigleyville)
- The Girl in the Glass Box - while in Graceland, get to know the cemetery's most tempestuous personality (Wrigleyville)
- The Ghosts of Our Lady of the Angels - a tragic fire scars an immigrant community for life...and in death (Humboldt Park)
- Chicago's Original "Black Widow" - Tillie Klimek had an eerie knack for predicting when her husbands would die (West Town)
- The Woman in Red - Gold Coast affluence has bred its share of tragic stories (Magnificent Mile)
- The Haunted Water Tower - The Great Chicago Fire had eternal consequences for at least one person (Magnificent Mile)
- The Sinking of the SS Eastland - The Great Lakes' greatest maritime disaster happened on the Chicago River (River North)
- The Ghosts of Old City Hall - Today's City Hall stands on the ruins of a much older time (The Loop)
- Death Alley and the Iroquois Theatre Fire - Few remember the country's largest theatre disaster, but some can't forget (Theatre District)
- Chicago's Most Haunted Hotel - The Congress Plaza has more than its share of VERY long-term guests (South Loop)
- Seeress...and Serial Killer - Louise Lindloff made sure her grim predictions ALWAYS came true (Tri-Taylor)
- The Madonna of Bachelor's Grove - Echoes of gangland killings and a mysterious woman in white haunt this tiny burial ground (Midlothian)
- Resurrection Mary - Dying for a Night Out - Strap on your dancing shoes to meet Chicago's most famous ghost (Back of the Yards)
- The Murder Castle - In the days of the White City, the Devil had a place on 63rd St. (Englewood)
- A Trio of Hyde Park Haunts - One "perfect" murder brings us three tales of supernatural suffering just blocks from campus (Hyde Park/Kenwood)
Experience the tour either with the Vamonde app (mobile -- Apple or Android) or on your computer from the relative safety of your own home...though who is really safe, in such a SPOOKY city?
This tour was produced by Akwe McDaniels and Chris Skrable. Research and content creation by Akwe, Chris, Will Scarborough, Javier Gaughan, and Chloe Zheng. Audio design by Akwe McDaniels. Art by Javier Gaughan, and music by Chris Skrable.
NOTE: The Vamonde app has been deprecated by Chicago Studies and while archived content is still available, new tour content will be found exclusively on our website.