Episode Details

Alton, Illinois has been called the most haunted small town in America. It’s a place where practically every building has its own ghost story, from an old penitentiary, an eroding island, and even an old 1920s resort. And bubbling underneath all this lore is the fascinating history of a town shaped by the wild and unpredictable waters of the Mississippi River. We’ll explore some places with their own ghostly lore …and we’ll learn how these stories (and the people who like to tell them) are helping to keep the town’s history alive. Visit EnjoyIllinois.com for more information on booking a hair-raising trip to America’s most haunted small town.

More links:

• Check out our guest Troy Taylor’s book “Haunted Alton” (He also leads ghost tours, hosts his own podcast, and runs the American Oddities Museum in Alton)
• For more on the history of penitentiaries in America, revisit our episode on Eastern State Penitentiary 
• …and queue up this episode too for more on the history of duels on Bloody Island!
• For additional information on the places we discussed today check out the Routes & Rivers guides to Alton Prison, Bloody Island (also called Sunflower Island and Smallpox Island) and the McPike Mansion.  

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