Ten of the creepiest American urban legends. Myths and legends of modern America The Curse of Lake Lanier, Georgia

Admit it, many of you are not averse to tickling your nerves by reading creepy city's legends. Moreover, Halloween not far away. In anticipation of it, we prepared one creepy story from each state. Let's start alphabetically - with Idaho, Iowa, Alabama, Alaska and Arizona.

Idaho: Water Babies

The Native American legend of mer-babies is found in several places in America, but is most common in Pocatello at Massacre Rocks Natural Park.

So, one day a severe famine came to the lands of the Shoshone tribe. Mothers, in desperation, drowned their children in the river so as not to see them die a slow death of starvation.

Some Idaho residents claim that if you sit on a rock near the river at Massacre Rocks, you will hear the cries of babies. Others say: these children have grown gills and fins and are now taking revenge by luring victims to the depths.

Iowa: Black Angel

The Black Angel is a 2.5 meter tall statue in Oakland Cemetery. It is shrouded in gloomy legends, probably because of its dark color.

According to one belief, pregnant women should not pass under the statue, otherwise they will lose their child. Others warn: if you touch or kiss (by the way, why?!) the statue, you will die within the next six months.

Be that as it may, the statue is truly gloomy. But what other monuments should there be in cemeteries?

Alabama: Hell's Gate Bridge

The history of this bridge in the town of Oxford dates back to the 1950s. One day a car fell off a bridge into the river. The boy and girl who were in it drowned.

Since then, 2 urban legends have been associated with the bridge. The first one says: if you drive your car into the middle of the bridge and turn off the headlights, the drowned couple will appear inside the car and leave wet marks on the seats. Second: if you, driving across the bridge, look back halfway, the landscape behind you will turn into a portal engulfed in flames.

Probably, in order to protect home-grown ghost hunters from such “checks,” the bridge was closed to traffic. And it is not recommended to walk on it - the structure is very dilapidated.

Alaska: evil spirits of kushtaka

Everyone knows about the ominous Bermuda Triangle, but perhaps you had no idea that Alaska is itself a Bermuda Triangle.

According to an LA Times study, Alaska has the highest percentage of missing people.

And although many reasonably believe that in the harsh northern state it is very easy to get lost and disappear without a trace, the Tlingit Indians living in Juneau have their own explanation.

Tlingits believe in kushtaka- evil spirits. Kushtakas know how to take human form and lure people into lost places with their sweet voice.

Arizona: Ghosts of Slaughterhouse Canyon

This legend originated during the Gold Rush.

Once upon a time there lived a very poor family in the canyon. One day, the father went to wander around the canyon in the hope of finding at least some food for his children and wife - and did not return. The family was slowly dying of hunger. No longer able to listen to the hungry children's moans, the mother put on a wedding dress, killed the babies and threw their bodies into the river, and the next day she died.

And now, local residents say, at night the blood-curdling screams of a mother who has lost her mind can be heard in the canyon.

The creepiest urban legends in the USA. Part 1: Idaho, Iowa, Alabama, Alaska, Arizona updated: August 20, 2019 by: Alina Dykhman

Halloween is a holiday of fun, absurdity and, of course, fear. A selection of tales - urban horror stories that American boy scouts still tell each other around the campfire - will help you not feel like a stranger at this holiday, because an immigrant in childhood was scared by completely different characters.

Riverdale Road, Colorado

Why is this creepy: The Riverdale Road near Thornton, Colorado, stretches for 11 miles (17 kilometers) and is literally teeming with legends that can scare even the most seasoned paranormal investigator. Here we met a ghost runner, a wide variety of demons and even a ghost Chevrolet Camaro. But the strangest place here is the Gates of Hell. This is the name of the entrance to the old estate, where, according to legend, the distraught head of the family burned his wife and children alive. The gate itself has long been demolished, the mansion has turned into ruins, but the ashes are still there. A woman in white wanders around it. And the ghosts of slaves allegedly hanged on a tree here. And even a pack of ghost dogs! Some believe that there is a portal to hell here, which is why so much horror is concentrated in such a small area.

Where did this come from: It is not known exactly when many local legends arose. Given the history of slave spirits, it is logical to assume that creepy things have happened here since the 50s of the 19th century. Each time something else terrible happened, the legend of it added to the list, which eventually became like a horror show in a provincial amusement park.

Mr. Sneeze, Delaware

Why is this creepy: In colonial times, Samuel Chu ( Chew) was a respected man - the chief judge of the state. However, even at that time and in his position, those around him laughed at his last name, pronouncing it like “Sneeze” (“apchhu!” - ah, Chew!). This infuriated the judge so much that even after death he could not calm down, and his spirit still haunts the descendants of his offenders. The ghost appears before his victims in a judge's robe and a starched wig. Those who still find his last name funny have the best chance of seeing him.

