One Of The Most Haunted Cemeteries In Iowa Is Also One Of The Most Beautiful
When you enter a cemetery, it’s not rare to get a strange chilling feeling. Is it simply the effect of being in the presence of so many people who have passed? Or is there something more sinister lurking among the gravestones? At Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City, many people enjoy walking among the humble, well-maintained gravestones – but there’s one site in the cemetery that many say they avoid. Why do people consider this one of the most haunted cemeteries in Iowa, and is the gorgeous statue at its center truly something from beyond this world?
For those visiting Iowa City, Oakland Cemetery is an unlikely tourist attraction - a peaceful and old-fashioned cemetery that has served as the city's main burial ground since 1843.
It's a quiet place, with many of those buried there being working-class protestants. But it's one gravestone in particular that has made this cemetery a destination.
It's the Black Angel, a local monument first erected in 1913. It was designed by famous architect Mario Korbel as a tribute to the commissioner's husband. The grieving wife would soon be buried alongside him.
But as time went on, something odd happened - the bronze statue oxidized and turned a greenish-black color - giving it an oddly haunting pallor. And that's not the only haunting thing about it.
The statue is stunning, but it's surrounded by dark rumors. Will those who touch it truly be struck dead? Is it bad luck for pregnant women to be near the statue?
That hasn't kept countless visitors from testing their luck. But many people swear they feel odd, eerie energy when they're near it. It's a beautiful but unsettling experience to tour the cemetery, especially in the less-crowded winter months - when an eerie silence falls over the entire cemetery.
Have you visited Oakland Cemetery? Let us know if you had any unusual experiences at the most haunted cemetery in Iowa. If you’re interested in learning more about this famous location, visit Iowa City’s website for information on visits. If you want a visit to a more peaceful cemetery, consider paying your respects at Iowa’s miniature Arlington.
Address: Oakland Cemetery, 1000 Brown St, Iowa City, IA 52245, USA
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