Alton Is A Creepy Small Town In Illinois With Insane Activity
By Melissa Mahoney|Published October 12, 2021
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Melissa Mahoney
Author
I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and have a deep love for photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world. Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream!
There are some places that are so spooky, they can keep you up at night. Maybe it’s a stay at a haunted hotel or a visit to a haunted house, restaurant, or another place with a resident ghost. Along the Mississippi River in Madison County, there is one place that has experienced such an insane amount of activity over the years that it’s known as the most haunted town in Illinois. Not only that, but it’s also considered one of the most haunted towns in the country! Alton, a small city with a small-town feel, experiences so much paranormal activity that it’s amazing any of the town’s residents are able to sleep at night!
The city of Alton was founded over 200 years ago in 1818, and it's had quite the history since. Not only did it play a role in the American Civil War, but it was a stop along the Underground Railroad. Alton's past was also filled with murder, disease, and death, so it's may come as no surprise that there have been numerous stories of ghostly activity around town.
If you want to discover some of the paranormal haunts for yourself, you can take one of several haunted tours around Alton.
St. Michael's Church was built where Alton's First Unitarian Church stands today, but several years later it was destroyed in a fire. The First Unitarian Church was constructed in its place, and it too burned to the ground in 1901. It was rebuilt in 1905 and in 1934, the resident pastor, Reverend Phillip Mercer, hung himself. It is said that he is one of the ghosts that haunts the church today.
First Unitarian Church, 110 E 3rd St, Alton, IL 62002, USA
McPike Mansion is perhaps the most famous haunted locale in the state. The stately home was built in 1869 by Henry Guest McPike and his family who resided here until 1936. It changed ownership over the years until it was abandoned in the 1950s. The current owners have been restoring it to its original state and also offer haunted tours to curious visitors and paranormal investigators.
McPike Mansion, 2018 Alby St, Alton, IL 62002, USA
Among some of the paranormal occurences, unexplained orbs of light and shadowy figures can be seen in photos and lights tend to flicker on and off. It is believed that the mansion is haunted by the McPike family and other residents it's had over the years, as well as servants.
The Mysterious Mineral Springs Hotel, another place known for its hauntings, offers historic tours in the daytime. As it was being built in 1914, mineral springs were discovered and its healing waters became a big draw to the area. It also had the largest swimming pool in the state and biggest dining table in town. People from all over Illinois would stay at this once-opulent hotel.
Mysterious Mineral Springs Hotel, 301 E Broadway, Alton, IL 62002, USA
Due to its close proximity to the Confederate Prison in Alton, it is believed that may be a reason for some of the bizarre occurrences that happen within the Mineral Springs Hotel's walls. However, back in its heyday, the hotel experienced several mysterious deaths and suicides, and the spirits of those who died never left.
Speaking of the Confederate Prison in Alton, all that remains today is a wall with a placard sharing some of its history. When it was fully operational, over 11,000 Confederate POWs were imprisoned here. In 1862, there was an outbreak of smallpox and over 1,400 prisoners died. With so much death in Alton, it's not surprising to find paranormal activity here.
Alton Military Prison, National Register of Historic Places, Alton, IL 62002, USA
Of course no haunted town is complete without a haunted cemetery, and the Alton City Cemetery is the notorious one in this town. A girl, a woman in black, and abolitionist Elijah P. Lovejoy who was shot by pro-slavery rioters in 1837, are all said to haunt the grounds of this spooky graveyard.
Alton City Cemetery, Entrance on Vine St, 1205 E 5th St, Alton, IL 62002, USA
Of course, there are several other places around Alton that are haunted and worthy of exploring if that’s something you enjoy. Would you dare visit the haunted locations around Alton, Illinois? Let us know in the comments if you have and if you had a paranormal experience.
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