All documented legends

Midwest — Documented legend filings

Documented legends in Illinois

Illinois keeps 50 documented legends — stories that trace to a published or recorded telling, the shelf where folklore earned a citation. What is verified is the telling: the book, the article, the record that carried the story into print. What the story claims is filed as reported, not endorsed.

50 dossiers4 counties covered92% open to visitorsBachelor’s Grove Cemetery — deepest file

Also filed documented legend:Hawaii76 Louisiana65 Arizona60 Texas58 Virginia55 Michigan52 New York49 North Carolina48

Other Illinois shelves:local folklore33 anecdotal reports21 investigation claims20 media-reported hauntings4

Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery

Midlothian, Illinois

Cemetery associated with documented cultural history.

4 claims · 4 legends→

Cave-in-Rock

Cave-in-Rock, Illinois

Cave associated with documented cultural history.

3 claims · 3 legends→

Crenshaw House State Historic Site

Junction, Illinois

Historic house associated with documented cultural history.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Anna Bixby's Cave

Cave-in-Rock, Illinois

Cave associated with documented cultural history.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Resurrection Cemetery

Justice, Illinois

Justice cemetery famous for "Resurrection Mary," Chicago’s vanishing hitchhiker.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Holy Family Church

Chicago, Illinois

The 1860 church—the oldest in Chicago, spared by the fire.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Jackson Park / Midway

Chicago, Illinois

The 1893 fairground—where the White City stood and the dead remain.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Board of Trade

Chicago, Illinois

The 1930 Art Deco tower—where Ceres watches the pit.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Tribune Tower

Chicago, Illinois

The 1925 Gothic tower—the stones from everywhere.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Wrigley Building

Chicago, Illinois

The 1924 white terra cotta—where the clock watches Michigan Avenue.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Shawneetown

Shawneetown, Illinois

The oldest town in Illinois—where the bank refused Lincoln.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Fort Massac

Metropolis, Illinois

The 1757 fort—the Ohio River’s guardian.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Bald Knob Cross

Alto Pass, Illinois

The 111-foot cross—where the hilltop draws the faithful.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Kaskaskia

Kaskaskia, Illinois

The island capital—where the Mississippi stole the town.

2 claims · 2 legends→

Chester

Chester, Illinois

The Popeye town—where the river and the cartoon meet.

2 claims · 2 legends→

East St. Louis

East St. Louis, Illinois

July 2, 1917—the riot that burned the city.

2 claims · 1 legend→

Carthage Jail

Carthage, Illinois

Where Joseph Smith was killed—June 27, 1844.

2 claims · 1 legend→

Iroquois Theatre site

Chicago, Illinois

December 30, 1903—the deadliest theatre fire in U.S. history.

2 claims · 1 legend→

Eastland site

Chicago, Illinois

July 24, 1915—the ship that rolled at the dock, 844 dead.

2 claims · 1 legend→

Herrin massacre site

Herrin, Illinois

June 21-22, 1922—the strikebreakers killed in the woods.

2 claims · 1 legend→

Haymarket Square

Chicago, Illinois

May 4, 1886—the bomb that made May Day.

2 claims · 1 legend→

Pullman

Chicago, Illinois

The company town that sparked the 1894 strike.

2 claims · 1 legend→

St. Valentine’s Day Massacre site

Chicago, Illinois

February 14, 1929—the garage where seven men died.

2 claims · 1 legend→

H.H. Holmes Murder Castle site

Chicago, Illinois

The site where the "Murder Castle" stood—the post office on the corner.

2 claims · 1 legend→

Sag Bridge / Monk’s Castle

Lemont, Illinois

The bridge where the monks reportedly walk—the canal’s ghost.

2 claims · 1 legend→

Dunning / Read Mental Health

Chicago, Illinois

The poorhouse cemetery—where the unmarked graves were found.

2 claims · 1 legend→

Lincoln Tomb

Springfield, Illinois

The 1874 tomb—where the president rests with his family.

2 claims · 1 legend→

Fort Dearborn

Chicago, Illinois

The 1803 fort—where the 1812 massacre happened.

2 claims · 1 legend→

Chicago Water Tower

Chicago, Illinois

The 1869 tower—one of the few to survive the fire.

2 claims · 1 legend→

Chicago Theatre

Chicago, Illinois

The 1921 palace—the marquee that became the city’s symbol.

2 claims · 1 legend→

The Drake

Chicago, Illinois

The 1920 hotel—where the Lake Shore Drive dead stay.

2 claims · 1 legend→

Knickerbocker Hotel

Chicago, Illinois

The 1929 hotel—where the Playboy era left its ghosts.

2 claims · 1 legend→

Palmer House

Chicago, Illinois

The 1875 hotel—where Bertha Palmer’s lobby still shines.

2 claims · 1 legend→

Blackstone Hotel

Chicago, Illinois

The 1910 hotel—where the gangsters met.

2 claims · 1 legend→

Auditorium Building

Chicago, Illinois

The 1889 Sullivan masterpiece—hotel, offices, and theatre in one.

2 claims · 1 legend→

Alton

Alton, Illinois

The river city—where the abolitionist died and the birds fly.

2 claims · 1 legend→

Bartonville State Hospital

Peoria, Illinois

The 1902 asylum—where the Kirkbride’s dead remain.

2 claims · 1 legend→

Equality salt works

Equality, Illinois

The salt springs—where the enslaved workers boiled the kettles.

2 claims · 1 legend→

Tunnel Hill

Tunnel Hill, Illinois

The 1872 tunnel—where the train killed the workers.

2 claims · 1 legend→

Choate Mental Health

The 1869 asylum—where the "State Hospital" dead rest.

2 claims · 1 legend→

Thebes courthouse

Thebes, Illinois

The 1845 courthouse—where the jail kept the condemned.

2 claims · 1 legend→

Grand Tower / Devil’s Bake Oven

Grand Tower, Illinois

The rock tower in the Mississippi—where the Devil baked.

2 claims · 1 legend→

Menard Correctional

Chester, Illinois

The 1878 prison—the state’s oldest maximum.

2 claims · 1 legend→

Nauvoo

Nauvoo, Illinois

The Mormon city—where the exodus began, 1846.

2 claims · 1 legend→

Vandalia Statehouse

Vandalia, Illinois

The 1836 capitol—where Lincoln served his first term.

2 claims · 1 legend→

Cahokia

Collinsville, Illinois

The mound city—where the Mississippians built their capital.

2 claims · 1 legend→

Stickney House

Bull Valley, Illinois

Historic house associated with documented cultural history.

1 claim · 1 legend→

Petroglyph Site

Piasa Bird Bluffs

Alton, Illinois

Mississippi bluff painting of the monster that ate warriors.

1 claim · 1 legend→

Full Illinois record → state index· Every documented legend filing → evidence shelf

Record last amended October 2, 2026 · shelves recounted with the archive