08/31/2026
One of the most famous and haunted hotels in Chicago is the infamous Congress Hotel. Officially called the Congress Plaza Hotel and Convention Center, this historic structure once housed some of the deadliest characters of the early 20th century. Originally called The Auditorium Annex, the hotel opened its doors in 1893 under the influence of hotel developer R.H. Southgate and was designed by architect Clinton Warren, along with his consultants, the renowned Dankmar Adler and Louis Sullivan. In 1911, the hotel’s name was changed to the Congress Hotel, where it remains the same to this day. Over the years, the hotel has played host to millions of guests, including many of the U.S. Presidents, earning itself the nickname of “The Home of Presidents.” However, it's not the visitors to this location that have earned it its notoriety; it’s the spirits that remained behind that make this location one of America’s most haunted hotels.
Alphonse Gabriel Capone, better known as Al Capone, AKA Scarface, was an American Prohibition-era gangster who dominated organized crime in Chicago from 1925 to 1931. When Prohibition was enacted into law in 1920, it opened up a new source of wealth through the means of bootlegging and the opening of a new, faster driving route; it made the distribution of illegal alcohol easier than ever before. In 1926, the new Route 66 sprang to life, linking Chicago to California. Not only did it make it a more convenient traveling route for families wishing to travel the open road, but it also made it much easier for the American mobster to distribute their illegal booze at a faster pace. This would help to build Capone’s empire faster than ever before. Although Capone is said to have resided at the Lexington Hotel, he is often reported as being a guest at the Congress Hotel and even to have rented out entire floors during his stay. Primarily the 8th floor of the North Tower. It’s on this floor that visitors report hearing heavy footsteps approaching when nobody is there. Many guests and staff alike describe seeing a heavy-set figure wearing a pinstriped suit, wingtip shoes, and sporting a fedora. He is also said to haunt the old tunnel system under the hotel, where it is said he and his gang used to transport illegal booze and dead bodies. He may not have called the Congress Hotel home, but it does appear he may have considered it his place of business, leaving behind his legacy and possibly his ghost with a fading scent of his cigar.
Capone is not the only ghost rumored to be haunting the halls of the Congress Hotel. It is said a female presence lingers within the walls of room 441 in the South Tower. One might assume that the ghost of an old mob boss might be the most feared entity in the hotel, but the lady in 441 brings a new level of terror to those who wish to visit her space. Guests have reported seeing the figure of a woman begin to manifest at the end of their beds, often followed by their beds being violently shaken. Objects have been seen thrown across the room, door handles shaking violently, lights flickering off and on, or cold spots suddenly appearing out of nowhere. Some guests have even woken up to find her ghostly apparition looming over them, waking them from a somber sleep. Some have even reported being kicked by her. It is rumored that Stephen King’s short story 1408, was inspired by this room, but like much folklore, it could possibly be just pure speculation.
You won’t have to worry too much about being kicked by the next ghost reported to be lingering in the halls of the historic Congress Hotel. Peg Leg Johnny is said to be the ghost of a drifter who was murdered in the alley behind the hotel. No one knows the true meaning of his demise, but it seems that Johnny drifted his way into a much cozier place to stay. His ghost is often associated with simple mischievous activities such as turning lights off and on or moving some of the guests' items around when they are not looking. His spirit seems more playful than harmful, and often just likes to let people know he’s still around.
The next spirit is a shadow man, often referred to as Captain Louis Ostheim. Captain Ostheim was a veteran of the Spanish-American War. Like many soldiers throughout the years, he suffered from a condition known as “shell shock.” Today, this condition is better known as PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder. Having grown up in a household where my father suffered from the same condition, I am very aware of what conditions they suffer from. One such condition is night terrors, and it is said that the captain suffered greatly from them. In 1900, the night before his wedding, Captain Ostheim was staying at the Congress Hotel. It is said that he woke from one of his night terrors and, unable to withstand them any longer, he took his own life, shot by his own hand. His shadow is often seen wandering the halls, leaving with it a deep feeling of sadness and a sense of being lost, forever trapped within his own memories. His would not be the only su***de recorded within the walls of the Congress Hotel, which, in turn, could be another strong argument made as to its influence on Stephen King’s story, Room 1408.
The next story is one of sadness and desperation of a mother who felt as if there was no way out. In 1939, the Second World War broke out in Europe, but the persecution of the Jews had started many years before. A Jewish refugee by the name of Adele Langer, along with her two young sons, Karel, age six, and Jan age 4, fleeing from N**i persecution in Czechoslovakia, checked in at the Congress Hotel. She had planned to meet up with her husband there, but he never came. In fear of being sent back to Czechoslovakia, a fear worse than death, she decided to end their lives together. With a heavy heart, she tossed each young child from their high-rise hotel window, then followed after them to her own death. There have been several reports of guests seeing a young boy running around the 12th floor of the North Tower, appearing happy and playful until he disappears before their very eyes. Other reports have been made of hearing the whispers and cries of a small child, but when searching, no one has ever been able to locate the source. Many believe it is one of the small boys who fell to his death so many years ago.
Not every spirit that is rumored to roam within the walls of the Congress Hotel died there. Some spirits were simply guests there throughout the day, searching for their next victim. One such infamous spirit is said to be that of serial killer H.H. Holmes. Although Holmes had a hotel of his own, it is believed that he sought out individuals to invite them back to his murder hotel on the promise of work or marriage. Many people believe his spirit continues to walk the floors in search of new victims from beyond the grave.
Another infamously haunted room in the Congress Hotel is located on the sixth floor, but don’t try to reserve it; this room is not open to the public. In fact, you won’t even see its door as you wander along the corridor. As you travel down the hall, you will find yourself passing room 664 only to find yourself standing in front of room 668. A long distance is noted between the two rooms, and many claim that if you run your hand along the wall, you will feel what appears to be the remains of a door that no longer exists. It is said that in the mid-1960s, management at the hotel decided to wall off the room, leaving all the furniture in place. The door was removed, the area was drywalled over, and wallpaper was applied, forever sealing off the room and its paranormal activity.
From ghostly, gloved hands materializing out of thin air, sealed rooms, and the spirits of guests lingering along the hallways, one thing is for sure: the Congress Hotel will continue to greet its guests, but for some unlucky guests, they may never check out. So next time when you are in Chicago and want to take a step back in time, perhaps you should check out the Congress Hotel. Just make sure that if you check in, you find yourself checking out. Not from life, but from your room, leaving the ghost of the Congress behind to haunt another day.