Where did this come from: Samuel Chew did serve as chief judge of three counties until his death in 1743. The legends surrounding him so disturbed the people of Dover Green that the ghost was even “buried” in an ornate grave. They say that after this he calmed down, but he can still scare the presumptuous lover of phonetic jokes.

Skunk Ape, Florida

Why is this creepy: The Everglades swamps in Florida are known for a number of nightmarish creatures and phenomena - man-eating alligators, man-eating snakes, car accidents and road robberies, which also cause people to die. However, in these places we also encountered something truly strange: a “skunk monkey.” The height of this relative of Bigfoot is from 1.5 to 2 meters, and its weight is about 200 kilograms. You can tell that a skunk monkey is somewhere nearby by its disgusting smell, reminiscent of rotting meat. Skunk monkeys are said to eat berries and small animals, but they have been known to attack wild boars and destroy farms. Recently, a headquarters for the search for this mysterious creature appeared in the Everglades. Of course, it is designed primarily for tourists: at the headquarters you can book a safari in the swamps. Who knows, maybe you will be the one to prove the existence of this beast once and for all.

Where did this come from: Nobody knows for sure. Some believe that this is Bigfoot, who, due to the invasion of civilization, left the mountains for the southern swamps, where it is easier to hide from hunters and find food. Others think it is a tale invented by pioneers to scare away strangers from their lands. No matter what you believe, if you're camping in the Everglades and smell a pungent odor, you'll want to be on the lookout. It could be a skunk monkey.

The Curse of Lake Lanier, Georgia

Why is this creepy: The huge man-made lake north of Atlanta is scary for several reasons. An abnormally large number of boats and swimmers sink on the lake, and inexplicable murders regularly occur along its shores. In the early 90s, a car was found at the bottom with the skeleton of a woman locked in it, who disappeared back in 1958. Since then, eyewitnesses have reported a ghostly female figure that can sometimes be seen above the surface of the water. They also talk about a giant catfish that lives in the depths of the lake. It is rumored to be large enough to swallow a dog and even drown a diver.

Where did this come from: The creation of the lake was accompanied by a lot of problems associated with the eviction of families and businesses from the territory, which was transferred for development to the Army Corps of Engineers. The ruins of the previous buildings remained at the bottom. The old cemetery was also flooded, which was partly the reason for the lake’s creepy reputation. Of course, most incidents on the lake occur due to the well-known combination of “drinking + swimming = tragedy” (people go to the lake primarily to have fun). However, many deaths remain unexplained, leading one to believe that there is something sinister behind them.

Ghost Runner from Canyon Hill Cemetery, Idaho

Why is this creepy: There are many rumors about ghosts at the old Canyon Hill Cemetery in Caldwell, Idaho. The most famous of them is "Midnight Runner". This is a legless woman who appears if you park between certain trees near the cemetery. She knocks on the window and then continues her “run,” which looks more like flying. It sounds creepy, but this is far from the worst legend about ghost runners. What about the spirit that shits on lawns?

Where did this come from: The origin is unknown, but given another conspiracy legend according to which the state of Idaho does not exist at all, we can assume that this is another government invention.

Goat Man, Maryland

Why is this creepy: The infamous Goat Man of Maryland is said to do everything you'd expect from a crazy half-human, half-animal: killing teenagers, eating dogs, screaming goat, etc. But the most terrifying aspect is how widespread this legend is. The US Department of Agriculture was even forced at one point to publicly deny the accidental creation of such a creature at its research center in Beltsville. Another story about the appearance of the goat man tells of a goat breeder who, upon learning that a group of rowdy teenagers had killed his herd, went crazy and turned into a monster.

Where did this come from: Journalist Karen Hosler from the newspaper first wrote about the goat man Prince George's County News in 1971. The material was devoted to the study of urban folklore of Maryland and was accompanied by the story of one of the local families about how someone cut off the head of their puppy. Of course, the family - not without a hint from the journalist - blamed the goat man for everything. A month later The Washington Post published a large note dedicated to this legend. The Goat Man instantly became famous throughout the country. The legend about him remains one of the most popular in the United States. The Goat Man is regularly “meeted,” and notes about him, sometimes incredibly detailed, appear in the Maryland press to this day.

