The United States is rarely included in Dark Tourism travel suggestions. And it makes sense. There are hundreds of dark, gruesome sites located around the world to visit. But the United States has many sites with horrifying histories ready to be explored and appreciated. From a museum filled with the medicine of the past to the home of some of the most horrific murders ever, you are sure to enjoy them! We have gathered the top 5 dark tourism sites in the United States you should visit in 2022.
1. Villisca Ax Murder House
A site not many people know of, myself included, is the Villisca Ax Murder House. An unsolved homicide case from 1912, it was a horrible crime leaving its marks on history. On June 10, 1912, an unknown assailant entered J.B. and Sarah Moore’s home, murdering them and their six children. As the days and weeks went by, fingers were pointed, and leads were followed to dead ends.
Years later, the farmhouse was redecorated and restored so people could get a taste of how the farmhouse was originally like before the brutal ax murders. If you want, you can stay overnight or go on a tour during the day.
Stories and theories abound about the killer(s) and who was behind such a horrible crime. What would they have to say if the walls could talk to us? Are you brave enough to find out? The short version of the story is this. The short version of the story is this.
2. Jeffrey Dahmer’s Childhood Home
Now you be surprised to know that Jeffrey Dahmer’s childhood home is actually still up. After he was arrested for his horrendous crimes, his apartment and the bars he stalked were taken down. But, the house he grew up in, and committed his first crimes, is owned by Chris Butler, a musician.
He occasionally rents it out as a vacation house, and has put it up for sale at least once. It is a hard sale though, especially because few people want to purchase a house with such a history.
So if you would like to visit and stay at a serial killer’s house, keep an eye out for this place going up for rent.
3. Ted Bundy Landmarks
While not a single spot, there are multiple landmarks around the United States related to Ted Bundy’s crimes. All of these spots have become popular amongst dark tourists since he was flung into the public eye.
These sites include:
- The Salt Lake City room he rented;
- Tallahassee’s Chi Omega sorority house;
- Florida State Prison;
- Garfield County Jail;
- Pitkin County Courthouse;
Remember, none of these are active tour sites. Do not interrupt any official procedurings going on in these areas, and obey any state or federal laws concerning jails and courthouses.
4. Ford’s Theatre
Every school child knows about Ford’s Theatre. It is the site of Lincoln’s assassination by John Wilkes Booth in 1865. Open to tours, you can visit the Theatre and small museum in the basement to learn about the assassination. This makes it a great location for school trips and small family vacations.
Though not the darkest site on this list, it is still an important spot in America History. If you would like to request a tour, you can do so from the Ford’s Theatre website.
5. Mütter Museum
The Mütter Museum is dedicated entirely to the dark history of medicine. Filled with photographs, documents, artificats, and human remains, you can go down a long rabbit hole into the history behind modern medicine. Everything from Civil War treatments to human skulls, it is an cocktail of interesting and disturbing.
If you are someone who does not handle dead bodies and bones well, you should not visit here. They have multiple bone collections, and even the mummified body of a woman. It is well worth the trip though if you have a strong stomach. You can purchase tour tickets here.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoy these 5 top dark tourism sites to visit in the United States. While not a complete list, obviously, it is a great starting point for those new to dark tourism. If you would like to know about other dark tourism sites, check out our top 5 beginner dark tourist sites list! Happy touring!