Alton, Illinois is reputedly the most haunted small town in America. Our first impression of it was that it has this facade of a quaint historical city that whispers an air of "charming small America river town" but beneath that facade its dearly departed "local residents" wreak paranormal chaos behind the scenes. Alton has enough ghosts in it to pack a Halloween costume warehouse to the rafters.
Yet the good residents of Alton have done a marvelous job of embracing their paranormal reputation and their tumultuous past, seamlessly blending the two. This isn't some cheesy tourist gimmick cooked up by a chamber of commerce desperate for tourist dollars. This is the real DOCUMENTED deal, rooted in genuine historical tragedy. The stuff of which TV documentaries are made and books are written, of paranormal events witnessed and experienced by thousands of people.
Haunted Alton is full of historical accounts of the paranormal that were documented in local papers and witnessed by many. In October 1889, for instance, a supernatural shower of rocks, rained down on a single house for days, attracting a crowd of hundreds.
There are news reports of multiple families moving out of the same house due to a poltergeist, and of factory worker accounts of seeing a woman in black, described as a “banshee-like death omen,” before fatal accidents at the plant. Over the years, numerous witnesses reported seeing a phantom carriage and even a phantom steamboat.
One need only look at its historical track record to understand why it would be so haunted:
Wood River Massacre (July 10, 1814) A group of Native Americans, likely Kickapoo or Potawatomi, attacked a party of settlers, killing 7 and displacing dozens.
Hurricane of June 5, 1805: Swept across the American Bottom (including Alton’s area), destroying homes, trees, and livestock. No fatalities due to sparse population, but several were injured by flying debris.
Hurricane of May 17, 1838: Damaged fences, trees, and buildings; accompanied by heavy rain.
Severe Hailstorm (July 24, 1854): Hailstones reportedly weighing a pound destroyed roofs, shattered windows, and killed poultry.
Tornado of June 2, 1860: In 20 minutes, hundreds of buildings were damaged; churches lost steeples, offices destroyed, and property losses exceeded $8,000 in 1860 currency. German Catholic Church nearly destroyed; Methodist Church steeple blown off; Democrat office building wrecked. No reported loss of life but several injuries.
Great River Floods (19th Century: Six separate floods resulting in 7 deaths.
Fire: Twice the town burned to the ground.
Source: Edwardsville Spectator, February 18, 1826
At about 5 or 6 o’clock on Sunday morning, the 5th inst., the mill of Mr. Jonathan Brown in Alton was discovered to be on fire, and before any efficient means could be adopted to save it, the mill, with its contents, was consumed. The cause of the disaster cannot be ascertained, as the fire was supposed to have been left perfectly secure the night before. About three hundred bushels of grain were in the mill, besides other property. Mr. Brown, who is an honest and industrious citizen, is the principal sufferer.
Alton Cholera: Source: The Evening Journal, Albany, New York, June 30, 1835
The Alton (Illinois) Spectator says upwards of 20 deaths have taken place in that town within two weeks. The disease, however, was taking a milder form, and hopes were entertained that it would soon take its departure. The Spectator adds that Cholera prevails to a greater or lesser extent in Edwardsville, the American Bottom, through the towns on the Illinois river, and various other places in the State.
Tremendous Explosion in Alton:
Source: Alton Telegraph, May 23, 1840
A little before twelve o'clock on last Wednesday night, the citizens of Alton were aroused from their slumbers by an explosion incomparably louder, as well as by far more destructive, than the discharge of one hundred pieces of the heaviest ordnance. Hundreds immediately hurried towards State Street, from the direction of which the report seemed to have proceeded; when it was ascertained that it was occasioned by the blowing up of the Powder Magazine [building designed to hold explosive powder in barrels], situated on the southern declivity of the bluff, a few rods [one rod is 16.5 feet] west of the Penitentiary, and containing at the time upwards of six tons of powder. To describe with some degree of minuteness the damage done by this catastrophe, would fill several columns of our journal. Suffice it, therefore, to remark in general terms, that scarcely one single building within the thickly settled part of the city remains uninjured, and that some of those nearest the site of the magazine have been literally reduced to a heap of ruins.
The most tragic event that occurred in the history of Alton was the murder of Reverend Elijah P. Lovejoy at the hands of a mob, on November 7, 1837. Click here to read the full story of Rev. Lovejoy.
The smallpox outbreak in Alton, Illinois, 1863: during the American Civil War, the deadliest epidemic at the Alton Military Prison killing nearly 1500 Confederate soldiers and others
Over the last two centuries, Alton has seen more than its share of death, disaster, violence, murder, epidemics, the Underground Railroad and even the mayhem of the Civil War.
Yet there's a balance that keeps Alton feeling authentic rather than like some kind of supernatural theme park where everything is calculated for maximum spookiness. The ghosts are simply part of the community’s identity, not a marketing gimmick.
Alton is a city in the Metro East region of southwestern Illinois and is part of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area in Madison County. It is located about 25 miles north of downtown St. Louis and is known for its historic riverfront, the Great River Road, and the National Great Rivers Museum. The city has a rich history tied to the Mississippi River and early American settlement.
For those not into ghost hunting Alton offers a range of attractions for visitors. The city’s location on the Mississippi River, historic downtown, and nearby parks make it a versatile destination.
Alton offers three community parks, two museums, the historic downtown district, the riverfront amphitheater, Argosy Casino, and Mississippi River boat tours.
During October, the town transforms into a haven for paranormal enthusiasts, complete with themed dinners, psychic fairs, and candlelit history walks. Visitors can explore the McPike Mansion during scheduled open houses, participate in paranormal investigations of the Mineral Springs building, or stroll along the riverfront and imagine the echoes of steamboats that have long since departed.
We flew into St. Louis Regional airport, rented a car and drove 30 minutes to arrive at our accommodations, the notorious Beall Mansion, 407 E. 12th St, Alton, IL on Millionaire's Row. This is an elegant boutique B&B that a friend had recommended to me. No, to stay there doesn't cost and arm and a leg if you book wisely. Take advantage of their specials and packages. We booked the extended stay (7 nights) which saved us 60& and brought the room price down to $166.16 per night.