Vampire Saint Germain, Louisiana

Why is this creepy: When it comes to scary things, Louisiana doesn't just rely on voodoo, ghosts and Woody Harrelson's accent in the show True Detective. Jacques Saint-Germain, like any self-respecting vampire, seduced young girls and drank their blood. According to one version, he was born at the beginning of the 18th century. According to another, he lived since the time of Jesus. After his "death" in 1783, he appeared here and there throughout Europe until he moved to New Orleans in 1902. Rumor has it that he still plies his murderous deeds in the city's French Quarter, but now calls himself Jack.

Where did this come from: The Comte de Saint-Germain was a real person, an alchemist and a real high-society snob who was friends with all the celebrities of his time. He communicated with Louis XV, Catherine the Great and Voltaire. The latter called him “an immortal man who knows everything.” He was even suspected of a series of murders. Besides, he never ate in public. In the 1970s, French showman Richard Chenfray declared that he was the immortal Saint Germain. However, less than 10 years later Chenfrey died of a drug overdose. Or not?

Dog Boy, Arkansas

Why is this creepy: This character's name may sound stupid. However, you will not be laughing if in the town of Quitman, Arkansas, you suddenly see the silhouette of a 140-pound half-man, half-beast with glowing eyes in the window of house 65 Mulberry Street. In this case, it is better to get out of there as soon as possible, because he has a habit of chasing people on the street, biting their legs like a dog.

Where did this come from: The real story behind this legend is much darker. Gerald Bettis, the only son of the Bettis family at 65 Mulberry Street, was always a troubled child. But not like in the movie “Problem Child.” As a child, Bettis tortured animals (hence his nickname, Dog Boy). As he grew older, his sociopathy spilled over into his elderly parents. He did not let them leave the house. Rumor has it that he killed his father. Bettis was eventually arrested for growing marijuana in his backyard. He died in prison from a drug overdose in 1988.

Hell's Bridge, Michigan

Why is this creepy: The Michigan legends of Detroit's Red Dwarf or the Dog Warriors are no match for the story of Elias Friske, the crazy old preacher who is said to have tormented children in the woods that are now Algoma. He kept his victims tied up and killed one by one. The remains were drowned in Cedar Creek. When the parents of the victims caught him, he said that he was possessed by demons. This did not stop his parents from hanging him. Hell's Bridge is a narrow crossing over a stream in the middle of the woods. Those who dare to cross it at night can hear the cries of the victims of the mad preacher, and sometimes see his black figure with glowing eyes.

Where did this come from: There is no record of Elias Frisk in official state records, although such a family is known to have lived here in the early 1910s. However, everyone who has been on the bridge agrees that there is something there - and it most often makes itself felt at night.

Area 51, Nevada

Why is it (still) creepy: The story of Area 51 has been retold (sometimes in a humorous way) so many times that it has become forgotten how alarming the whole situation looked in the very beginning. However, government silence, dead aliens and sinister experiments in desert Nevada look more disturbing than the movies about it. There is a lot of speculation about what is really going on at Area 51. They talk about time travel, genetic experiments, and autopsies of aliens. However, no one except the authorities knows the truth.

Where did it come from: First of all, it is worth remembering that Area 51 really exists. This is a well-equipped military base in southern Nevada. However, its purpose is unknown to anyone. At the very beginning of the Cold War, in the 1950s, President Eisenhower approved a plan to build the first aircraft based on stealth technology, the U-2. The laboratories and test airfield were located in the area that later became known as Area 51. The experimental plane resembled a UFO. Local residents who saw his flights, of course, built theories about his extraterrestrial origin, which immediately hit the press. The scandal was further fueled by news of a “UFO crash” in Roswell. Since then, Area 51 has been the center of conspiracy theories around the US government.

Watermelon Heads, Ohio

Why is this creepy: The name "Watermelon Heads" could be a good name for a dessert. However, the legend behind this name is much darker: it talks about pale, sick children who were subjected to genetic experiments. They are reputed to have huge heads and sharp teeth, perfect for tearing apart babies (and maybe you). Doesn't sound like dessert at all.

Where did this come from: Similar stories exist in Michigan and Connecticut, but Ohio's version is the darkest. According to this legend, the “Watermelon Heads” are the adopted children of a certain doctor who tested new surgical and pharmaceutical treatments on them. It didn't turn out very well. Now the test subjects hunt in the forests of Kirkland, ready to flay the skin of any random passerby. According to other versions, children simply run away when they see strangers. Finally, some consider them to be ordinary ghosts. One thing is for sure: one super-low-budget horror film was made based on this legend.

Hobo Sam, South Dakota

Why is this creepy: In December 2014, a wave of suicide attempts swept across the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota - a total of 103 cases occurred. The incident is associated with the legend of Hobo Sam. Teenagers who tried to commit suicide said that a tall and thin figure appeared to them, who called himself Sam, and demanded to kill himself. A year earlier, five members of the Oglala Sioux tribe committed suicide. In 2015, the head of the tribe published in Facebook photo from a local forest with already prepared loops on the trees. This is how the plan for mass teenage suicide was revealed.

