2019 dates:
Though HH Holmes, the “Devil in the White City,” is best known for his activities in Englewood, far south of downtown, the vast majority of locations to which he can be traced are in and around the loop. Adam Selzer, author of HH HOLMES: THE TRUE HISTORY OF THE WHITE CITY DEVIL, illuminates Holme’s Chicago career though a walking door of downtown locations, including a number of still-standing buildings to which Holmes can be traced. The most informative, in-depth, accurate and stunning Holmes tour available! See a video trailer
ADAM SELZER is the host of the Mysterious Chicago podcast, and a recognized authority on Holmes. His research has been cited in Rolling Stone, The Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune, and more, and he’s appeared on such programs as Haunted History, Dark Places, Hotel Secrets, and the new History channel series American Ripper, on which he also served as consulting producer. His Plutarch-nominated 2017 Holmes biography, HH HOLMES: THE TRUE HISTORY OF THE WHITE CITY DEVIL, received starred reviews from Booklist and Library Journal, and brought tons of new data on Holmes to light. He also has ten years of experience running ghost tours, crime tours, architectural tours, and more around Chicago, and cool stories from history and architectural info are woven into the Holmes tour. If DEVIL IN THE WHITE CITY piqued your curiosity, you won’t want to miss delving deeper in the true tale of HH Holmes!
PRAISE FOR ADAMS’S HOLMES BOOK:
“Adam Selzer’s masterful sleuthing proves to us, ‘The devil IS in the details.” – Steve Hodel, NYT Bestselling author of Black Dahlia Avenger
“Selzer takes apart the dovetailed pieces of fact and legend to show the myth-making behind one of America’s most infamous boogey-men.” – Donald Rumbelow, author of The Complete History of Jack the Ripper.
(note: the tour talks about the “murder castle” in great detail, but the site itself is now a vacant lot next to a post office several miles south, and not included on the walking tours).
The tour typically meets outside the gorgeous art deco LaSalle Wacker Building, across the street from the Chicago River at the corner of Wacker and LaSalle (221 N LaSalle). It’s very close the Clark and Lake L stop (Blue, Orange, Brown, Green and Pink lines) and the State/Lake Red Line stop. The Clark (22) and State Street (29) busses come very close, as well. NOTES: The route will cover about a mile and a half of walking over the course of about 90 minutes, ending near Congress and Michigan Avenue. Wear sufficiently comfortable shoes. Bringing a water bottle is recommended!
Check the homepage or the sidebar for public listings. If you have at least three people, a tour can often be added at a custom date, pending schedule availability. Email adam@mysteriouschicago.com with dates and requests!