The grand old home sits proudly in the Middletown District of Alton alongside a host of historic Victorian and Federal-style buildings. Each room of the mansion is uniquely and classically decorated with hand-carved wood furniture, high ceilings, antique paintings and sculptures, and fine details. Original wood floors, a stately staircase, and plush oriental rugs lead to rooms that will leave you feeling like royalty. Sleep and relax first class in triple sheeted feather beds, claw-foot and Jacuzzi tubs, and enjoy continental and gourmet breakfast options, 24 hour hot beverage services, a chocolate bar, and spa services!
And the room was superb, especially the feather bed topper!
If booking, you'll have a choice of 3 different types of rooms:
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King with whirlpool & fireplace
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Queen with whirlpool & fireplace
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Full bed suite with claw foot tub
Book DIRECT here to get the lowest rates. Stay MON-THUR and save even more! (FRI and SUN are mid-price, SAT premium price)
The B&B offers 2 different breakfast options but with the Extended Stay deal you get the self serve Continental breakfast, which was fine with me. The other option is guests can also opt for a gourmet breakfast in the mansion’s formal dining room, in their own room, or even in bed!
Included in our stay was a FREE Beall Mansion Museum tour, 24 hour chocolate buffet featuring a minimum of 21 different chocolates, free WiFi, and in room spa services.
Places to stay in Alton, Illinois
Tip: Most Alton ghost tours start and end downtown after dark, so you want a hotel that’s close, easy to park at, and comfortable to come back to at midnight. If visiting in October book your accommodations as far in advance as possible and book your tours at the same time.
A sneak preview at what you can expect in haunted Alton...
Video credit: Soul Searching
The easiest way to get around Alton is to have your own car. We also brought our bicycles along.
MCT (Madison County Transit) does offer half fare bus passes for Seniors - Seniors age 65 and up who show a valid ID and disabled individuals with a valid Medicare card or State of Illinois issued Disabled ID, who show a valid photo ID.
Alton’s main transportation hub is the Amtrak Alton Station at 1 Golf Road, which serves Amtrak’s Texas Eagle and Lincoln Service trains. The station includes a waiting room, accessible restrooms, ticket sales, and baggage assistance.
In Alton several of the haunted locations you can only get into by taking a tour. Some of the mansions are private homes that are inhabited by people living their lives. Some buildings may be under renovation so not safe to go inside. In the case of businesses, well...they have a business to run in order to make their livings.
There are a number of tours available in Alton and the surrounding area - both haunted and non haunted.
The tours dealing with hauntings normally take place at night and they vary in price but most are pretty affordable.
Some of the best haunting tours are:
This operator continues the tradition of Alton’s original 1992 ghost tours. In October it offers evening walking tours that start at the historic Grand Theater, plus 21+ haunted craft beer walks paired with Old Bakery Beer Company.
Founded by paranormal author Troy Taylor, this is the classic three-hour walking tour of Alton’s most documented haunted sites. Stops include the ruins of the old Alton Penitentiary, the First Unitarian Church, and the Enos Sanitarium.
Vintage Voices at Alton City Cemetery
This one is less spooky and more storytelling. Costumed actors portray notable Altonians on guided walks through the historic cemetery, where Elijah Lovejoy is buried. It’s a great daytime option, and good for families.
Tour of cellar and grounds only, conducted by the owner of McPike Mansion.
In this post I'm not going to list an itinerary, rather I'll list the haunted (and other) Alton attractions, including recommended restaurants.
Self Guided Walking Tour of Alton
The Historic Downtown Alton Walking Tour is a self‑guided route that showcases Alton’s 19th‑century architecture and riverfront heritage.
The tour highlights key downtown landmarks—including the Argosy Casino Alton, the National Great Rivers Museum, and the Alton Riverfront Amphitheater—allowing visitors to experience the city’s historic character at a relaxed pace.
The walking tour is ideal for visitors who prefer exploring on foot and want to understand how Alton’s built environment evolved alongside the river. Unlike the museum’s focus on river history, the tour highlights architectural styles, street layouts, and the way historic buildings coexist with contemporary uses. Because the route stays within the downtown core, participants can easily step into nearby cafés or the riverfront promenade after each stop.
For those planning the tour, the best approach is to start at the Argosy Casino Alton, then head north to the National Great Rivers Museum, and finish at the amphitheater, which offers a natural endpoint with river views. The path is paved and generally flat, making it accessible for most walkers. If a visitor is interested in a deeper dive, they can pause at each site to read any on‑site informational plaques, which provide context about the building’s original purpose and later adaptations.
By following the logical sequence and allowing flexibility for each stop, the walking tour delivers a cohesive view of Alton’s historic downtown without requiring paid tickets or timed entries.
Watch for the informational plaques shown above on your tour.
Alton’s American Oddities Museum
Snyder Block Building at 301 Piasa St., Alton
One of the first stops you want to make is to Alton's American Oddities Museum, owned and run by Troy Taylor.
Owner Troy Taylor stands inside the new and improved space for his American Oddities Museum, located at 301 Piasa St.,
on March 4, 2026. (Chase Martin/The Telegraph )
Troy is the renowned resident expert on all things paranormal in Alton. Besides owning and running the Alton Oddities Museum, he owns and runs Alton Hauntings haunting tours and event company and has authored several books on the Alton hauntings. I think Troy knows everything about every haunting that's ever happened in Alton and the surrounding area. Ever. You definitely want to talk with Troy if you can track him down.
As of right now, the museum is open from Thursday to Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
Admission is $7 per person. Children 10 and under are admitted free. Last admission of the day is sold at 4:30 p.m. This is also the home of the American Hauntings Ink bookstore, where book lovers can browse the unique selection of spooky literature.
Lincoln Lofts
208 State Street, Alton
Abraham Lincoln once stayed at a hotel located in this 1836 apartment building, which is rumoured to be haunted.
The ghost a young girl in a white dress has been seen playing with a ball on the main staircase, and visitors claim to have heard faint laughter and the rustling of fabric.
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The little girl in the white dress
as I saw her
The staircase seems particularly haunted, as marching footsteps and the apparition of a soldier have also been glimpsed here. In the old ballroom, unexplained noises have been heard, such as ghostly music and the sounds of people dancing.
