Field Notes · Chicago

Chicago Gangsters and Ghosts

Gangsters, ghosts, true crime, and the haunted history of the Windy City — from Al Capone's Outfit to Resurrection Mary, researched and walked by American Ghost Walks.
Chicago's Most Haunted Irish Pubs
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

Chicago's Most Haunted Irish Pubs

Chicago's Irish pubs have long memories and longer shadows. Explore the haunted history of Streeter's Tavern, The Kerryman, and Fadó, plus a River North pub crawl.

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Chicago St. Valentine's Day Massacre Pub Crawl Is Back for 2026
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

Chicago St. Valentine's Day Massacre Pub Crawl Is Back for 2026

Our St. Valentine's Day Massacre Ghost Tour Pub Crawl in Chicago is back Friday February 13th, 2026 at 8pm with a romantic twist!

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A Guide to Haunted New Year's Eve Traditions
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

A Guide to Haunted New Year's Eve Traditions

As the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve, the world erupts in a chorus of celebration. But in some places, the stroke of midnight awakens more than just the new year.

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A Guide to America's Haunted Holiday Destinations
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

A Guide to America's Haunted Holiday Destinations

Explore America's haunted holiday destinations, where Christmas cheer meets ghost stories, historic hotels, haunted theaters, and chilling seasonal folklore.

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Chicago's Thalia Hall: The Spirits Pacing the Empty Stage
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

Chicago's Thalia Hall: The Spirits Pacing the Empty Stage

Discover Thalia Hall's spirits: historic theater lore, staff sightings, and a hands-on ghost hunt Oct 26 at 6 PM. Limited spots.

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Chicago Ghosts and Pizza Tour 2025 | Haunted Halloween Nights in the Loop
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

Chicago Ghosts and Pizza Tour 2025 | Haunted Halloween Nights in the Loop

Join the Chicago Ghosts and Pizza Tour in October 2025. Explore haunted Loop landmarks, taste Chicago's best deep-dish pizza, and hear chilling ghost stories. Two nights only at The Exchequer, Oct 23 and Oct 30 at 6 PM.

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Resurrection Mary: the Queen of Chicago's Haunted Archer Avenue
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

Resurrection Mary: the Queen of Chicago's Haunted Archer Avenue

Discover the legend of Resurrection Mary on Archer Avenue in Chicago. Visit Resurrection Cemetery with our ghost tours for a haunting experience.

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Julia Buccola - Ghost of Innocence
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

Julia Buccola - Ghost of Innocence

Discover the chilling legend of Julia Buccola Petta, the Italian Bride buried at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Chicago, A ghost story that still haunts today.

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The 1903 Iroquois Theater Fire in Chicago: Death Alley and Its Haunted Past
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

The 1903 Iroquois Theater Fire in Chicago: Death Alley and Its Haunted Past

Discover the tragic story of the 1903 Iroquois Theater Fire in Chicago and the haunted Death Alley that remains today. Explore the ghosts, history, and chilling tales on our Chicago Ghost Tours.

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Dillinger's Final Night at Chicago's Biograph Theater Alley
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

Dillinger's Final Night at Chicago's Biograph Theater Alley

Discover the chilling story of John Dillinger's death at Chicago's Biograph Theater and the ghostly legends that followed. Explore Dillinger's Alley and see it for yourself on the Original Chicago Hauntings Ghost Bus Tour.

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Seaweed Charlie: The Drowned Aviator of Calvary Cemetery
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

Seaweed Charlie: The Drowned Aviator of Calvary Cemetery

A ghostly aviator rises from Lake Michigan in Evanston, Illinois, haunting the shores near Calvary Cemetery in this chilling tale of love, loss, and final rest.

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Ghosts of the Game: The Haunted Legacy of the Chicago Black Sox
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

Ghosts of the Game: The Haunted Legacy of the Chicago Black Sox

Explore the superstition, scandal, and ghosts that still haunt Comiskey Park's legacy from the Chicago Black Sox to the curse of opening on a Friday

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Chicago Valentine's Day Massacre Ghost Tour Pub Crawl
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

Chicago Valentine's Day Massacre Ghost Tour Pub Crawl

Valentine's Day Massacre Ghost Tour Pub Crawl in Chicago

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10 Most Haunted Places in Illinois: Spine-Chilling Encounters
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

10 Most Haunted Places in Illinois: Spine-Chilling Encounters

Discover Illinois' eeriest locations, from Chicago's infamous Resurrection Mary to Aurora's haunted roundhouse. Explore real ghost stories and paranormal hotspots.

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Bachelor's Grove: The Most Haunted Cemetery in Chicago
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

Bachelor's Grove: The Most Haunted Cemetery in Chicago

Explore Chicago's most haunted burial ground, where the mysterious Madonna of Bachelors Grove still walks. Uncover century-old paranormal encounters and ghostly tales.

