Self Guided Ghosts Gangsters and Graves Tour in Chicago

Chicago's prettiest neighborhood hides some of its darkest history. This self-guided audio tour takes you through Lincoln Park on your own schedule, with narration on your phone at every stop. Start at the Red Lion Pub on North Lincoln Avenue, long rumored to be one of the most haunted bars in the city. Stand outside the Biograph Theater, where the FBI gunned down John Dillinger in 1934. Visit the North Clark Street site of the 1929 St. Valentine's Day Massacre. Walk into Lincoln Park, laid over what was once the city's cemetery, then finish on the Lake Michigan shore at North Avenue Beach. No group, no in-person guide, and no fixed start time. Go at your own pace, stop for a drink along the way, and replay any story you like. All you need is a phone and headphones.

1. 1

   Biograph Theatre

   15 min

   Stand outside the theater where FBI agents gunned down John Dillinger, Public Enemy No. 1, in July 1934. Your audio guide walks you through his final night: the movie he watched, the woman in the orange dress who set him up, and the ambush waiting when he stepped out onto Lincoln Avenue. You view the building from the sidewalk.

2. 2

   Lincoln Park

   30 min

   Walk to the spot on North Clark Street where seven men were lined up against a garage wall and shot in the 1929 St. Valentine's Day Massacre, the killing that defined Al Capone's Chicago. Then step into Lincoln Park itself, which was once the city's main cemetery. Most of the graves were moved, but not all of them, and your guide shows you what's still here beneath the lawns.

3. 3

   North Avenue Beach

   15 min

   Finish on the shore of Lake Michigan, where your audio guide closes with the cold secrets the lake has kept over the years. Stay afterward for one of the best skyline views in the city.

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.