Currently the interior is being remodeled into 12 loft apartments. So to get into the building we called ahead, saying we were interest in looking to rent a loft apartment - and pretty much got a tour of the entire building.
I can verify the little girl in the white dress that plays with a ball on the staircase. She followed us through the building, peeking around corners at me.
This little one's death was tragic. Her father was a traveling salesmen so she was often a guest at the hotel. She was playing with her ball, it rolled out into the street, she chased her ball into the street and was struck and killed by a freight wagon right in front of the hotel. Children in spirit will often return to a place that was happy for them, as the hotel was for this little one.
Enos Sanitarium
325 East Third Street, Alton
Photo credit: Alton CVB
What is now the Enos apartment building was built in 1857 by Nathanial Hanson specifically as part of the Underground Railroad, Hanson being a fervent abolitionist. He had tunnels constructed in the basement for the fleeing slaves to use as hiding places. Although the tunnels are now blocked off, they still look like they did in the 1800's.
The tunnel in the basement: Part of the historic underground railroad
The underground tunnels exist 15 feet below 3rd Street and resemble Roman catacombs. The basement of the apartment complex contains a sealed tunnel that reportedly held a passageway to hidden rooms where enslaved people rested during the day before traveling at night to the next stop on the Railroad.
With Alton situated across the river from slaveholding Missouri, the town was an active stop on the Underground Railroad in the years prior to the Civil War. Hanson built his home precisely to accommodate that cause. Built on a high bluff that overlooks the Mississippi River, the cupola atop it was visible from afar. Nighttime lanterns inside the cupola reportedly alerted slave runners across the river if the coast was clear or if threats prevented crossing.
In 1911, Dr. W.H. Enos purchased the mansion and converted the building into a tuberculosis sanatorium. Soon after, a fourth floor was added and an adjoining nurses home constructed, making the building look as it does today. Tuberculosis was an incurable disease at the time, and scores of suffering patients died in the mansion during the next several years. Today, many believe a few of these unfortunate souls continue to roam the halls and make themselves at home.
The basement tunnel system is a key historical feature, but it is not open to the public on its own. Access is provided through specific guided tours.
Confederate Prison (Old Alton Prison) - Civil War (1861-1865)
Ruins of the Old Alton Petitionary that was used as a Confederate prison
Photo credit: Madison County ILGenWeb
During the Civil War, as the number of captured Confederate prisoners of war increased and Union prisons were filling up, the Federal government decided to use former Illinois State Penitentiary at Alton (which closed in 1860) for a military post and prison. Beginning on November 01, 1861, captured Confederate prisoners, Union deserters, and war criminals were housed in the prison, including a small number of women.
Conditions in the Prison were horrific. In 1863, a smallpox epidemic spread throughout the prison. Some of the affected prisoners were housed in the small prison hospital, but as the number of affected prisoners grew, fear began to spread among the citizens of Alton that they too would be infected with the dreaded disease. Officials in charge of the Alton prison wanted to house the smallpox patients in a separate tent hospital near Alton, but Altonians would have none of that. It was finally decided to house the patients on Sunflower Island, directly across from Alton. This was the same island that Abraham Lincoln and James Shields were to hold their duel in September 1842. The men went to the island, but came to an agreement and canceled the duel. The island soon earned the nickname, “Smallpox Island.” In May 1862, the regular prison hospital was moved into a three-story building at the corner of Broadway and Alby Streets. This was used until a new hospital within the prison walls was constructed in July 1864.
Those who died at the military prison in Alton were buried at the cemetery on Rozier Street in North Alton. Those prisoners confined to the hospital on Smallpox Island were buried there on the island. Most of this island no longer exists, as it was flooded when the Alton dam was constructed in 1926.
At the end of the Civil War (1865) the prison was closed permanently. Those remaining prisoners were sent to St. Louis or released. The prison was then slowly dismantled, except for a small portion of a wall, which was relocated in 1970 near William Street in downtown Alton. This wall still stands, and is now a historical site.
Over 1,400 died due to the smallpox outbreak so stories of hauntings abound even in the parking lot where the original prison once stood.
A Confederate monument erected by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1909 marks the collective graves of the soldiers. The names of 1,354 Confederate soldiers who died in the prison or on Tow Head Island are inscribed on six bronze plaques attached to the 58' high granite obelisk.
Mineral Springs Hotel
301 East Broadway, Alton
German brothers, August and Herman Luer built what iwas the Hot Springs Hotel with the idea of originally adding an ice house and cold storage facility at the site of their meat packing plant. Now the hotel is undergoing renovations as the Mineral Springs Mall.
In 1909, while workman were drilling a well, they discovered an underground spring that smelled of sulfur that after testing, was believed to have medicinal powers.
The brothers changed their plans and built a luxurious hotel and spa with a water bottling plant on the lowest level.
The brothers also claimed the best dining and miracle cures from the mineral water. In its day, it became the swankiest resort in Alton. It followed the same pattern as many hotels of that era and flourished into the mid 19th century. Then it began a downward spiral and in 1971 was condemned.
The building passed hands at least twice before, was restored, and sometime after 1978 Steve Tschudy purchased the building and turned it into the Mineral Street Mall, housing shops, a tea room, barber shop, antique stores, restaurant, meeting spaces and the authentically renovated grand ballroom. Several apartments are already finished and more are in progress.
It is said to be one of the most haunted locations in Alton with a history of many deaths, including murders and suicides.
As far as hauntings go, one of the most documented was a sad woman, known as Pearl, who committed suicide back in the early 1970s because she erroneously believed her husband was cheating on her. The husband like to stay out late gambling. She had tried to commit suicide once before at home and the husband returned and found her. He rushed her to the hospital and they pumped her stomach and revived her. The next time she vowed she would succeed so she packed a a small overnight bag with her favorite blue nightgown and her sleeping pills and checked into the Mineral Springs Hotel.
She wasn't discovered until the following morning at checkout time when the hotel manager knocked on her door and no one answered. When he entered, he found the lady dead in her blue nightgown. People frequently get blue orbs when they take pictures.
