Urban Legends

We all know that dolls are manufactured objects that cannot think, feel, or act independently. At least, that's what we like to believe, though the subjects in the following true tales would beg to differ. Sometimes, there is more to these human replicas than meets the eye.

We have all heard the tales of alligators not only surviving but thriving in New York City’s sewer system, but is there any truth to it? Are there really colonies of alligators living beneath the feet of one of the busiest populaces of the United States?

In the late 1800s, travelers stopping for the night at a one-room inn outside of Cherryvale, Kansas, were often never seen again.

I discuss the Green Man ghost story of western Pennsylvania, including the real story of Ray Robinson and how his electrical accident turned him into a local legend.

What happened to the crew of the Mary Celeste? We may never know for sure, but here is my theory on their fate.

In the 1880s, a huge red beast terrorized the Arizona Territory, and stories of its appearance grew more and more grotesque with each telling.

Local legends speak of mysterious shadowy figures looking out to the sea all along the Santa Lucia Range in California.

These are the stories of two people who were born acting as hosts to parasites that threatened to destroy them. One of them spent years unaware of the cause of his affliction while the other was forced to live a life of waking nightmares. These are their stories.

Traditional thinking would have us believe that gateways into other dimensions are something that exist only in the world of science fiction. The stories you are about to read are the real-life experiences of people who would challenge that notion. They know the terror a portal can bring.

In 1966, a series of unexplained events would rock the peaceful haven of Point Pleasant, West Virginia, to its core. What began with a string of sightings of an unidentified nocturnal creature would culminate in a tragedy that would forever change the town and its citizens.

Joseph and Edward Hooker were tragically murdered in their home in the small town of New London, Ohio, in 1974. They have become a local legend as rumors of hidden cash and hauntings still circulate decades after their deaths.

There has long been an urban legend of an axe-wielding man in a bunny costume wreaking havoc on those unfortunate enough to cross his path. Surprisingly, there actually might be a grain of truth to this story.

There are a lot of strange things lurking in the wilds of Oklahoma. Here are a few that you may not have heard of before.

He leapt over high walls, scared the wits out of women and horses, slapped men in the face, and escaped. But did he really exist?

In 1857, an insignificant gemstone was stolen from an Indian temple. The story that followed the theft is a fascinating tale of misfortune and tragedy. Was this stolen jewel haunted by its true owner?

If there’s anything guaranteed to send a nervous tremor through a community, it’s the local newspaper printing a headline such as “Anesthetic Prowler on the Loose.”

Scandinavian mythology consists of a multitude of different eerie mythological beings and creatures, many of which are not widely known.

In the 1980s, the phenomenon of "The Crying Boy" gripped the UK. In homes where everything was destroyed by fire, the image in the haunted painting remained strangely intact.

Peter Stumpp was a man who lived during the 16th century and was thought to have been an actual werewolf.

Myths, legends, and folklore—the things that fuel our nightmares, but is there any truth behind them?

Reports of creatures known as Rebobs have occurred since the 1950s around the area of Partrick Road.

What appeared to be the petrified remains of a three-metre tall man were uncovered in upstate New York and the crowds flocked to see it.

There are many unsolved mysteries from all over the world that most people have never even heard about. Some involve people, others involve locations.

A fire breaks out, and a person is consumed by flames! Seems spontaneous, as if some mysterious force has caused it. But, a closer look at details may reveal that such events may have a common cause.

Dozens of ghost ship stories tell of unknown catastrophes that befall vessels and their crews.

An investigation of the legend of the Bogeyman through the ages and around the world.

The Black Dog is a frightful spectre creature found in folklore across Great Britain.

Are there strange things zooming through the sky? Why can't anyone see them with the naked eye? Photographers claim to have recorded these cryptids. Real or not, there's more than meets the eyes.

A curious relic can be found in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter known as the War Stone. Legend tells us it was left behind after an epic battle between two giants, but it may also reveal a lost castle.

People have been fascinated by the story of Ted the Caver, if not downright scared to the bone. Explore Ted's story of a terrifying encounter in a cave, and read some theories about what might have happened.

If you're a Simpson fan, then don't have a cow man! Dead Bart is just a myth . . . right?

Maggie continued to work till the day her child was born in a field, where she had gone to give birth in secrecy. Whether the baby was stillborn or died shortly after birth is not known for sure. It is known, however, that Maggie left her dead baby on the bank of River Tweed.

The chilling story of how sightings of the mysterious Mothman preceded the tragic collapse of Point Pleasant's Silver Bridge in 1967.

Discover why some believe the Tunguska Event of 1908 was a massive explosion caused by Nikola Tesla’s greatest top-secret invention.

North Carolina—also known as the Tar Heel State—is home to the Appalachian Mountains, lovely scenery, beautiful beaches... and lots of monsters. Read on to get a glimpse of the delightfully horrid things this state has to offer.

Good ole Ohio, a rather peaceful state known for the buckeye tree, home to America's first traffic light, the first pro baseball team and of course Helltown.... and zombie apocalypse emergency drills.... and dogmen, the tortured children of Gore Orphanage, frogmen.... ok, maybe it's not so peaceful after all.

Long before hurricane Katrina brought forth the tales of sharks and alligators swimming through the flooded streets of new Orleans in 2005, there already existed a vast amount of urban legends and ghost stories involving the State of Louisiana. From werewolves to vampires, zombies and ghosts, Louisiana seems to have it all.

While spending a week vacationing in Indianapolis, I discovered some unusual and creepy tales from the great state of Indiana. With any luck, you the reader will find my discoveries as interesting as I have.

There has always been a lot of mystery wrapped up into the state of Washington. With it's diverse landscape and climate, ranging from foggy coastlines to snow covered mountains, comes a large variety of urban legends and haunted places to choose from.

Urban legends are like modern day fairy tales: They serve as windows into our minds.

This article deals with a controversial "urban legend" from the 1980s in Britain—the curse of the crying boy paintings and the series of unexplained fires that seemed to follow them.

The Codex Gigas, is the world's largest and the most mysterious medieval manuscript, with pages are allegedly made from the skins of 160 donkeys. Learn all about it and its history here.