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Terrifying Haunted Bus Tours: Chicago's Dark History Revealed
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

Terrifying Haunted Bus Tours: Chicago's Dark History Revealed

Explore Chicago's haunted past on our spine-chilling ghost tours. Visit notorious haunted sites, hear dark tales & experience paranormal activity on guided bus tours.

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1915 Eastland Disaster: The Unrested Spirits of Chicago River
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

1915 Eastland Disaster: The Unrested Spirits of Chicago River

Explore the chilling SS Eastland disaster in Chicago, where 844 lives were lost on July 24, 1915. Uncover survivor stories, hauntings, and paranormal events.

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Ghosts and Hauntings of the Museum of Science and Industry
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

Ghosts and Hauntings of the Museum of Science and Industry

Uncover chilling hauntings at Chicago's Museum of Science & Industry, from ghostly sightings to haunted exhibits tied in 1893 World's Fair and WWII history.

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The Woman in Red and the Haunted Drake Hotel Christmas Bride
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

The Woman in Red and the Haunted Drake Hotel Christmas Bride

Discover the chilling story of the Woman in Red, who haunts Chicago's Drake Hotel. Explore eyewitness accounts, historical details, and the tragic 1920 New Year's Eve tale.

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An Oily Residue: The Haunting of the Peabody Estate at Mayslake
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

An Oily Residue: The Haunting of the Peabody Estate at Mayslake

Discover the chilling tales and mysterious hauntings at Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook. From ghostly piano music to unexplained encounters since 1995.

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The Custom House
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

The Custom House

Step into the eerie past of Chicago's Custom House—its rise, fiery fall in 1871, and the ghostly whispers that still lingers.

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The Haunting of the Cherry Branch Guest House
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

The Haunting of the Cherry Branch Guest House

Experience true ghost stories from Woodstock's historic Cherry Branch Guest House, where mysterious figures and unexplained phenomena have been documented since 1910.

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Resurrection Mary's Greatest Hits
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

Resurrection Mary's Greatest Hits

Explore the most chilling TV and movie portrayals of Resurrection Mary—Chicago's most famous ghost—and uncover why her legend still haunts us today.

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The Haunted Treehouse: Ghosts of Marina City
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

The Haunted Treehouse: Ghosts of Marina City

Whispers of the past echo through the tower of Marina City, where ghostly encounters and chilling tales bring its haunted history to life.

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Is The Irish Legend Chicago’s Most Haunted Restaurant?
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

Is The Irish Legend Chicago’s Most Haunted Restaurant?

Discover the dark history of Chicago's Irish Legend pub, from Prohibition-era gangsters to mysterious paranormal activity. Explore true ghost stories from this historic tavern.

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Banshees, Bridgeport Bishops and Bugs . . . B'GORA! Chicago's Irish Ghosts
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

Banshees, Bridgeport Bishops and Bugs . . . B'GORA! Chicago's Irish Ghosts

Journey into Irish folklore to explore the legendary banshee spirit. Discover ancient tales, appearances, and omens of this mysterious supernatural guardian.

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The Demon of Lemont
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

The Demon of Lemont

The Demonic House in Lemont became the site of terrifying hauntings—ghostly letters, eerie warnings, and unexplained events. Discover its dark past.

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Have a Spooky Groundhog Day in Woodstock, IL!
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

Have a Spooky Groundhog Day in Woodstock, IL!

Discover ghostly legends tied to Groundhog Day and the haunted Cherry Tree Inn in Woodstock, IL—where history, film, and the paranormal collide.

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Finding the "Chicora": A Ghost of a Chance?
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

Finding the "Chicora": A Ghost of a Chance?

Discover the haunting mystery of Lake Michigan's lost Chicora ship, vanished in 1895. From ghostly sightings to spirit séances, explore Chicago's maritime supernatural history.

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Ghosts of Chicago's Tribune Tower
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

Ghosts of Chicago's Tribune Tower

Uncover the spooky secrets of Chicago's Tribune Tower, from ghostly encounters to mysterious artifacts. Experience the gothic landmark's paranormal legacy.

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Haunted Lake County: Cuba Road and White Cemetery
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

Haunted Lake County: Cuba Road and White Cemetery

Discover the eerie legends of Cuba Road and White Cemetery in Illinois. From ghostly figures to phantom cars, explore the chilling hauntings that still terrify visitors.

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Chicago's Murder Castle and the Ghosts of Englewood
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

Chicago's Murder Castle and the Ghosts of Englewood

Step inside Chicago's dark past with chilling tales of the Murder Castle, Englewood hauntings, and ghostly legends that still echo through the streets today.

