Haunted Congress Plaza Hotel in Chicago, IL
Congress Plaza Hotel is considered by ghost hunters to be the most haunted locale in "The Windy City". There are companies who conduct ghost tours and explain the legends of Chicago's haunted history.
Ghost Stories
Congress Plaza Hotel was built specifically to accommodate travelers to the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893. The hotel was built over the site of a skating rink. There have been reports of noises coming from the hotel ballroom at night. When security guards open the ballroom doors to see what is going on the ballroom is empty and quiet.
There have been reports of haunting and ghosts in the hallways. Classic poltergeist activity at the hotel, such as appliances turning themselves off and on, has been reported.
As a hotel that has entertained a number of famous guests, there are legends about different well-known personalities who may haunt the hotel. One of the more notorious ghosts may be that of gangster Al Capone, who owned the hotel for a while and used it for his headquarters.
History of the Congress Plaza Hotel
Congress Plaza Hotel was built during an era when Chicago featured cobblestone streets, gaslights and horse drawn carriages. Originally the hotel was called the Auditorium Annex, across the street from Louis Sullivan's auditorium building.
The south tower was constructed in 1902 and 1907. The south Tower included a banquet hall, which is now known as the Gold Room. In 1909 a ballroom was added to the North Tower.
In 1908 the name of the hotel was changed from the Auditorium Hotel to the Congress Hotel. Over the years the hotel has had various owners, who updated the property.
In the early 1930's the Elizabethan Room was converted to a stylish nightclub. The Joseph Urban Room, with its revolving bandstand, became the headquarters for an NBC radio program featuring Benny Goodman. Goodman, "The King of Swing" performed at The Congress Hotel from 1935-1936.
Notorious gangster, Al Capone, reportedly owned the hotel for a time. Secret escape routes still exist, decades after Capone's death.
During World War II the U.S. Government purchased the hotel and used it as a U.S. Army officers headquarters.
In 1945 the hotel was purchased by a group of Chicagoans, who once again opened it to the public. In the 1950's the Pick Hotel Corporation purchased the hotel which spent millions of dollars remodeling the hotel.
The 14 story building has provided lodging for Presidents, dignitaries, opera performers, celebrities, business travelers and vacationers over the years. Congress Plaza enjoys a location that is convenient to Michigan Avenue, famous for great shopping. Several of the hotel suites overlook the Lake Michigan lake front, with a view of Grant Park and beautiful Buckingham Fountain.
Congress Hotel has an eerie reputation for being haunted . The first annual Chicago Ghost Conference is being held at this haunted hotel at the end of October, 2007.
Published by Christine Bude Nyholm
With over 5 million pages views Christine is one of the top 100 AC Contributors and Won Best of AC for Winter Travel Guides in 2008 and Best of Alternative Health in 2009. Christine's article Shop Around for... View profile
Al Capone's Armored 1928 Cadillac was Used by President Roosevelt After...One of the infamous vehicle failed to meet selling price expectations at 2006 auction. Fate of the second remains a mystery.
Visit Al Capone's Northwoods HideoutAl Capone, America's favorite gangster, had a retreat built in northern Wisconsin in the 1920s. Now you can see how the most influential gangster in the U.S. lived when he rela...- Introduction to Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, IllinoisYou'll find Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois listed with hundreds of other undergraduate schools in college catalogs. But you know without going any further than its name, that Moody Bible Institute in Chic...
The John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago IllinoisThe John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago Illinois is home to more than 8,000 aquatic creatures that represent more than 700 species from all over the globe. Here you'll find inform...- The Top 5 Places to Get Holiday Decorations in Chicago, IllinoisIf you are in the greater Chicago, Illinois area then you know that the city goes all out when it comes times for the holidays. And there is no reason that you can't decorate your home or office for the holidays as mu...
- Hotel Guide: Chicago, Illinois
- Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centers in Chicago, Illinois
- Piano Bars in Chicago, Illinois
- Find Haunted Houses in Your Area for Halloween
- Haunted House Tour of America
- Haunted Hotel San Carlos in Phoenix, Arizona
- Two Bunch Palms - Al Capone's Hideaway
- Congress Hotel was built for teh Columbian Exposition.
- Al Capone used Congress Hotel as his headquarters.
- Ghostly activity has been reported at the hotel.
28 Comments
Post a CommentFelt haunted, so I figured I'd Google the history of this place. Yeah, sure enough... I stayed on the 6th floor, North Tower as Jeanette had. Yes, there was a padlocked door. No peephole, no more number plaque, and and old-school door knob. These things made me wonder at what time they added the peephole, and changed to the card system for the door. This looks like it has been sealed for a long time. It is also NOT room #666 as I had read elsewhere. It is room 630 something. Someone die in here? Man, I'd love to know - probably something mundane anyway. Anyone know?
I wandered all over the hotel at night, and it is eerie but amazing. I had no ghostly encounters, but wandered through one cold spot - probably a draft. I did get a couple weird vibes though, but I was trying to spook myself.
Many of the negative reviews are correct, but the beds were comfortable, the heat worked fine, and it was a FANTASTIC value. If you're into history as I am, the old "cre
Just stayed at the Congress...yes, very creepy. I was originally located in a room in the north tower on the 6th floor. Random doors were padlocked. The hallways were more than erie. It was musty smelling and just gave me an incredibly erie feeling so much so that I was afraid to go to sleep and asked to have my room changed. I tried to move to another hotel, but they were all booked. Did get moved to the south tower on the 8th floor where it was a little more oomfortable. Staff was friendly and accomodating, but too creepy a hotel for me!
@Jeff, There isn't a fiteenth floor is there?
The tunnels under the congress i've heard were to connect to the auditorium.
I'm staying there next year!
who knows whats on the 15th floor?
it says if you enter this area you will be arrested? wtf?
Just wanted to state for the record that Al Capone never owned the hotel. In fact, it is doubtful he ever stayed at the hotel. That is all pure fabrication. I worked in the front desk of this hotel for several years and pretty much know every story there is to know about the place.
im am actually staying at the congress hotel... im excited to stay now more than ever! i want to encounter some ghost activity i willl write back when my trip is over
i stayed there a couple of summers ago and had no incidents but it creeps me out now to know it is haunted and i was there...but yet it is REALLY cool
oh wow. after reading the scary comments we are very interested and excited to stay there. we're going about the third week of april. i've been ghost hunting for about 3 years lol and had no idea that i was reserving a room at a haunted hotel lol.
I styaed in the hotel quite some time ago, and nothing ever happened while we were there. But now that I know it's haunted, I kind of want to go back. I think it'd be really neat to experience some activity.
I stayed at this hotel in 2007 for Lollapalooza. When I was in the bathroom of our room, the door knob turned very quickly on its own. I jokingly said to my friend that it was a ghost, and forgot about the incident. Six months later, I found out that the hotel is considered to be haunted when I was on the Lollapalooza message board. I had NO IDEA. I believe in ghosts now.