Where did this come from: The figure of Hobo Sam also refers to the legends about the Boogeyman, which still work today - just remember the Slenderman hysteria in 2008. The idea of ​​the “shadow people” is also so old that it is difficult to find its origin. However, Hobo Sam himself is a relatively new local legend of the Lakota and Dakota Indian tribes. Journalist Peter Matthiesen first wrote about Sam in 1980 in his article “The Spirit of the Crazy Horse.” According to the material, Sam was first seen by Indians from the Sioux and Little Eagle tribes. The Tramp is sometimes called taku-he or "Bigfoot with a Straw Hat."

Rabbit Bridge, Virginia

Why is this creepy: This legend is fun to retell at night around the fire, but the real events behind it are truly frightening. In the 1970s, police repeatedly reported people being threatened by an axe-wielding man dressed in a bunny costume. Some eyewitnesses said that he threw his ax at them. There are still frequent reports of dead rabbits being found in the woods around the Fairfax Bridge, also known as the Rabbit Bridge. They also talk about a man in white who was seen under the bridge.

Where did this come from: According to legend, in 1904, a group of prisoners were transported by bus from a mental hospital in Clifton, Virginia, to a nearby prison. On the way, the bus overturned, many prisoners died, but some managed to escape. The next day, the police began searching for the fugitives, and caught all but one. During further searches, police began to find gnawed carcasses of rabbits in the woods near the Fairfax Bridge, but they were unable to catch the one who ate them. A year later, on Halloween night, a group of teenagers went under a bridge to spend time away from their parents. The next morning they were found hanging from the bridge supports. Since then, it has been believed that anyone who finds themselves under the bridge that night will face imminent death.

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It is difficult to imagine the life of a modern person without a camera, mobile phone and selfie. Someone, in an effort to get an enviable shot, sometimes takes pictures in unimaginable places and poses, but selfies with mirrors are especially popular. However, not all selfie lovers think about the entities that hide behind the “water surface” of mirrors. One of the most popular “mirror” stories is the legend of Bloody Mary.

Origins of the legend

The descendants of the Slavs are well acquainted with a similar legend. Everyone knows that if you look in the mirror and repeat the girl’s name three times, her spirit will appear in the mirror and drag away the impudent joker. This is how children often have fun at summer camps and secret parties. However, few people know the true legend about this girl.

Various sources say that the legend of Bloody Mary is widely known in different countries. But the origins of this legend are not known to everyone, and perhaps the story of the mysterious girl in the mirror would not have survived to this day. However, the almighty Internet has kept this secret for us.

The legend was first recorded in writing only in the 20th century, when mystical phenomena were very popular among American children. This can be found out by analyzing multiple police reports, sheriffs and diary entries of great-grandmothers of the modern generation. After getting acquainted with these carriers of history, it becomes clear that Bloody Mary was invoked with enviable consistency, standing at the mirrors already in those days. Some of today's grandparents did it for fun, some for the sake of authority among their peers, and some for serious and dangerous reasons.

Some followers of the forces of darkness mistakenly believe that the girl’s spirit will not harm them. They are trying to “tame” him and use this power against their enemies. At first it seems to them that this scheme works. Mary's spirit haunts mirror after mirror, killing victim after victim. However, at some point, the “master” of the entity himself becomes the target of Bloody Mary’s hunt. And then he either understands what he has done, or dies without a clear understanding of the situation that has occurred.

The years that have passed since the first mention of the girl’s sad story have done their job: a banal story about life has strangely degenerated into something supernatural and beyond the grave. However, this did not make the legend lose popularity. Until now, people continue to make the mistake of our ancestors on a dare - they test the nerves of the spirit for strength.

Time has left its mark on the interpretation of the legend. Folklore or cinema, the desire to embellish reality, the need for attention - all this and much more became the reason for the conscious modification of the facts of the stranger’s life. Currently, it is very difficult to determine where this is alluvial husk and where the real events are. Therefore, one can only try to recreate Mary’s story.

The realest of legends, or who is Mary?

Our contemporaries are trying to find the truth in the question of who is the same Mary who was forever locked in Through the Looking Glass. As a result of research, many different facts are revealed about a girl whose face no one has seen. She is often painted as a medieval witch. Sometimes she is portrayed as our contemporary who died in a car accident. It is difficult to determine which of these “experts” is telling the truth. However, you can try to find the truth yourself.