Several people have claimed to have seen the ghost of Clarence, who is said to have been a 17-year-old young man who drowned in the pool. The apparition of Clarence wearing a brown suit is seen near the pool area.
“Charlie” is often seen where the former hotel bar use to be located. He was said to be a big drinker who reportedly racked up such a high bar tab that in order to pay it off he was required to paint a mural, but committed suicide while working on it.
The Jasmine Lady (Mary or Maria), is another interesting spirit you might encounter here, from the 1920s. She was cheating on her husband Oscar with their Italian gardener named Johnny whenever Oscar when out of town on business. They'd carry on their affair at the Mineral Springs Hotel where no one knew them.
On October 22, Oscar followed the couple and caught them "in the act" in a second floor hotel room. Oscar had a violent temper and chased Maria towards the staircase. She either tripped and fell or more likely was thrown by Oscar. In any case she was dead when she reached the foot of the stairs. Johnny escaped out the front door of the hotel.
Oscar yanked a long phone cord out of the wall and tied one end to the light fixture in the center of the ceiling. When the hotel manager and police arrived, Oscar was dead, having hung himself.
Oscar and Maria haunt the building to this day and paranormal investigators have captured EVP's where you can hear voices not heard when the recording was made.
The saddest story relates to a small girl, Cassandra who drowned in the below ground pool at her own birthday party. Janet Kolar, tour owner, saw the child once and one of the associates had a unbelievable clear set of EVPs where we all heard the girl talking to a boy while he "played" marbles with her.
You can tour the historic Mineral Springs Hotel in Alton through guided paranormal investigations, haunted history walks, or private exploration sessions led by the building’s current operators, Donna and Dave Nunnally, or via Alton Hauntings. Call 618‑717‑0546 or check their Facebook page for schedules.
Alton City Cemetery
1205 E 5th St, Alton
The local Alton City Cemetery is believed to be haunted by any number of ghosts, but three of the ghosts are said to be the following:
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Elijah P. Lovejoy who was an abolitionist. He was shot at a pro-slavery riot in 1837. His ghost is known to appear and hang out near his monument and occasionally he’ll manifest as cold spots.
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A nameless spectral woman dressed in black that appears near in or near the Grandview mausoleum.
The Grandview Mausoleum interior
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Lucy Haskell is a 9-year-old little girl that is said to hang round the area of the Hayner/Haskell monument.
Hayner-Haskell Monument after a big wind storm that toppled part of the monument
Because the abduction/homicide cases I worked involved children they are the ones I most enjoy making contact with. They seldom have inhibitions about coming through, they tell it like it is, and are just precious to work with so it was little Lucy I was most interested in making contact with. Normally these kids are pretty responsive because they're simply looking for someone to play with them.
I brought along a replica 1800's doll for Lucy to coax her into having contact with me for this reason.
Lucy was the pampered daughter of Dr. and Mrs. William Haskell, prominent citizens of Alton, Illinois. Architect Lucas J. Pfeiffenberger was commissioned to design a playhouse on the grounds of their estate for her fifth birthday in 1885. Lucy died of diphtheria four years later.
No sooner did I say "Lucy, I brought you a doll to play with" than she appeared running toward me through the cemetery.
(Bringing a toy works nearly every time! LOL)
We talked while 'playing' dolls. I don't ask a lot of questions of the kids, I let them talk about whatever they're comfortable with.
Lucy was charming - although she couldn't pronounce "diptheria". It would come out "ditheria".
She wanted to talk about her dollhouse her grandfather had built for her.
Lucy as she appeared to me in the cemetery, as a 9 year old
Lucy: "It looked just like the house I lived in. I didn't get to play in it too long though because then I died of ditheria."
Lucy Haskell's playhouse Credit Alton CVB
From American Roads:
Another tale of a little girl ghost relates to Lucy Haskell. Lucy was the pampered daughter of Dr. William A. and Florence Hayner Haskell. In 1885, her grandfather had prominent local architect, Lucas J. Pfeiffenberger build the five year old Lucy a playhouse that was an exact replica of her parent's home. Lucy only enjoyed her fantastic toy for a few years. She died of diphtheria at the age of nine. The playhouse was donated to the city when Florence Haskell died and remains a sight you don't want to miss.
No wonder Lucy loved her playhouse!
I'd have to say my conversation with Lucy was one of the highlights of my trip.
Other notables buried in the cemetery:
Click on the photos to read the photo captions.
Confederate Cemetery & Memorial
635 Rozier Street, Alton
The Confederate Memorial is part of the Alton City Cemetery that was originally a soldier's lot. Despite the existence of the lot as early as 1870, the. Alton National Cemetery is a United States national cemetery.
A Confederate monument erected by the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1909 marks the collective graves of the soldiers. The names of 1,354 Confederate soldiers who died in the prison or on Tow Head Island are inscribed on six bronze plaques attached to the 58' high granite obelisk.
A rumor spread that bricks from the native limestone walls of the prison were used in the construction of Alton homes and businesses, but it has since been proved a myth- according to records, almost all bricks were broken upon demolition of the prison in the decades after its closure on July 7, 1865, and thrown into the river.
Interestingly enough, as I wandered through the cemetery the manifestation of a Confederate soldier did appear to me. He gave his name as Joseph Arnold and said he'd been a prisoner of war that died of smallpox. I always like confirmation of what I get psychically...and sure enough, there was a Pvt. Joseph H. Arnold in the cemetery. I found this and his name was inscribed on one of the six disks that contained the names of the soldiers who died in the prison or on Tow Head Island.
Name: J H Arnold
Enlistment Date: 5 Mar 1863
Enlistment Rank: Private
Muster Place: Arkansas
Muster Regiment: Co. A, 47th (Crandall's) Arkansas Cavalry
Muster Information: Enlisted
Date Captured: 7 Oct 1864
Place Captured: Pilot Knob, Missouri
Place Imprison: Alton, Illinois
Date of Death: 5 Mar 1865
Place of Death: U.S.A Post and Prison Hospital, Alton, Illinois
Cause of Death: Small Pox and Anemia
Side of War: Confederacy
Survived War?: No
Burial Place: Alton, Illinois Source
Those in spirit have wonderful sense of humor - and Pvt. Arnold was no exception.