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Gangsters & Ghosts: Chicago's Top 5 Haunted Mobster Sites
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

Gangsters & Ghosts: Chicago's Top 5 Haunted Mobster Sites

Discover Al Capone's favorite haunts & Chicago's most notorious mobster sites where gangster spirits still linger. Experience real ghost stories from the Prohibition era.

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The Butcher of Palos Park
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

The Butcher of Palos Park

Discover the eerie tale of the Butcher Boss of Palos Park, a haunting mystery tied to a historic butcher shop. Dive into the dark past of this chilling legend.

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The Ghost of Al Capone
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

The Ghost of Al Capone

Discover the chilling tale of Al Capone haunted by 'Jimmy'—a ghost from his past that won't stay buried. Uncover the mystery today!

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The Haunted History of Hull House Chicago & the Devil Baby
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

The Haunted History of Hull House Chicago & the Devil Baby

Jane Addams' Hull House helped many, but its ghostly legends and the Devil Baby tale left a haunting legacy. Explore the history behind those stories.

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Haunted Chicago Date Ideas: Romantic Spots With Dark History
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

Haunted Chicago Date Ideas: Romantic Spots With Dark History

Discover Chicago's most haunted spots perfect for unique date nights. From the Congress Hotel to Death Alley, explore romantic venues with fascinating paranormal histories.

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H.H. Holmes Murder Castle: An Inspiration for American Horror Story Hotel
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

H.H. Holmes Murder Castle: An Inspiration for American Horror Story Hotel

Discover how American Horror Story adapted H.H. Holmes' Murder Castle into Hotel Cortez. Explore the chilling true story behind AHS's infamous killer.

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Haunted Chicago History: The Top 5 Most Haunted Downtown Chicago Areas & A Peek At Their Eerie History
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

Haunted Chicago History: The Top 5 Most Haunted Downtown Chicago Areas & A Peek At Their Eerie History

Step inside Chicago's haunted places—from H.H. Holmes' sinister Murder Castle to ghostly encounters at Chet's Melody Lounge and beyond.

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The Bridge of Sighs: Chicago's Lost Suicide Bridge
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

The Bridge of Sighs: Chicago's Lost Suicide Bridge

The "Suicide Bridge" of Lincoln Park is a place of tragedy and lingering spirits. Read about the bridge's history and the ghostly sightings reported there.

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The Haunting of Joliet Prison: The Prison Cemeteries
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

The Haunting of Joliet Prison: The Prison Cemeteries

Step into the eerie world of the Singing Ghost and convict spirits at Joliet Prison. Discover spine-chilling tales and haunted history few dare to tell.

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The Massacre Tree and Chicago’s Haunting Fort Dearborn Past
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

The Massacre Tree and Chicago’s Haunting Fort Dearborn Past

Uncover the chilling story of the Fort Dearborn Massacre and the legendary Massacre Tree—where Chicago's haunted past and hidden truths still echo today.

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Stone Cold Haunted: Chicago's Limestone Ghosts
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

Stone Cold Haunted: Chicago's Limestone Ghosts

Uncover Chicago's haunted history, eerie ghost sightings, and why limestone may be the secret behind paranormal hotspots across the Windy City.

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Lincoln Park Zoo Ghost Stories and Chicago’s Haunted Past
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

Lincoln Park Zoo Ghost Stories and Chicago’s Haunted Past

Uncover eerie hauntings and ghostly voices at Chicago's Lincoln Park Zoo, once a cemetery hiding 15,000 bodies beneath its attractions. Dare to read?

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How I Came to Believe in Fairies
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

How I Came to Believe in Fairies

Step into a world of mystery and folklore as we explore the legend of fairies, real-life encounters, and the hidden history behind these mystical beings.

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Chicago's Congress Plaza Hotel and Its Terrifying Haunted Past
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

Chicago's Congress Plaza Hotel and Its Terrifying Haunted Past

Uncover terrifying true stories from Chicago's Congress Plaza Hotel—ghosts, sealed rooms, haunted ballrooms, and the twisted secrets behind room 666.

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St Valentine's Day Massacre: Chicago's Haunted Gangland Past
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

St Valentine's Day Massacre: Chicago's Haunted Gangland Past

Explore the chilling history of Chicago's most infamous gangland hit. Visit the haunted site of the 1929 Valentine's Day Massacre where seven mobsters met their fate.

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Day of the Dead (Día de Los Muertos)
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

Day of the Dead (Día de Los Muertos)

Join us in exploring the vibrant traditions of the Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos, a celebration of the departed widely observed in Mexico and Latin America that is a fusion of cultures.

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The Hauntings of the Medieval Torture Museums in Los Angeles and Chicago
Chicago Gangsters & Ghosts

The Hauntings of the Medieval Torture Museums in Los Angeles and Chicago

The chilling haunted history behind LA and Chicago's Medieval Torture Museums, where paranormal objects and ghostly legends linger.

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