As a result of a short independent search, we can come to the following conclusion: Mary really exists. The official version of the legend about her was born in Pennsylvania. She is connected with an old healer. In ancient times she lived as a hermit in a small dugout near the forest. This did not become a hindrance for other residents of the area. They were sure that the old woman was a witch and was sending diseases. For reasons unknown to us, the locals were very afraid of her. It was they who gave her the nickname “Bloody Mary.” People knew everything about the old woman, but did not touch her until a certain moment. The persecution of the woman began after local girls went missing. People searched absolutely everything around, but neither the children nor their bodies were found. Then local daredevils decided to search Mary’s abode. No direct evidence was found; the old woman denied everything. There were no reasons to bring her to justice. And only her face gave away the secret: the old woman had become noticeably younger!

The last straw, or punishment for witchcraft

The fears of the town residents were confirmed one night. The old witch's next victim suddenly got out of bed and walked towards the forest. It was impossible to stop her. Local residents and close people of the girl followed her. In the forest they found an old hermit: in her hands was a magic wand. This became direct evidence of the lone old woman’s witchcraft, and local residents burned the accused woman at the stake.

After the death of the unfortunate woman, people found the bodies of the missing girls around her house. During the “secret investigation” it was established that the woman used the blood of young and innocent children for rejuvenation and healing.

How did Mary get into Through the Looking Glass?

However, the story did not end there. We never found out where the very Mary who can be seen in Through the Looking Glass came from. It turns out that the old woman, burning at the stake, shouted a curse. Its essence was that every daredevil who uttered her name at the mirror would be visited by Mary’s angry and tormented spirit and killed. A man trapped by Old Mary dies in a strange way. His spirit remains forever trapped in the Looking Glass and burns in hellfire.

alternative history

Modern researchers offer several alternatives regarding the origins of the legend of Bloody Mary. One of the most popular versions is the story of the English Queen Mary I Tudor. She received her nickname after death due to her extraordinary bloodthirstiness. The woman sent to the stake not only ardent defenders of the “witchcraft” ideology, but also those who renounced their previous faith in favor of Catholicism out of fear of death. Also popular were stories about Queen Mary using the blood of young Protestant women to preserve her own youth.

In the United States, the story of Mary Worth has become famous. Today there are two common legends about a girl with this name. According to one of them, Mary Worth killed her own children. It was impossible to find details about this case.

According to another version, a girl with the same name was in a car accident. Before this event she was very beautiful. The girl spent hours looking at her beauty, sitting in front of the mirror. In the accident, her face was badly damaged: no trace remained of its former beauty. Relatives were afraid that the girl would go crazy if she found out the truth. And they hid the mirrors from her.

One night, Mary, secretly from her relatives, looked into the mirror in one of the rooms. Seeing the terrible scars, she screamed heart-rendingly. According to legend, the girl entered the Looking Glass. Since then, her spirit has been traveling from mirror to mirror in search of the next victim. She longs to convey her destiny through the cuts she inflicts on the brave.

Mary Worthington is another contender for the role of Bloody Mary. This girl didn't kill anyone in the first place. But they killed her in a cruel way - they cut out her eyes in front of the mirror. At the same time, the girl was alive and felt incredible pain. The legend says that after death, the spirit of the unfortunate woman moved into the mirror and lives there to this day. There is evidence that Mary moves with the mirror. If someone tries to call her, then the girl kills this person through the mirror.

Which of these stories is true is not clear. Each of them received some confirmation from witnesses to the crimes. However, which legend to believe in is up to everyone to choose for themselves.

Mary and modernity

Many years have passed since the first mention. However, to this day, American periodicals occasionally light up with a painfully familiar headline with the infamous name of Bloody Mary. This means that the myth is firmly entrenched in the minds of Americans. This also suggests that the events described were never a myth. Even now, the same Mary is standing by your reflection in the monitor - as before - waiting for you to make another mistake. When you say out loud these three pairs of painfully familiar words:

Bloody Mary! Bloody Mary! Bloody Mary!

It’s worth thinking about this when taking your next selfie in front of the mirror. Just don't repeat this...

Admit that you are still shuddered by memories of scary stories from your youth. Every child has heard stories about maniacs, ghosts and alien abductions.

And all these stories are, of course, true, because... Happened to none other than your cousin's girlfriend's friend's friend. Isn't there enough evidence?

10. The Suscon Screamer

Is there anything more creepy than a dead bride? I think no. Stories about these unfortunate people can be found in any country.

Suscon Road is a road in Pennsylvania, where the Railroad Bridge over the Susquehanna River is also located. There are many legends associated with this place. Locals claim that if you come to this place, turn off the engine, put the keys on the roof of the car and wait a little, you will be able to see in the rearview mirror the so-called “the Suscan Screamer” (from the English Scream - scream; screamer - the one who is screaming).

