The Atlas Obscura Podcast

Alton, Illinois has been called the most haunted small town in America. It’s a place where practically every building has its own ghost story, from an old penitentiary, an eroding island, and even an old 1920s resort. And bubbling underneath all this lore is the fascinating history of a town shaped by the wild and unpredictable waters of the Mississippi River. We’ll explore some places with their own ghostly lore …and we’ll learn how these stories (and the people who like to tell them) are helping to keep the town’s history alive. Visit EnjoyIllinois.com for more information on booking a hair-raising trip to America’s most haunted small town.

More links:

• Check out our guest Troy Taylor’s book “Haunted Alton” (He also leads ghost tours, hosts his own podcast, and runs the American Oddities Museum in Alton)
• For more on the history of penitentiaries in America, revisit our episode on Eastern State Penitentiary 
• …and queue up this episode too for more on the history of duels on Bloody Island!
• For additional information on the places we discussed today check out the Routes & Rivers guides to Alton Prison, Bloody Island (also called Sunflower Island and Smallpox Island) and the McPike Mansion.  

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From opera singers to strange noises emitting from air conditioners, listeners share stories about their unusual neighbors. 

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We share stories about our neighbors – from an unusual pet in Maryland, to an out-of-place front yard in Brooklyn, to a beekeeper with a secret. 

Plus: We want to hear YOUR neighbor stories! Tell us about your neighbors’ yards, their house decor, their habits – and what you like about them. Give us a call at 315-992-7902 and leave a message telling us your name and favorite story about your neighbors. Or you can record a voice memo and email it to us at [email protected]

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Dive into the invisible world of seeds, Sefra Alexandra, the self-titled “Seed Huntress.” She tells us about her global mission to preserve our planet's diverse seeds and protect our future food security by uncovering the stories of culinary and cultural significance rooted in these tiny powerhouses.

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Today we venture (with flashlights on) into the TNT area, a vast abandoned munitions factory in Point Pleasant, West Virginia – where, in the 1960s, people started reporting sightings of a strange, winged creature with red glowing eyes. The creature became known as “the Mothman,” and these sightings generated a legend that has since inspired books, movies, an annual culture, and a thriving Mothman subculture in Point Pleasant. This episode is brought to you in partnership with West Virginia Tourism. 

For more information on the annual Mothman festival: https://www.mothmanfestival.com/ 

Trying to see the Mothman yourself? Our guest today Sherri Brake has you covered: https://www.hauntedhistory.net/mothman-haunted-history-walk-of-point-pleasant.html 

In the mood for scary stories and places? We’ve got a list for you: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/guide-to-halloween-travel 

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Olney, Illinois is your quintessential Midwestern small town. It’s in the middle of farm country - a place you might drive right past. But people do stop, and they come for one thing: squirrels. But for how long?

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Thompson’s Ice House in Bristol, Maine is one of the only places in the United States where people gather every winter to take part in the age-old process of harvesting ice from a frozen pond. 

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Ross Jennings, aka the First Piper, has been on a world-spanning quest to play the bagpipes in every country of the world. 

LEARN MORE: https://www.thefirstpiper.com/

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Producer Manolo Morales is not a fan of cats. But he may just change his mind after taking a walking tour in Brooklyn Heights dedicated to cat history called Cats About Town. 

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Producer Jerome Campbell shares two stories about how far animals will go for their meal. 

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