Chicago’s rich history stretches back to its incorporation in 1837, with nearly two centuries of historical events that have left their mark on the city’s landscape. From the devastating Great Chicago Fire of 1871 to the notorious gangster activity during Prohibition, many locations throughout the Windy City have acquired reputations for being haunted due to their dramatic or tragic past.
Here is a list of 20 historic Chicago locations that have become associated with ghost stories over the years, along with the verified historical details behind these claims.
Congress Plaza Hotel
Built in 1893 for the World’s Columbian Exposition, the Congress Plaza Hotel has welcomed guests for over a century. The historic hotel has hosted numerous presidents and celebrities throughout its long history.
Its proximity to Grant Park and distinctive architecture have made it a Chicago landmark. However, its age and atmospheric interiors have also contributed to its reputation for supposed hauntings among hotel folklore.
Hull House
This settlement house was founded in 1889 by social reformer Jane Addams, who later became the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. The building served immigrant communities by providing social services, education, and cultural activities.
Today, the historic structure is a museum on the University of Illinois Chicago campus, preserving exhibits related to Addams’ pioneering work in social reform, progressive education, and women’s suffrage.
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The Water Tower
Completed in 1869, the Chicago Water Tower is one of the few structures that survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. This limestone tower, built in a castellated Gothic style, housed a 138-foot standpipe to equalize water pressure.
Today, it is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks and a symbol of Chicago’s resilience. It houses a visitor information center and a small art gallery.
Red Lion Pub
This Lincoln Park establishment was a long-standing neighborhood fixture known for its traditional British pub atmosphere. The original building dates back to the late 19th century and underwent several renovations.
The pub closed in 2008 and reopened in a new location in 2012 before closing again. Still, it accumulated numerous stories during its run, adding to its character and local appeal.
Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery
This small, now-abandoned cemetery in the Rubio Woods Forest Preserve dates back to the 1840s, with burials continuing until the 1980s. Once a family cemetery for early settlers, it fell into neglect in the mid-20th century and became a target for vandalism.
The isolated location and deteriorating conditions of the grounds contributed to its mysterious atmosphere, becoming a popular subject of local folklore.
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Fort Dearborn
Established in 1803, Fort Dearborn was an important frontier outpost that later developed into the city of Chicago. In 1812, during the War of 1812, the fort was evacuated due to tensions with Native American tribes. During this evacuation, a group of Potawatomi warriors attacked the fleeing settlers and soldiers in what became known as the Fort Dearborn Massacre, resulting in the deaths of 68 Americans.
The original fort no longer exists; a marble marker in the Michigan Avenue Bridge area commemorates its location.
Graceland Cemetery
Established in 1860, this Victorian-era cemetery is the final resting place for many of Chicago’s most prominent citizens, including architects Louis Sullivan and Daniel Burnham, retailer Marshall Field, and meat-packing magnate Philip Armour.
The cemetery features remarkable funerary art and architecture, including Lorado Taft’s famous Eternal Silence statue. The peaceful grounds contain over 2,000 trees representing more than 50 species.
The Iroquois Theatre Site
The site of the former Iroquois Theatre witnessed one of the deadliest building fires in American history on December 30, 1903, when 602 people perished during a sold-out performance. This tragedy led to major reforms in fire safety codes for theaters nationwide, including the requirement for outward-opening exit doors and illuminated exit signs.
Today, the James M. Nederlander Theatre (formerly Oriental Theatre) stands at this location after being built in 1926, completely redesigned with elaborate décor inspired by Indian architecture.
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Resurrection Cemetery
Located in Justice, Illinois, just southwest of Chicago, Resurrection Cemetery is one of the largest Catholic cemeteries in the area. Established in the early 20th century, it is notable for its well-maintained grounds and impressive mausoleums. A stretch of Archer Avenue runs alongside the cemetery, connecting Chicago with its southwestern suburbs through an area once rural but has since been developed.
Prairie Avenue
During the late 19th century, Prairie Avenue was home to Chicago’s wealthiest and most influential citizens, earning it the nickname ‘Millionaire’s Row.’ Residents included Marshall Field, George Pullman, and Philip Armour. The 1800 block of South Prairie Avenue contains several preserved historic mansions from this era, including the Glessner House, designed by architect Henry Hobson Richardson.
The neighborhood declined after the wealthy moved north in the early 20th century but has since been partially preserved as a historic district.
H.H. Holmes’ Murder Castle Site
On the corner of 63rd and Wallace streets stood one of America’s most notorious buildings: the hotel built by H.H. Holmes, one of the country’s first documented serial killers. Constructed for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, Holmes designed the building with hidden passageways, soundproof rooms, and a basement equipped with dissection tables and acid vats.