Most stories boil down to the fact that this is the ghost of a woman who was abandoned right at the altar and who then committed suicide on this bridge. They also say that after jumping from the bridge, she let out a piercing scream.

Another version features a creature with webbed feet, large claws and a huge head. Maybe someone should ask this dead bride what really happened when she sits in the back seat?

9. Lillian Gray

This story begins with a tombstone that sits in the center of a cemetery in Salt Lake City, Utah. It "belongs" to a woman named Lillian E. Gray, who died in the 1950s at the age of 77. At first glance, this tombstone is no different from the others, until you come across the inscription “Victim of the Beast 666”.

Now this is alarming. What could this mysterious inscription mean? Maybe this is some kind of indictment of the believers of one of the most religious cities in the country? Could she have been sacrificed for a satanic cult? Maybe she herself worshiped the devil? Or was she the victim of a witch hunt? But, these are all just rumors that intrigued residents came up with to explain this.

And as always, there will be someone who will come and ruin everything. The inscription was ordered by a paranoid husband who hated the government and blamed the police for his wife’s death. It's hard to say whether this makes the story any less terrible, but that's how it happened.

8. The Stow Lake Ghost

Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California is known for its paranormal stories. If you believe the locals, then it is teeming with spirits, and you risk bumping into one of them while doing yoga. This park might as well be called “Undead Park.” But one ghost story was especially popular. It was published in the San Francisco Chronicle on January 6, 1908. This is the story of the Stow Lake ghost.

The newspaper publication begins with the name Arthur Pidgin. He was driving along the road, slightly exceeding the speed limit. A policeman stopped him. Arthur said that it was not his fault, he had to drive quickly to leave the lake as quickly as possible. He saw the ghost of a woman. She had long blond hair and no shoes on her feet.

Legends say that she was a mother who lost her child, or even killed her, and then committed suicide. Yeah, of course, it was impossible to come up with a better excuse for my violation...

7. Gates of Hell

Bobby Mackey's Music World is a popular bar in Wilder, Kentucky. The owner of this establishment is country singer Bobby Mackey. Three legends are associated with this place, which have become so popular that the building is put up for sale.

First. There are the gates of hell that allow demons to enter our world. It is not yet clear why they come. Maybe they really like country music or beer.

As for the other two stories, they are more traditional. The first is about Pearl Bryan, a real-life pregnant woman who was found beheaded in the late 19th century. Her lover Scott Jackson and his friend Alonzo Walling were hanged for her murder.

The second legend is that of a woman named Joanna who is said to have fallen in love with a singer at a club. Her furious father allegedly hanged her lover in the dressing room, causing Joanna to commit suicide by poisoning. Bobby McKay wrote a song about this incident that suggests that the girl is still stalking him in that bar.

6. Patterson Road

In Houston, Texas, numerous urban legends are associated with memories of the Civil War. One of the creepiest is associated with Patterson Road, which is located next to Interstate 6. All locals agree on one thing that the ghosts that live there were soldiers of the Civil War.

Those who believe this say that if you drive to the Langham Creek Bridge on Patterson Road at night and turn off the lights, you will hear a tapping sound or the car will be engulfed in fog. More skeptical locals point out that parking a car with the lights off on a busy bridge would be a good opportunity to become a ghost yourself.

5. Goat Man

Many stories are often made up by adults to scare children when they misbehave. Anyone who grew up in a Mexican family is familiar with this method of parenting, and many are probably still afraid of El Cucuy (Spanish).

El Cucuy, or boogie man, or more simply “the evil guy”

The stories seem to have been made up by idiotic older brothers who are always trying to scare the younger ones. For example, the story about the goat man in Beltsville, Maryland. There is no official version of this legend, but most claim that a scientist from the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center experimented on goats. And this somehow led to the fact that he himself partially became a goat, such, you know, a hybrid of a human and an animal.

4. The Snallygaster

In the 1730s, immigrants in Frederick County, Maryland, claimed to have encountered a terrifying creature. Soon after establishing a city on the site, residents began reporting sightings of a beast that was half bird and half reptile with a metal beak and razor-sharp teeth.

It also had octopus tentacles, which it used to grab people and carry them away to feed its baby squid lizards.

When you hear this story for the first time without mentioning the nickname of this creature - Snelligaster, you can easily scoff. The plot of this story acquired new details as residents reported their “sightings” from New Jersey to Ohio. But let's not find fault with these states where every second person uses drugs

3. Green man

This is perhaps the only story on this list that involves a real person with truly horrific details.

