This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Illinois legends of beasts and ghosts through history
A tour of Illinois folklore highlights the Peoria State Hospital tale of Old Book the mute grave digger, the Piasa Bird mural legend, a 12-foot Cole Hollow Road Monster hoax and later sightings, plus reports of a monkey creature in Mount Vernon and a three-eyed beast in Enfield from mid-20th century lore.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Peoria State Hospital
Old Book
Bartonville
A. Bookbinder
Asylum
Cole Hollow Road
East Peoria
Cole Hollow
Peoria Journal Star
Mount Vernon
Enfield
Chicago Tribune