After Holmes’ arrest in 1894, the building burned down under mysterious circumstances, and today, a post office stands at the location with only a small plaque acknowledging its dark history.
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St. Valentine’s Day Massacre Site
On February 14, 1929, seven men, mostly members of George ‘Bugs’ Moran’s North Side Gang, were murdered in a garage at 2122 North Clark Street. Al Capone allegedly ordered the massacre to eliminate his rivals during the height of Prohibition-era gang warfare.
The original building was demolished in 1967, and the site is now part of a landscaped lawn belonging to a retirement home. Though little physical evidence remains, the event is one of the most notorious chapters in Chicago’s organized crime history.
Essanay Studios
Founded in 1907, Essanay Studios was one of the pioneering film studios of the silent era. It produced hundreds of films and helped establish Chicago as an early filmmaking center. The studio was particularly known for signing Charlie Chaplin in 1915, though he only made one film there before leaving for California.
The distinctive terra cotta building at 1345 W. Argyle Street still stands with its recognizable Indian head logo. It now houses St. Augustine College and remains an important early American cinema history landmark.
The Drake Hotel
This luxury hotel opened in 1920 and quickly became one of Chicago’s premier accommodations. Located at the northern end of the Magnificent Mile, the Drake has hosted numerous celebrities and dignitaries, including Princess Diana and Elizabeth Taylor.
The hotel features distinctive Italian Renaissance-style architecture and remains one of Chicago’s historic landmarks. It is known for its Palm Court tea room and magnificent Gold Coast Room ballroom.
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Lincoln Park
Before becoming Chicago’s largest public park, this area was the city cemetery between 1843 and 1859. Following health concerns about the cemetery’s proximity to Lake Michigan and Chicago’s water supply, the city began relocating remains to other cemeteries, a process accelerated after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
Today, only the Couch Tomb remains a visible reminder of the area’s history as a cemetery. The park now encompasses over 1,200 acres of green space, containing the Lincoln Park Zoo, Lincoln Park Conservatory, and numerous recreational facilities.
Chicago River
Since its founding, the Chicago River has been crucial to the city’s development. One thousand nine hundred engineers successfully reversed the river’s flow to prevent sewage from contaminating Lake Michigan.
On July 24, 1915, the river was the site of the Eastland Disaster, when the passenger ship SS Eastland capsized while docked, killing 844 people in one of the worst maritime disasters in American history. Today, the river hosts architectural boat tours and has been transformed into a recreational asset through ongoing cleanup efforts.
Excalibur Nightclub
The historic Romanesque-style building, originally constructed as the Chicago Historical Society headquarters in 1892, was one of the first buildings erected after the Great Chicago Fire. It later became a nightclub called Excalibur, which operated from 1989 to 2012.
The distinctive castle-like structure features Richardsonian Romanesque architecture with a granite facade designed by architects Burnham and Root. After extensive renovation, it now houses retail space.
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The Green Mill
This jazz club, which opened in 1907, was a favorite hangout of Al Capone during Prohibition. Originally named Pop Morse’s Roadhouse, Jack McGurn, a lieutenant in Capone’s organization, partially owned the venue. The Green Mill features original Art Nouveau décor and still operates as one of the nation’s oldest jazz clubs.
During Prohibition, tunnels beneath the building were allegedly used for smuggling alcohol and as escape routes during police raids.
Old Cook County Hospital
This massive Beaux-Arts structure, built in 1914, served as Chicago’s public hospital until 2002. The hospital was renowned for establishing the nation’s first blood bank and trauma unit, and its emergency room inspired the television series ER.
After standing vacant for nearly two decades, the historic facade was preserved during a $1 billion redevelopment project completed in 2020. The project transformed the building into a hotel, food hall, and medical office while maintaining its architectural significance.
National Museum of Mexican Art
Founded in 1982, this cultural museum in Pilsen houses one of the country’s largest collections of Mexican art. It occupies a 48,000-square-foot space in what was once a boathouse in Harrison Park. The museum houses over 10,000 permanent pieces spanning 3,000 years of Mexican history and culture.
It is particularly known for its annual Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) exhibition, which presents traditional and contemporary interpretations of this important Mexican cultural celebration.
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Historic Layers of Chicago
These locations represent the physical remnants of Chicago’s complex history—from early settlement and devastating fires to the glamour of the Jazz Age and the challenges of urban renewal. Each site’s verified historical significance contributes to the city’s rich cultural narrative.
While ghost stories may embellish these locations, their historical importance lies in showcasing Chicago’s resilience, innovation, and ongoing evolution. These landmarks allow us to trace the development of one of America’s greatest cities through the actual events and people that shaped its unique character.
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