In the Koppel, Pennsylvania area, it is easy to spot a horribly disfigured man wandering the dark streets at night. He was nicknamed "Charlie without a face" or "the green man", and everyone has their own story of meeting him.

This is all because he really existed! Raymond Robinson, born in 1910, at the age of eight tried to look into a bird's nest on a bridge but had an accident. He touched a power line, which electrocuted him, causing horrific facial injuries that were permanent.

As it happens, such an appearance caused people to panic, children began to cry, so for almost all 74 years Robinson hid from people at home and went for walks at night. He became a living legend, and some people even went out at night to get a glimpse of him.

2. Dog boy

Quitman, Arkansas is another place full of ghost stories. Most houses have their own history, and to stand out from “this crowd” you need to try hard. And such a story takes place. Here it is - the legend of the boy-dog.

In 1954, Floyd and Ellyn Bettis had a son, Gerald. By the way, this house is called the Battis house. Those who knew him in his youth claim that he caught dogs and cats, kept them in his home, mercilessly tortured and killed them. But what he is really famous for is the fact that he kept his parents captive in the attic for many years. He was arrested after his father died.

Gerald himself died in prison from a drug overdose. Since then, people have been claiming that paranormal activity is happening in their home. Flickering lights, strange sounds and moving objects. Considering Gerald threw his father out of the window, it seems unsurprising that there are ghosts there.

1. Coal Man.

A famous California urban legend originates from the Ojai Valley, Park Camp. They say that the spirit of a man who was burned alive lives there, and now he suddenly appears from the forest and attacks cars and tourists. They call him the Coal Man.

There are several versions of the origin of the "coal" man, but they all begin with forest fires that occurred in the park in 1948. The main version is that father and son were held hostage by fire. The father died in the fire, but the son survived. When the rescue team arrived at the scene, they found that the son had suspended his father and pulled off his skin. At the sight of the firefighters, the son disappeared into the forest.

Another story tells about a married couple who also became victims of a fire, and tells us that the young man, also falling into the power of the fire, suffered very much and also went crazy because he could not help his wife, who screamed for help.

And yet, as usual, people say, if you come to this park, stop on the bridge and get out of the car, the Coal Man will come out to you. A horribly burned man will stumble upon you and try to rip your skin off.

Translator Ksenia Shramko

In the eyes of foreigners, any country is shrouded in an aura of prejudice, stereotypes and speculation: in Russia they wear earflaps and train bears, in France they eat frogs, in England everyone drinks tea at 5 pm.

The USA is no exception. They, too, are surrounded by myths and legends, which, upon closer examination, have very little in common with reality.

Myth No. 1. Americans are a nationality.
An interesting fact: if you say the words “America and Americans” in society, 100% of those present will think about the United States and its population, despite the fact that America consists of two continents, dozens of countries and millions of inhabitants.
The population of the United States, Americans, appears to foreigners as a single whole, one nationality. In fact, the USA is a multinational country, in addition to the descendants of European settlers and African Americans, there are many Indians, Arabs, Chinese, Filipinos, and Latin Americans. Each national group has its own traditions and culture. They are united by the common concept of “US citizen.”

Myth No. 2. Americans always support the decisions of the authorities.
Americans try to follow the letter of the law: if a president is elected, it means that his proposals and decisions are supported by the majority. A minority of the population may disapprove of this choice, but not out loud. In the United States, it is not customary to discuss politics loudly with strangers. There are laws to solve political problems.
Moreover, almost all residents of the United States are ardent patriots. American patriotism has always been at a very high level. It is instilled in citizens from childhood. The most striking example is the military-patriotic movement of scouts.

Myth No. 3. The USA does not have its own culture.
If people in Russia know nothing about American culture, this does not mean that it does not exist. There were and are many talented people in the USA; there are many cultural centers, museums, and institutes in the country. Americans are close to specifics and practicality, but they are also interested in art and literature.

Myth No. 4. There is no national cuisine in the USA.
In ordinary life, the American diet is truly impersonal: hamburgers, pizzas, steaks and other fast food products. However, on special holiday days, every housewife tries to surprise and delight her guests with traditional national dishes, primarily turkey, potato and pumpkin dishes.

Myth No. 5. America is a depraved country.
Free and loose morals are a stereotype of the film industry. In the United States, Puritan worldviews are still strong, the further from big cities, the more so. The country has a ban on alcohol until the age of 21, there is strict censorship of sex scenes in movies, and adultery is condemned. In America, you can be put on trial for having sex in the forest with your own wife or for examining a sick person who is not dressed in special clothes and is excessively exposed.

Myth No. 6. There are no queues in America.
In this regard, the USA is an ordinary country. They also stand in line at stores, government offices, and amusement parks, wasting a lot of time.