He proceeded to give me an earful (much of which isn't printable) about Lincoln.
To which I said "You do know he was my (5x) great uncle?"
Arnold: "I KNOW THAT! That's why I'm cussin' him out to y'all, Missy!"
Duly noted, Pvt. Arnold. I'll be sure to pass your message along to him. LOL
I imagine Pvt. Arnold was quite the colorful character during his earthly life.
I did try to find a photo of him but so far have been unsuccessful.
First Unitarian Church
110 East Third Street, Alton
Photo credit: Alton CVB
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Pastor Philip Mercer
Founded in 1836, the First Unitarian Church's original structure here was built on the site of the St. Matthew's Catholic Church, which had burned down. Both churches were stations on the Underground Railroad. But that church also burned down in 1905, and the church that now stands here is said to be haunted.
The most well-known ghost here is former pastor Philip Mercer, who, for unknown reasons, hanged himself from a window transom in a hall behind the auditorium in 1934. His apparition has been seen in the church by visitors and church officials alike.
In 1928, Philip Mercer became pastor of the church. Mercer was an Englishman who came to America at age 18 in 1886. He lived in St. Louis for a time and worked for the railroad. Then he decided to become a minister and took posts in Minnesota and North and South Dakota
before arriving in Alton.
Church members and others in Alton knew little about Mercer’s personal life. He never spoke of family. He spent long hours at the church in study. But he was friendly and outgoing and well liked. He enjoyed social events, concerts, and conversation and often told others that coming to Alton marked the happiest days of his life.
In 1934, Mercer went on vacation and came back a strangely changed man, who went into a sudden health decline. First he complained about his weight, and he lost pounds rapidly. Then he complained about feeling weak. He consulted a doctor, who told him nothing was wrong but advised him to get some rest. He became moody.
One Sunday in November of 1934, Mercer exhibited odd behavior as he delivered his sermon. He seemed agitated and in a hurry to get the service finished. He was sweating profusely.
The next day he was seen around 1 P.M. leaving the church by a woman who lived next door. He did not return home by evening, which worried his friend James MacKinney. Mercer was known to spend the night in St. Louis occasionally when he took in a play or concert, but he had mentioned no such plans to anyone.
On Tuesday morning, MacKinney telephoned the church repeatedly but no one answered. He went to the church and saw lights on inside. MacKinney entered, and to his horror, he saw Mercer’s body hanged by a cord in a doorway of the church. A kicked over chair was beneath him.
Mercer’s death was ruled a suicide, committed on Monday, November 20. He left behind no note or clues as to why he was driven to take his own life, and his death remains unsolved to the present day. His body was taken to the Klunk Funeral Home where funeral services were held. No one knew where to bury the minister, and so the body was removed to the local mausoleum pending instructions from England. But no instructions or acknowledgment ever arrived. Mercer’s body remains at the mausoleum.
Was he really murdered? There is no evidence to support that rumor. Papers in Mercer’s church study appeared to have been rifled through, as though someone were looking for something, but he could have done that himself.
Though Mercer had never mentioned family to anyone in Alton, his personal papers showed that he was in fact engaged to be married to a woman named Dorothy Cole, who lived in Minneapolis. At the time of his death, they had been engaged for six months. According to Cole, Mercer had slipped into depression, and she had been unable to help him. Or so the story goes...
From any perspective the suicide ruling is questionable in my book. From a law enforcement perspective if Werner did commit suicide it was certainly atypical of the usual suicide. I'd like to know what happened on his vacation that he came back such a changed man, with his health in decline? And why would a man who by all accounts told everyone his years in Alton were the happiest years of his life, much less having gotten engaged only six months earlier, decide to suddenly commit suicide?
From the accounts of his parishioners that Sunday, Werner was not acting at all like himself - rushing through the service while sweating profusely. That is a fear reaction. It's the reaction of someone who knows or suspects something will happen to him if he doesn't get out of that church as fast as possible.
I'll describe what happened to Jay and I in the church and let you decide suicide or murder?
I have to state here that Jay believes in the paranormal but doesn't take it all that seriously.
As I was looking around the room Jay was playing with my OVILUS. An OLIIVUS is kind of like an EVP recorder except there's a language base loaded into it. Those in spirit can choose words from the language base to answer questions you ask them and the words they've chosen will show up on the OVILUS screen.
While playing with my OVILUS Jay half jokingly asked "Hey Reverend...how did you die?"
The word MURDER showed up on the OVILUS screen.
Jay was so startled he nearly dropped my OVILUS on the floor.
I decided to try something. I tuned in to Rev. Mercer and had Jay use the OVILUS. I wanted to see if the answers I got psychically would match answers that came up on the OVILUS.
"Who killed you?" I asked.
"2 men" Jay got the same answer on the OVILUS.
"Why did they kill you?" I pressed.
At that point Mercer clammed up and refused to communicate further.
Psychically speaking, highly unusual for a crime victim. They usually want to tell people what happened to them.
A tour guide at the church had claimed she'd hear hushed arguing, see imposing dark shadowy figures (plural) and have her hair pulled when she was alone in the church. It usually takes at least 2 people to argue. Who had rifled through the papers on Werner's desk and if it wasn't Werner, what had they been looking for?
You are in death as you are in life. Your personality doesn't change. Werner was sociable and well liked, certainly not any kind of "imposing dark figure" and I'm reasonably sure the kindly Reverend didn't make a habit of going around pulling women's hair when he was alive. I detected 3 male spirits in that church and at least one of them had very dark, heavy energy. Were those the spirits of his two murderers, the dark imposing figures the tour guide had seen and heard arguing?
What was interesting about that was I later discovered a 2015 article in the Telegraph that stated Reverend Mercer was now believed to have been murdered even though his obituary stated he'd died by suicide.
What say you? Suicide or murder?
Ghosts of the River Road
We'll join Troy Taylor on his Ghosts of the River Road dinner tour.
301 Piasa Street, Alton
Date & Time for 2026 tour
Fri, 16 Oct, 2026 at 07:00 pm Event lasts until 10:30 pm.
