Chicago
The Great Fire of 1871, gangster violence, the Eastland disaster, and H.H. Holmes's Murder Castle. Chicago's ghosts range from Al Capone's victims to the 844 who drowned in the Chicago River.
Chicago is one of America’s most haunted cities.
The Great Fire
In October 1871, the Great Fire killed 300 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed the city, and gave rise to the legend of Mrs. O’Leary’s cow. The ghosts of victims still linger.
The Eastland Disaster
On July 24, 1915, a ship capsized in the river, killing 844 people in the worst Great Lakes disaster. Bodies floated in the water, and their spirits remain to this day.
H.H. Holmes
America’s first serial killer operated his Murder Castle hotel where he killed an unknown number of victims during the World’s Fair. Though the site has been demolished, evil still lingers there.
Congress Plaza Hotel
The most haunted hotel in Chicago, where Al Capone stayed and ran his gangster headquarters, has seen multiple suicides. Guests report a hand on their shoulders, and some rooms remain sealed.
Resurrection Cemetery
Resurrection Mary is Chicago’s most famous ghost, a vanishing hitchhiker who left handprints on the cemetery bars and is still seen today at this location with its own dedicated entry.
Sources
Chicago - Wikipedia provides historical context for the city’s haunted history.