Whether you consider cemeteries your stomping ground or are just looking for a good scare, the Chicago area is home to plenty of graveyards to send shivers up your spine after dark. Each full of unique creepy history, these seven homes of the dead will terrify you just by reading about them – so beware!
Blood-curdling tales and disturbing photos await. Keep scrolling if you dare…
1. Rosehill Cemetery - Chicago
This is the largest and oldest cemetery in the city and is the final resting place of such famous Chicagoans like Charles Hull, Charles Hopkins, and Richard Warren Sears, all of which haunt the grounds, of course. Most notable is the Frances Pearce marble statue of a woman who died months before her infant. Her husband commissioned the artwork and had it encased in a glass box above her grave. It is rumored to fill with white mist on the anniversary of her death.
2. Graceland Cemetery - Chicago
Surrounded by tall brick walls with iron spikes on top, this might be the scariest place in all of Chicago. Pictured is the Monument of Dexter Graves, also known as "Eternal Silence," and yes, it's just as creepy in real life. Constructed in 1909, the structure used to be entirely black, and it is rumored that you'll see your own death if you look into its eyes. Another notable feature of the graveyard is the glass-encased statue of Inez Clarke, who was struck dead by lightning at the age of six in 1880. Some say that the girl disappears from the box during storms, and children have reported meeting a child dressed in vintage clothing near the statue.
3. Mount Carmel Cemetery - Hillside
This graveyard is home to the mausoleum of deceased Chicago Archdiocese but also holds the remains of some contrasting figures such as Al Capone, Frank Nitti, and Sam Giancana. Most disturbing though, is the story of a woman whose grave was exhumed after six years of her mother having dreams in which the deceased woman claimed relentlessly that she was not dead. Though the coffin was rotted through, the body inside was perfectly preserved.
4. Bohemian National Cemetery - Chicago
This cemetery is so Chicago is has a Cubs-themed burial site, as you can see pictured. Visitors who come during the day are greeted by the massive limestone gatehouse, and will enjoy checking out the American Civil War Memorial, Spanish-American War Memorial, as well as the memorial for the World Wars. Established in 1877, it is filled with creepy statues and mausoleums, and many report feelings of someone nearby and then finding no one there.
5. Holy Sepulchre Cemetery - Alsip
Consecrated in 1923, this cemetery is mostly known for housing the Mausoleum of the Archangels, which you can see above. It also includes the grave of former Chicago mayor Richard J. Daley and the Reilly headstone, which many pilgrimage to in order to leave gifts and ask for healing. It is the grave of a young girl who died at age 14 decades ago and who was known as a healer. There have been numerous reports of sighting the girl's ghost and smelling roses near the site even in the dead of winter.
6. Bachelor's Grove Cemetery - Midlothian
Often frequented by paranormal experts and ghost hunters, this is one of most haunted cemeteries in the country. It has existed since the 1820s, though it fell to decay after many years and was heavily vandalized. It also became a popular dumping ground for dead bodies, which really shouldn't surprise anyone who knows the sordid history of Chicago. There are numerous stories of orbs, phantom houses, and a woman in white who roams the grounds.
7. Resurrection Cemetery - Justice
This creepy graveyard is home to "Chicago's most famous ghost," and she haunts Archer Avenue. There have been reports of people having to slam on their brakes while driving down this road because they see a woman in white in the middle of the street. There have also been numerous tales of people picking up a young girl to give her a ride to her home, then finding that she disappears once they get to the cemetery. One couple even thought they saw a young girl trapped inside, but when police showed up, all they found were burn marks shaped like hands on the cemetery gates.
Which of these spooky cemeteries have you ventured into? We’d love to hear about your experiences and see your ghostly photos!
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