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The Haunting Legacy of Glenwood State Hospital
We’re going to a field in Mills County, a quiet stretch of land at the south end of a medical campus that, until June 30th, 2024, had been continuously occupied for nearly 150 years. On that land is a forgotten cemetery with about 1,300 people buried in generic, poorly marked graves. Some of the markers…
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Architecture as Medicine: The Story of the Kirkbride Plan
These places were designed to heal people. (Hint: they didn’t. Let’s unpack that.) Grab a coffee. We’re about to emotionally process an abandoned asylum. I want you to picture something with me… A massive brick building. Overgrown grounds. Peeling paint. Long hallways that seem to stretch further than they should. Maybe you’ve driven past one.…
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Harry Houdini: Magician, Myth-Buster, and the Original Paranormal Skeptic
Before ghost-hunting TV shows and viral psychic TikToks, there was Harry Houdini, a Hungarian-American escape artist best known for surviving impossible stunts and wriggling out of handcuffs while suspended upside-down over city streets. However, what many people don’t realize is that Houdini was also one of the first, and fiercest, debunkers of paranormal frauds.
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America’s Only Legally Haunted House
Did you know there’s only one house in America that’s legally recognized as haunted? The infamous Ackley House in Nyack, New York gained paranormal-legal status after the landmark 1991 case Stambovsky v. Ackley, also known as the “Ghostbusters Ruling.” This case set a precedent for disclosing psychologically affected properties—homes with reputations for hauntings or other…
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American Society for Psychical Research (ASPR)
Founded in 1885 in New York, the ASPR was created to investigate paranormal phenomena scientifically. At the time, psychology was still in its early stages, and the idea of studying paranormal events was, to say the least, controversial. William James, one of the founding fathers of psychology, was a key figure behind it, wanting to…
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Why It’s Time to Reframe the Narrative of the ‘Ancient Indian Burial Ground’
In recent years, the concept of “ancient Indian burial grounds” has become a staple in horror films, books, and TV shows, often used to create fear and mystery. While these stories can be entertaining, they are also deeply problematic. They perpetuate stereotypes, distort historical truths, and disrespect the cultural and spiritual significance of Indigenous sacred…
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Beyond the Bermuda Triangle – Exploring Global Paranormal Triangles
Paranormal regions, Vile vortices, and Devil’s Graveyard are just a few ways people refer to the paranormal triangle phenomenon. In the vast tapestry of our world, places are shrouded in mystery and intrigue, where the laws of nature seem to bend and twist, defying explanation. These “triangles” have captivated the human imagination for centuries, sparking…
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Exploring Paranormal Studies: Anthropology, Forensic Science, Psychology
Have you ever wondered what it takes to investigate the paranormal professionally? While it might seem like the domain ghost hunters and TV shows know everything they need to know, they just naturally know that information didn’t just come to them in a dream. Various academic degrees can provide a solid foundation for those interested…
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Numerology: Cracking the Code for Cosmic Insights
With its ancient origins, numerology offers a fascinating journey into the hidden meanings behind numbers, resonating with those open to the mysterious and magical. While I wouldn’t claim expertise in numerology, I enjoy diving into different viewpoints and understanding how others perceive the world. Numerology permeates the internet and is often linked with horoscopes and…
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Cryptic Car Chronicles: The Haunted Legacy of James Dean’s Car “The Little Bastard”
In the realm of celebrity legends, few stories captivate the imagination quite like that of James Dean’s haunted car. The enigmatic Hollywood icon’s brief life and untimely death in 1955 left a permanent mark on pop culture. His car’s alleged haunting continues to raise eyebrows and spark debates, and he has become a legend. Join…
by JoannaArcana
Abandoned institutions, forgotten histories, and the paranormal.
by JoannaArcana 