The bus departs from the American Oddities Museum and heads to dinner at Bluff City Grill, followed by a haunted bus tour along the River Road.
Discover the tales of history and hauntings with dark tales, eerie locations, and a stop for drinks at one of Grafton's legendary haunts!
Bluff City Grill serves a full menu of appetizers, soups, salads, burgers, sandwiches, entrees, sides, and desserts.
The price of dinner at Bluff City Grill is included in the ticket for the Ghosts of the River Road Tour.
The Ghosts of the River Road Tour is priced at $54.00 per person.
You will make stops at several eerie locations during the tour and there is no better ghost storyteller than Troy.
McPike Mansion
The McPike Mansion is probably one of the most haunted buildings in Alton - at least according to the current owners who have counted at least 11 distinct spirits haunting the house.
Henry Guest McPike had the Italianate Victorian, 16 room mansion complete with a vaulted wine cellar built in 1869, on 15 lavishly planted acres he called "Mount Lookout ." McPike was a horticulturalist and developed the McPike Grape still used in wine making today.
He came from sturdy Scottish stock, his ancestors having fought with Washington during the American Revolution.
He settled in Alton in 1847. He was a strong abolitionist and during the war, Lincoln appointed him Deputy Provost Marshall of the Twelfth Congressional district. After the war, he served as mayor of Alton.
At some point after McPike's family left the mansion, the home came into the possession of Paul A. Laichinge until his death. Over the ensuing decades the home sat vacant, falling into a horrible state of disrepair and vandals stripped the home of everything, including the toilets.
Paul A. Laichinger
Henry McPike
In 1994 Sharyn and George Luedke purchased the historic mansion with the intention of renovating the home into a hotel, having been assured they could obtain local, state, and/or federal funding to renovate the building. That didn't happen and for the past 30 years they've conducted tours to raise money for the renovation.
I have to point out here that visitor reviews of these tours are dismal, apparently many visitors not realizing they would only be touring the
mansion grounds and the cellar and not the interior of the house. (The mansion is uninhabitable, under renovation and not safe to tour inside at this point.)
Click on the slideshow photos above and you can see the state of disrepair the mansion was in!
The cost to renovate the mansion is estimated at around $2 million that the Luedkes are trying to raise themselves.
So for now, you can only tour the grounds and the cellar.
At any rate, the Luedkes have had their own paranormal encounters. One day while gardening Sharyn happened to look up at a window in the mansion to see a man staring back at her. She later found a photo of this man wearing the same suit she'd seen him wearing in the window. It was Paul Laichinger.
Several paranormal investigation teams have called forth Paul and he has manifested for them.
Sharyn had come into contact with other ghostly inhabitants of the mansion also - one who had touched and actually hugged both Sharyn and her husband, George, is the spirit of a domestic servant named Sarah Wells. They often smell the scent of lilac perfume, presumably a favorite of Sarah's. Sarah mostly roams the main floor of the house.
There have been many accounts of unearthly activity taking place within the McPike Mansion. Resident ghosts include:
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Henry McPike, the original owner
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His wife, Eleanor
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Their 2 sons
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Paul Laichinger, the last owner of the building
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A woman named Mary (The woman in the blue dress?)
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A young girl named Sarah Wells, who was a servant in the house.
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A cook who worked in the house
There was also a report from paranormal investigators that one of the women had died in the bathtub of the home and her spirit is present as well. However, no one has been able to confirm a woman died in a bathtub in the house.
An EVP believed to be Henry McPike
This is a recording from BSP [Bi State Paranormal ] who visited McPike Mansion May 10th, 2009. We believe this to be a recording of the Ghost of Henry McPike.
Visit http://www.bistateparanormal.com/ for more about their visit.
Mansion Media Appearances
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Ghost Adventures Season 19 (Travel Channel, 2019)
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Ghost Lab
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Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files
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Scariest Places on Earth episode
A man in the upstairs window
Visitors to the mansion report hearing disembodied voices, and footsteps when no one is there. It is not unusual to hear doors opening on their own. The smell of lilac perfume often lingers in the air, shadow figures are captured on camera., objects are moved, faces and apparitions are seen in the windows, a woman in a blue dress appears as a full apparition floating down the stairs, children can be heard laughing as well as voices. Basically, McPike Mansion has every characteristic of a haunting it's possible to have.
During a ghost tour a group was startled when a full apparition descended the stairs. She was wearing a beautiful blue gown; her hair was flowing as if a wind-machine was blowing at her and her feet were fluttering as if she was a ballet dancer. She was floating a couple of inches above the ground. Perhaps she was the woman who mysteriously died in a bathtub at the house?
One specific investigation managed to pick up a curious event that is worthy of mention. While the entire group was gathered in the wine cellar of the house (a step down below the basement) one of the group members became uncomfortable in the small, enclosed space and asked to go upstairs. She was accompanied upstairs by another woman who was present and soon the group in the cellar was waiting patiently for her to return.
After a few moments, the sound of the second woman's footsteps could be heard descending the steps, descending the basement stairs and then crossing the basement floor. The steps were followed by short pause and then the metal door to the wine cellar opened, scraping across the stone floor as it did so. One problem though - there was no one there. Both of the women who had left were still upstairs and no one had come down the steps. The entire strange incident was captured on video tape. This incident, along with other explainable events, has lead to the McPike mansion being considered one of the most haunted places in Illinois.
If you'd like to take a tour, visit the McPike Mansion website here or cell 618 830 2179
Milton School
1320 Milton Rd Ste 3A, Alton
The Milton Schoolhouse in Alton, Illinois has a famous dead girl, and she almost certainly never lived. As the telling goes, her name is Mary and she stayed late one afternoon to finish a school project she was working on, heard a noise near the gymnasium, and was found the next morning in the basement girls' shower room, "her small body bloody and battered." Police suspected the janitor over scratch marks on his hands. He turned up hanging from a beam in an upstairs hallway with a note: "I Did it!"
Great story if there was any truth to it, but there was no newspaper or any account of this and such a crime most certainly would have been reported on in the local newspaper. A local reviewer who looked into it put it flatly: "The problem is, the story is 100% false", noting the school's ghost reputation took off only after the empty building hosted a haunted attraction.
