Explore Haunted Indianapolis on a Chilling Downtown Ghost Tour
If we were playing word association with you about the city of Indianapolis, your first guesses might be racing or basketball. Those would both be good answers—but there’s so much more, especially in downtown. Along with the sports venues, bars and restaurants you will find a spooky history, which is what we explored on our Indianapolis ghost tour.
The Wicked Wraiths of White River from US Ghost Adventures Indianapolis is a fun way to spend an evening, learning about the history of downtown Indianapolis along with some of the creepy tales of the past that still haunt the area.
Haunted Indianapolis Ghost Tour
Tours are held each evening, and take you around landmarks around downtown telling some of the unique stories and curses of about a half dozen haunted places in Indianapolis. While Indianapolis may not lend itself to tall tales of the paranormal like you might experience in Key West, New Orleans or other places, our tour guide mixed in details about the architecture and the history along with some spooky tales to provide an entertaining 90 minute tour.
Ghosts at IRT
Our Indianapolis haunted history tour started in front of the famed Indiana Repertory Theatre, located at 140 West Washington Street. After hearing the building’s history and the tragic end of one of the theatre’s founders, you are off on a short walk through downtown.
Haunted Indiana Statehouse
A few steps from the starting point is the Indiana Statehouse. In addition to being the home of Indiana politics, it is also the site of several paranormal activities. Our guide skillfully told us about some of the tragic stories surrounding the statehouse building itself as well as some of its past employees. In the case of our guide, she is also a history major and she wove in details about local history in at each stop.
At this stop, you hear tales and learn a little about Abraham Lincoln. In 1865, the Indiana Statehouse was also a stop for the Lincoln Funeral Train as it made its way from Washington D.C. back to Lincoln’s final resting spot in Springfield, Illinois.
Monument Circle Ghosts
The centerpiece of downtown Indianapolis is Monument Circle, and that is a stop on this Indy ghost walk. Before the Soldiers & Sailors Monument was erected in 1865, the site was the former home for the governor of Indiana. You learn about the ill-fated mansion, an amusing story of teenagers on a turkey hunt and a few stories of the heroes that are memorialized on the circle.
The tour extends to stories that go beyond the structures of downtown. An example of that is the horrific story surrounding the USS Indianapolis. The USS Indianapolis was a naval vessel that launched in 1931 and was commissioned the following year.
This historic ship played a very important part of WWII. In July 1945 the USS Indianapolis was heading towards port in the Philippines, having just dropped off important parts near Guam for the atomic bomb that would later be dropped on Hiroshima. On July 30, the ship was attacked by a Japanese submarine and sinking almost immediately. In the battle, 330 sailors and marines were lost. That left the remaining 860 men drifting in shark infested waters for over five days. Only 316 survived, including Indiana native Mike Kuryla who helped start the annual reunion in Indianapolis for the survivors.
Indy 500 Ghosts
One of our favorite segments on the tour was a discussion about the tragedy and possible ghosts at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The most popular speedway in the world and home to the Indy 500, IMS is also home to a lot of tragedy.
Since it opened in 1909, at least 74 people have died at the speedway. That list includes 42 drivers, 13 ride-along mechanics, one motorcyclist and 18 others like pit crews and spectators.
You’ll hear the details of fan favorite Scott Brayton, who died in the 1996 Indy 500. NASCAR fans will love the details of tales of the unexplained involving both Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Another tale you get to hear is about driver Eddie Sachs, who died following a brutal crash in turn four during the 1964 Indy 500. Sachs is said to still be roaming the grandstands. One story tells of a child receiving his autograph in 1994 from Sachs 30 years after his passing.
Indiana’s Cursed Presidents
A couple of stops on this ghost tour in Indianapolis involve two presidents with ties to the Hoosier State. You’ll see the William Henry Harrison statue on Monument Circle, and then you’ll hear about the curse that killed him and his grandson Benjamin.
William Henry was the territorial governor of Indiana who was responsible for forcing a large number of Native Americans out of the territory. Known as the Curse of Tippecanoe, the legend stems from the death of Native American leader Tecumseh. He was killed by troops led by Harrison during the War of 1812. Following his death, Tecumseh’s brother the Prophet placed a curse of Harrison.
Harrison was elected President of the United States in 1840. During his inauguration in 1841, Harrison gave a lengthy speech in a downpour of rain and contracted pneumonia. He died in office 30 days later.
His grandson Benjamin was elected President of the United States in 1888. He did not die in office, but failed to get reelected and then he too succumbed to pneumonia a few years later.
Helene Knabe’s Ghost
On the tour, our favorite haunted Indianapolis attraction was the apartment of Dr. Helene Knabe. She was one of the first female doctors in Indianapolis, a German immigrant that was brutally murdered in her apartment in 1911. Her case remains unsolved, and our tour dives into the details of this true-crime mystery.
On the extended tour which is available some evenings, they will also take you to the Athenaeum, a German cultural center near the Mass Avenue area of downtown. According to legend, Helene remains a frequent visitor at the Athenaeum. The story of Dr. Helene Knabe was even featured on an episode of Ghost Hunters.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a fun evening of history and a good ghost story, this is a great option for you. There are a few Indianapolis walking tours, but this one combines great storytelling, history and the paranormal in a fun way. We felt this was very family friendly, with not too much gore discussed. It is a ghost tour, so death is brought up but not in a sensationalized manner.
It is a walking tour, and you’ll be on your feet for 60 to 90 minutes with no place to sit down. The tour also goes on rain or shine. We had rain during our tour, but it didn’t dampen the experience.
Tours are offered three times a night, starting at 7PM. They offer a standard tour as well as an extended tour with four more locations. As mentioned, the extended tour will take you towards the haunts of Dr. Knabe and other locations near Mass Ave.
If you do the extended tour, keep in mind that ending point when you plan where you park. Speaking of parking, their website does an excellent job of suggesting places to park. We didn’t follow the site’s advice and ended up paying more than double what we should have paid.
The standard tour runs $26 and can be purchased on the US Ghost Adventure’s website. Also worth noting, as you search the web that they also run the same tour under the Lizzie Borden Ghost Tours brand.
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