What They Never Told You About the Clarence Darrow Memorial Bridge
- PANICd Paranormal Videos
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
In November of 2019 we traveled to Chicago and to the Museum of Science and Industry. While there, we walked around the back of the building to the lagoon and were able to see the Clarence Darrow Memorial Bridge. We knew the bridge's history and its paranormal activity.
Regrettably, safety concerns led to the closure of the bridge's access in 2013, preventing us from approaching it closely. We did get the chance to stand on the banks of the lagoon (Columbian Basin) and look out over the water and the banks towards the bridge.
To see the bridge, you can walk behind the Museum of Science and Industry building like we did to see the lagoon and the bridge. We also recommend that you spend some time in the museum. It is well worth the experience.
The following are some of the photos that Marianne took while we were behind the Museum of Science and Industry building looking over the lagoon at the Clarence Darrow Memorial Bridge.
About the Clarence Darrow Memorial Bridge
Hidden among the trees of Chicago’s Jackson Park lies a forgotten monument—a crumbling bridge shrouded in mist and mystery. The Clarence Darrow Memorial Bridge isn’t just a historic structure—it’s a place where history, tragedy, and the paranormal converge.
Whether you're a history buff, a ghost hunter, or simply someone drawn to places with lingering energy, this bridge has a story to tell. And if the legends are true… Clarence Darrow himself may still be telling it.
Constructed in 1880, this stone bridge was originally part of the landscape architecture created by Frederick Law Olmsted for the upcoming 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition—a world’s fair that once drew millions to the shores of Lake Michigan.
Once known as the Columbia Bridge, it offered a beautiful passage over the Columbia Basin. But decades later, in 1957, the city of Chicago gave it a new name, honoring one of its most famous residents: Clarence Darrow, the brilliant and controversial defense attorney known for the Scopes “Monkey” Trial and the defense of Leopold and Loeb.
Before his death in 1938, Darrow—ever the skeptic—made an eerie declaration. If there were such a thing as life after death, he said, he would return to the bridge overlooking the lagoon near his home.
When Darrow passed, his ashes were scattered in the waters beneath the bridge. Since then, on March 13—the anniversary of his death—supporters and historians gather at the site to pay tribute to the man who fought tirelessly for civil liberties and human rights.
But some believe Darrow doesn’t just live on in memory.
Locals, ghost hunters, and paranormal investigators have long whispered about strange occurrences at the bridge. Here are just a few spine-chilling tales:
Apparitions: Witnesses claim to see a tall man in a long overcoat and wide-brimmed hat pacing silently near the bridge or at the back of the Museum of Science and Industry. He vanishes as quickly as he appears.
Disembodied Voices: Some report hearing faint murmuring near the water’s edge—like someone delivering a passionate courtroom speech just out of earshot.
Photographic Anomalies: Tourists have captured misty forms and unexplained light distortions in photos taken from the bridge—some say you can see a face in the fog.
Physical Encounters: One visitor described feeling a sudden shove, only to turn around and see no one—just the outline of a man-shaped shadow that quickly disappeared.
Whether these stories are about Darrow himself or something older lurking near the water, no one can say for sure.
Sadly, the Clarence Darrow Memorial Bridge has fallen into serious disrepair. Closed to the public since around 2013, it now sits quietly deteriorating—its cracked pavement, rusting railings, and overgrowth telling a different kind of story: one of neglect.
Thankfully, a group of preservationists, including the Clarence Darrow Bridge Preservation Coalition, is fighting to save it. The plan? The plan involves restoring the bridge using its original stone and ironwork, aiming to restore it to its 19th-century grandeur—as Darrow might recall.
The bridge was even listed as one of Chicago’s Most Endangered Historic Places in 2025.
Have you visited the Clarence Darrow Bridge? Have you encountered any unusual occurrences while visiting the Clarence Darrow Bridge? Drop your story in the comments below or tag us on social media @ourhauntedtravels. We’d love to hear from fellow ghost enthusiasts and history lovers!
