State of Illinois

On our recent trip to Chicago, we stayed at the Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center. This hotel has had many famous visitors and guests, once referred to as the “Home of Presidents.” Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, Teddy Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Warren Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Franklin Roosevelt each gathered their supporters to deliberate on campaign tactics for Chicago.

Its glamorous past is something that definitely caught our attention, but so did its haunted past. While searching for haunted hotels in Chicago, the Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center repeatedly came up. The hotel, with 130 years of operation, may have a metaphorical skeleton in its closet and is considered one of Chicago’s most haunted hotels.

The hotels reasonable price per night and its geographical location got our attention during our search.

From our hotel room on the 14th floor (room 1419), we had a picture-perfect view of Lake Michigan. We could watch Buckingham Fountain down below and see the Navy Pier to the north from our room. We could also see the Adler Planetarium, Field Museum, and Shedd Aquarium to the south. These three locations were approximately a mile away, and we walked to them.

Despite our hotel room and bathroom having a new, updated look, some furnishings had layers of paint that provided insight into their age. The layers of paint were most apparent on the trim and molding. The bathroom and closet doors had what appeared to be original or classic hardware. It was nice to see a conscious effort to balance the old charm with updates.

Brief History of the Location

The hotel has garnered a reputation as one of Chicago’s most haunted hotels. The hotel lore includes many eerie tales and spectral occurrences. Among the restless spirits said to haunt the establishment is “Peg Leg Johnny,” a figure whose life met a gruesome end in an alley behind the hotel. To this day, the identities of both Peg Leg Johnny and his assailant remain a mystery, leaving his murder unsolved.

Guests and employees claim to see the ghost of Al Capone roaming the halls of the hotel. We know little about the inner workings of the mob or what is fact or fiction. And those who did talk didn’t last long. As a result, none of the rumors of Al Capone staying there under his real name can be substantiated. Nor can we be certain that the hotel ever served as his headquarters. But keep in mind that this hotel was referred to as the “Home of Presidents.” It’s not hard to believe that an establishment as nice as this wouldn’t attract a patron like Capone. And maybe he enjoyed his time here enough to spend eternity here.

Additionally, the hotel holds a tragic history involving a mother of two who sought refuge there with her children as they fled Czechoslovakia during the advance of German forces. Her husband stayed behind, intending to liquidate their property and business to secure their relocation. Tragically, he was delayed.

On the very last day of their visas, the mother pushed her two children out of a 12-story window. She would also leap from the window, taking her own life. Hauntingly, reports suggest that the laughter, running, and play of children still echo on the 12th floor. Could these be the ghosts of those ill-fated children?

If this article interests you, read about other haunted Illinois locations I have visited or browse through all the haunted locations I have been to.

Location

Congress Plaza Hotel
520 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60605