Subtract Mary, and the building still won't go quiet.
The school opened in 1904 and closed to students in 1986. The businesses that moved in afterward kept reporting the same handful of things, and those reports came before anyone wrote Mary down. Footsteps in dark halls. Objects gone, then back. Shadow figures by the basement stairwell. One worker came in to find X's and O's typed across a keyboard overnight, in a building no one had entered.
Ghost Hunters filmed there in 2010. A separate team ran a session in the locker room a year later, and the words "Dan," "Football," and "Return" came up. The building's owner said a former resident named Dan had been a football coach.
Nonetheless, Ghost Hunters filmed nothing paranormal. Then again, that's nothing unusual. Those in spirit don't have TV so have no desire to necessarily show up for filming.
On the other hand, the building has been undergoing renovation and any time a building undergoes any kind of renovation it's pretty much the norm the renovation stirs up the spirits present.
Haunted Trolley Tour
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Haunted trolley tours include a three-hour jaunt to some of Alton’s most sinister haunts…
- First stop is the Stratford Hotel!! This once majestic hotel, built in 1909, has set vacant for many years. We'll visit the Hemingwayesque Hilltop Room in search of lingering spirits.
- We'll also return to the very eerie Milton School!! The scene of a tragic murder, this site begs the question - can a haunted location be too scary?
- As always, our last stop will be the enigmatic McPike Mansion. Aside from its ghostly inhabitants, this historic dwelling is the epitome of a haunted house. Join in a dark room session in the vaulted wine cellar – where many elemental spirits reside.
Climate controlled trolley. Some walking, standing, steps and uneven surfaces.
Age Requirement: You must be at least 14 years of age to participate.
Ghost hunters are encouraged to bring cameras and ghost hunting equipment.
Please wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately for the weather.
Trolley tours include steep stairs and walking through dark areas with uneven terrain.
Starting Location: The Historic Grand Theater - 230 Market Street, Alton, IL
Start Time: 7:00 PM
Duration: 3.5 hrs
Price:$55 per person
The Piasa Bird
Route 100, Alton, Illinois
The Piasa Bird freaked out Jacques Marquette in 1673.
In 1673, French missionary Father Jacques Marquette was exploring the Mississippi when, high upon the bluffs, he saw a cliff painting that struck terror in his heart. It was among the largest Native American painting found in North America at that time, which we’d come to know as the Piasa Bird. A legend was later born that the massive beast plucked humans from the river and devoured them in its bone-filled lair high above the shore.
Marquette wrote in his journal, “While skirting some rocks, which by their height and length inspired awe, we saw upon one of them two painted monsters which at first made us afraid, and upon which the boldest savages dare not long rest their eyes.”
Piasa Bird is a historic Native American rock painting and later mural on the Mississippi River bluffs at Piasa Park in Alton. The original pictograph was noted by French explorers in 1673 and became woven into local Illini and European-era legends; the current painted replica on the bluff was completed in 1999 and measures about 22 by 48 feet. Visitors view the image from an observation deck in Piasa Park and often include it in walks along the river bluffs and nearby historic sites in Alton.
The story goes that the Illini Native Americans had been plagued by a beast for many years that was powerful enough to carry off a full-grown deer. Legend has it that hundreds of warriors had tried killing the beast but had failed. It continued to destroy whole villages until Chief Ouatoga, a chief renowned even amongst neighboring tribes, separated from his tribe and fasted for a whole moon cycle. On the last night of his fast, Ouatoga was visited by The Great Spirit who directed him to gather 20 warriors, give them a bow and poisoned arrows, and wait in a designated spot upon the bluffs to ambush the creature.
Chief Ouatoga stood on the open bluff as bait and when the creature noticed him it swooped down to carry him away, but the warriors, hidden in the bushes, released a barrage of poisoned arrows. The creature shrieked and flew over the Mississippi river, crashing dead into the water.
Smallpox Island
Lincoln Shields Recreation Area - West Alton, Missouri (Directly across the river from Alton)
During the Civil War, a temporary tented area and wooden hospital on a Missouri island named Sunflower Island comprised the first hospital for patients of smallpox from the military prison at Alton. Patients who died of smallpox were buried on the island in the vicinity of the hospital. Today, a monument marks the grave site of the 260 Confederate prisoners buried near this site.
After the Civil War, locals steered clear of Sunflower Island, where the prisoners with smallpox had been sent. Some feared that the smallpox lingered, while others feared the restless spirits. In 1874, a dike built for flood control caused the shore of Sunflower Island to erode, washing some of the graves away, and in 1935, a new lock and dam was built using some of the island’s soil.
On July 22, 1935, an Alton Telegraph reporter took a rowboat to the island to investigate accounts of human bones uncovered during excavation work. The following passage ran the next day in a story titled “Island Yields Skeletons of Prison Dead”:
Tying up to roots of a maple tree, the reporter stood up, the land just above his head. He was about 1/4 mile west of the Clark highway, the railroad bridge between. Two half skulls lay on the surface, more were entangled in the roots of the maple tree.
As he dug into the bank, he exposed more and more bones. In recalling the event, he feels that bones extended to a level below his knees, the initial bones in the roots of the maple about shoulder height. The reporter’s description would indicate that the bones were complete skeletons, placed together. There was no evidence of caskets.
It should be noted here that stories of Union soldiers not wanting to be bothered with burying the corpses of Confederate soldiers simply dumped piles of their corpses into the woods so they could frequent the local taverns to drink and play cards instead - which would account for no caskets being found.
Once completed, the dam raised the water level, submerging much of what remained of the island. An untold number of disturbed Confederate graves lay beneath the murky Mississippi at Alton and some bodies floated downstream during numerous storms on and flooding of the river.
Whenever we travel together Jay and I always try to strike a balance between things each of us like to do. He's not particularly into ghosthunting but was a trooper, never complaining about my ghosthunting.
So I decided to do something he'd like, as he likes looking at the fall colors and being on the water. I decided to take him on a 4.5 hour riverboat lunch cruise from Alton to Grafton and back on the Celebration Belle.