Myth No. 7. Americans are workaholics.
Among the residents of the United States there are workaholics, but not more often than in other countries. The average American works to provide themselves and their families with a decent living. He will work exactly as much as is required to pay for all needs, but no more. If the salary is enough, an American will never take on an additional part-time job; he would rather go on vacation or do charity work.
There is an opinion that in America everyone is obsessed with money, any service must be paid. You should not suspect all US residents of self-interest. The volunteer movement is popular in the country. Selfless help to those in need is prestigious.
Neighbors and acquaintances help each other look after their children, repair their cars, and give each other rides to work, including for free.

Myth No. 8. In the USA, everyone is obsessed with political correctness.
America is a multinational country, and any incorrectness can provoke conflict. That's why Americans prefer prevention to treatment. Naturally, any resident of the United States may have his own racial prejudices, but he will never talk about it out loud.
In addition, feminist movements are strong in the United States. Women in America are in a privileged position. However, while defending her rights, she does not forget to give birth to children (at least 3) and take care of her family.
The most serious problems can arise from sexual harassment. Even a free look or word can be regarded as a violation of the law. Male doctors suffer especially because they are afraid to look at their patients once again: you can only look at the part of the body that hurts, and not a centimeter more.

Myth No. 9. Americans are very fat and eat only fast food.
Today, the United States is the leader in the number of people suffering from obesity. It is worth noting that Russia ranks second.
However, as a rule, those who suffer from excess weight are immigrants who earn little, eat fast food and exercise little. Native Americans typically exercise, eat healthy foods, and lead a healthy lifestyle. In general, sports in the USA are easily accessible, so the movie myth about people running in the morning is true.

Myth No. 10. Americans are stupid.
In the USA, as in any other country, there are people who do not know the simplest things. These are mostly Americans from the poorest strata of the population who graduated from not the best schools.
Average Americans who have graduated from a good school and a good university are smart, educated people. They do not like empty talk, they are inquisitive and specific.
Education in the USA is no worse than in Russia, it’s just different: it’s not extended over time, it’s not loaded with general education subjects. At American universities, they study only those subjects that are necessary for the chosen profession and are applicable in life.
The USA ranks first in the number of scientific discoveries; Americans have received the Nobel Prize 326 times (Russians only 27).

Myth No. 11. Americans dress poorly and tastelessly.
Americans know how to be elegant and sophisticated if there is a suitable occasion. Work or shopping is not included in this list.
In ordinary life, American residents dress simply, even casually, and rarely use cosmetics and perfumes. The main criterion when choosing clothes is comfort. People are not embarrassed by their figures or excess weight and wear any clothes they like, regardless of their build.
Her hairstyle and manicure evoke contemptuous glances from surrounding feminists. Few Americans take care of their hair and nails.
The only reason for concern for US residents is a snow-white smile. In America it is common to smile. Therefore, teeth are carefully monitored and cared for.

Myth No. 12. The USA is a country of informers.
In America they really “knock.”
However, if the law is broken, there is no shame in reporting it to the police. Concealing a crime entails serious consequences, including prison.
Denunciations come in different forms and in different situations. Children are taught about honesty and responsibility from childhood, but a sneaky child will always be an outcast. They often knock at work in order to advance their career, especially if such behavior is encouraged by their superiors. Whether friends and neighbors will engage in denunciation depends on them, but more often conflicts can be resolved through negotiations.

Myth No. 13. Americans love to sue.
There is an opinion that Americans are constantly suing and making crazy money from it.
In fact, a lawsuit is an expensive matter, and whether it can be won is unknown. Even a just case can be lost if you get a bad lawyer. It is very difficult to find a lawyer without good financial support and with a questionable outcome of the case; lawyers willingly take on only easy winning claims.
Therefore, few people decide to go to court with real grounds.

Myth No. 14. In the USA there is a cult of family.
Indeed, family means a lot to Americans, but without fanaticism. If possible, all relatives try to get together on holidays and significant dates. However, they also quarrel, swear and stop all communication with each other, just like in any country.

Myth No. 15. All Americans are wealthy people.
The standard of living in America is quite high, however, everything is known in comparison.
The average family has a car, insurance, electronics and the like, as well as bills, loans, daily expenses for food and gasoline, and some money for a rainy day. There is no longer any money left for travel and serious trips. In order to receive an average salary, you need to work at least 8 hours and rarely rest (there are much fewer holidays than in Russia). People from the poor layer of the population work in 2-3 places and, in general, seven days a week.

The USA is a distant, large, multinational and rich country. It has its own cultural and historical characteristics, therefore it arouses constant interest from foreigners and gives rise to many myths.