Booking choice: The haunted history ghost walk, 2.5 hours. Book this See all the options below
Lincoln Park is a cheerful place by day, with a free zoo and busy beaches. After dark, the stories come out: a cemetery that was mostly moved, a tomb that was not, and a notorious 1929 crime a short walk away.
This guide covers the history behind the stories, the two ghost walks listed on GetYourGuide, and the zoo's own October tours. For daytime options, see our Lincoln Park tours guide.
The quick answer
There are two ghost walks to book: the Haunted History Walking Ghost Tour (2.5 hours, from the Chicago History Museum) and Embers of the Windy City (1 hour, from Oz Park). In October the zoo also runs its own Haunted History Tours, ticketed through the zoo. The stories centre on the park's past as the Chicago City Cemetery.
Was Lincoln Park really a cemetery?
Yes. The southern part of the park was the Chicago City Cemetery, established in 1843, where an estimated 35,000 people were buried.
Most graves were moved when the land became parkland, renamed for Abraham Lincoln in 1865. With so many burials once there, it is easy to see why guides say the ground is said to hold more than history.
What is the Couch Tomb?
The Couch Tomb is the Couch family mausoleum, still standing behind the Chicago History Museum, with the remains of six family members and one family friend inside.
It is the most visible trace of the old cemetery and a fixture of the ghost walks. You can see it from the outside on your own; the Haunted History tour lists it as a stop.
An evening walk past the Couch Tomb and the old cemetery ground, as the listing describes.
Book thisWhere was the St. Valentine's Day Massacre?
At 2122 N. Clark Street, in the Lincoln Park neighbourhood, on 14 February 1929, when seven men of the North Side Gang were killed.
The garage was demolished in 1967 and the site is now a lawn, so there is little to see. The case is officially unsolved; Al Capone was suspected but was in Miami at the time. The Haunted History tour ends here, according to the listing.
Is Cafe Brauer haunted?
Cafe Brauer is a 1908 Prairie School building on the South Pond; the ghost tour listing calls it a former speakeasy, and the stories grow from there.
Designed by Dwight H. Perkins, it is a Chicago Landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places. Today the ground floor is a cafe and ice-cream parlour. Treat the haunted side as part of the tour's storytelling.
Hear the stories of Cafe Brauer, the zoo and the massacre site on one evening walk, with ghost-hunting equipment listed as included.
Book thisWhat happens on the Haunted History Walking Ghost Tour?
According to the listing, it is a walk of 2.5 hours starting at 8 p.m. on select evenings, from the Chicago History Museum to 2122 N. Clark St.
- It meets in front of the Clark Street doors of the Chicago History Museum, the listing states.
- Stops listed: Chicago History Museum, Couch Tomb, Lincoln Park Zoo, Cafe Brauer and the St. Valentine's Day Massacre site.
- Ghost-hunting equipment is included, according to the listing.
- Not for children under 7 or adults over 95; the listing says it is wheelchair accessible.
What is the Embers of the Windy City ghost walk?
It is a shorter 1-hour walk from the Tin Man statue in Oz Park, about a mile through the neighbourhood, described by the listing as family-friendly.
The listing names Oz Park, the Golden Dagger, the Alphawood Foundation and the Red Lion Pub, and promises the tale of the forgotten burial ground and a "woman in white" story at the zoo. It runs rain or shine.
A short, family-friendly ghost walk through the neighbourhood, according to the listing.
Book thisGhost or Embers: which should I choose?
Choose Haunted History for a longer evening with the park's cemetery sites; choose Embers for a quick hour that suits families.
| Walk | Length | Meets at | Ages |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haunted History Ghost Tour | 2.5 hours | Chicago History Museum, Clark St doors | Not under 7 (per listing) |
| Embers of the Windy City | 1 hour | Tin Man statue, Oz Park | Family-friendly (per listing) |
Does Lincoln Park Zoo run ghost tours?
Yes, the zoo hosts its own Haunted History Tours in October; they are not on GetYourGuide and are ticketed through the zoo.
The zoo lists them on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in October at 7 p.m., with 8:30 p.m. tours from 13 to 28 October, hosted by Adam Selzer of Mysterious Chicago Tours. They meet at the patio of Cafe Brauer. Check the zoo's website for tickets.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Couch Tomb open to visitors?
You can see it from the outside behind the Chicago History Museum. It holds the remains of six Couch family members and one family friend.
Are the ghost walks scary for kids?
The Embers listing describes its 1-hour walk as family-friendly. The Haunted History listing says it is not for children under 7.
Can you visit the massacre site?
Yes, 2122 N. Clark Street is now a lawn; the garage was demolished in 1967.
Do the ghost walks run in bad weather?
The Embers listing says rain or shine. Check the listing for the Haunted History tour before you go.
Ready to book
Choose your tour
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option, booked on GetYourGuide.
Lincoln Park Haunted History Ghost Walk
- Guide and paranormal ghost-hunting equipment
- Meets at the Clark Street doors of the Chicago History Museum
- Select evenings at 8 p.m.; ends at 2122 N. Clark Street
Lincoln Park Walking Tour with Coffee & Treat
- Local guide, about 1.5 miles on foot
- Coffee and a treat from local venues
- Oz Park, Mid-North Historic District, Alfred Caldwell Lily Pond