All food is prepared on board by their chefs and it was pretty good!
The cruise includes their famous homemade sticky rolls, fresh fruit and a two-entrée lunch buffet. Additionally, cash bars are available onboard.
The cruise departed at noon.
Be sure you choose the Alton IL departure as most of their cruises are based out of Moline, IL a 3 hour drive away from Alton!
During our cruise we met a very nice couple, Len and Ellie, who were Alton residents. The four of us ate lunch together and during the course of conversation I asked what events
were going on in Alton. As it happened, Len and Ellie were registered to play in a Halloween golf tournament with another couple. They'd had to cancel when he was unexpectedly hospitalized.
Ellie and I went to get another round of drinks and I asked her how Jay and I could get registered to play in the tournament. Registration was closed but Ellie made a phone call and we were in as a foursome with Len and Ellie!
When we got back to the table with the drinks Ellie said to Len "We're back in the tournament! Jay here is quite the golfer according to Pat! We just signed us up as a foursome."
Jay couldn't have been happier judging by the smile on his face. No ghosthunting tomorrow, only golf.
The tour we took departed from the Port of Alton (Celebration Belle’s Alton dock) and returned us to Alton.Our tickets cost me $32 each.
For more information, reservations and itinerary assistance, call Susan Yarolem: at 309-764-1952 x204 or 800-297-0034 x204.
The golf tournament was followed by a costumed event so we just grabbed dinner on the go because we had to get costumes. Spirit Halloween shop
Halloween Golf Tournament
The golf tournament was held at Spencer T Olin golf course..
**The schedule at right is for the current 2026 tournament.
We had a great time playing as a foursome with Len and Ellie and even placed in the top 3 teams per flight. (No thanks to me because as a novice golfer I pretty much still suck at golf. LOL)
Despite that we had a great time together.
Jay and I wanted to do something special for Len and Ellie for allowing us to golf with them.
We took them out to dinner at the restaurant of their choice.
They chose Tony's Steakhouse after learning Jay loves steak, telling us we had to try the Pepperloin steak. They swore we'd never have tasted anything like it before.
O...M...G! Always trust the locals when it comes to restaurants. Even Jay said now he was spoiled, best steak he'd ever tasted. This beef tenderloin is marinated in Tony’s secret marinade, rolled in half-cracked black pepper, grilled to perfection, and drizzled with garlic butter. It's so tender you literally could cut it with a butter knife and it nearly melts in
your mouth. I'd love to know what Tony's secret marinade is but I guess that's a closely guarded secret.
Everything was top notch at Tony's - food, service, drinks, atmosphere, everything. It couldn't have been a more pleasurable meal.
During our dinner conversation it came up that Jay was a pilot. Len and Ellie mentioned they'd flown commercially before but never in a smaller plane.
Jay told them if they were willing to take a 30 minute ride to the airport after dinner he would take them up on a flight over Alton and up the river a ways.
They said they'd love that...so off we went to the airport. Jay flew them over their house and neighborhood and then up the river.
The lights in Alton and along the riverbank are beautiful at night.
It was an amazing evening and the best part was we'd made two new friends.
The Great Haunted Alton Halloween Festival
W. 3rd St., Alton
Sat, 24 Oct, 2026 at 12:00 pm
During October, Alton’s historic downtown transforms into a full-scale Halloween bash free, open to all, and built out for those who want to rock out with the spirits.
From 12pm-6pm State Street and 3rd Street will be closed and turned into an immersive experience.
The event kicks off at noon with the Howl-a-Ween Pet Parade, where costumed pets and their humans take over the streets in true Alton fashion.
Throughout the day, visitors can explore 30+ curated vendors, while listening to Psychedelic Symphony as they take the stage providing the background tunes while you shop.
A costume contest follows, offering CA$H prizes. Registration hosted inside Mooneyham art Until 5 pm.
The event and evening rounds off with the costume contest awards!
This is a one day event.
The Alton Halloween Parade
Few American towns celebrate Halloween like Alton. The Alton Halloween Parade is one of the oldest continuously running Halloween parades in the country, a tradition that has marched through the city's historic downtown for well over a century. In 2025 the parade reached its 108th year, a testament to how deeply the celebration is woven into local identity.
Alton has embraced its reputation as the "Most Haunted Small Town in America," a claim rooted in its old riverfront buildings, Civil War history and a thriving ghost-tour scene. The Halloween Parade is the centerpiece of that identity, drawing spectators who line Broadway to watch a procession of floats, bands and elaborately costumed marchers.
The parade steps off in the evening of Halloween at the corner of Washington Avenue and Broadway, continuing along Broadway to Piasa Street before turning to 9th Street. Dozens of entries take part each year, including illuminated floats, marching bands, community groups and individuals competing for the scariest and most comical costumes. The nighttime setting, against the backdrop of Alton's historic brick streetscape, gives the event a distinctly atmospheric feel.
There are a number of good restaurants in and around Alton, some of them haunted.
Irish pub burger & Guiness crisps $14.95
Morrison's Irish Pub, 200 State St Alton.
Morrison’s Irish Pub is a family-run labor of love down to the beautiful hand-built bar and tables housed in its magnificent brick building, that dates back to 1865.
Yes, it's reputed to be haunted. I didn't see any Leprechaun ghosts but the food was good!
Brown Bag Bistro, 318 E Broadway, Alton.
A mother-daughter owned and run sandwich shop that makes salads, soups, HUGE sandwiches and the best charcuterie boards. Oh...and desserts and cheesecakes too.
This place gets really busy so if you get there right around lunchtime, be prepared for a wait.
The inside is a small area for seating, but there is lots of seating outside.
All the employees were really nice along the way, no issues there. The food was amazing, especially their chicken salad on a croissant. A really wonderful place to grab lunch!
Castelli’s opened their doors in 1937 and is run today by the family’s fourth generation. They serve steaks, seafood, and pasta, but are best known for their fried chicken. In fact, 70% of their customers order their fried chicken so we decided to give it a try. Very good!
Toasted ravioli and “Roman” house salad dressing are also favorites.
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Wednesday - Thursday: 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Friday - Saturday: 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Sunday: 11:00 am - 9:00 pm