McPike Mansion

Built in 1869 by Alton mayor Henry McPike, this 16-room Italianate mansion on Mount Lookout has been empty since the 1950s. McPike was a friend of Lincoln and a committed abolitionist. It's on the National Register of Historic Places and has been called one of the 25 most haunted places in America.

The McPike Mansion in Alton, Illinois, is considered one of the most haunted houses in the United States and possibly the most haunted location in Illinois. Built in 1869 by prolific Alton architect Lucas Pfeiffenberger, the grand Italianate Victorian home features 16 rooms, a basement, and a vaulted wine cellar.

Henry Guest McPike, the mansion's original owner, was a two-time mayor of Alton, a kingmaker in local politics, and a skilled businessman dealing in real estate and insurance. A passionate horticulturist, he propagated his own grape variety coveted by winemakers. McPike was also a strong abolitionist and friend of Abraham Lincoln, helping arrange the famous "House Divided" debate with Senator Stephen Douglas along Alton's riverfront. Speculation persists that his hilltop mansion served as a stop on the Underground Railroad.

McPike adored the property, particularly his grove of fruit trees, until he succumbed to illness in the house in 1910. The mansion remained unoccupied after the 1950s until 1994, when Sharyn and George Luedke purchased it "on impulse" at an auction and began restoration efforts.

The owners estimate roughly 15 spirits inhabit the property. According to documentation, two primary ghosts are former owner Paul Laichinger and a domestic servant named Sarah Wells. Additional spectral inhabitants include McPike's mother Lydia, his first wife Mary, his son James, and daughter-in-law Jenny. Flashlights die without warning, lights flicker, and human-shaped outlines appear in windows. Professional photographers have captured balls of light with no obvious source.

The mansion has been featured on multiple television programs, including a 2019 Ghost Adventures special. The TAPS team and numerous paranormal investigators have found the haunting to be authentic.

Tours include the history of former residents, paranormal experiences, instruction on dowsing rods for spirit communication, a grounds tour, and a cellar "dark room" session with a medium. Monthly tours run April through November, with overnight paranormal investigations available.