HH Holmes Hotel: What Really Happened to the Murder Castle

The building at 601–603 West 63rd Street in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood never functioned as a hotel, despite being famously called the “Murder Castle.” Modern historical research suggests the property was a mixed-use building with a drugstore, long-term rentals, and a later-added third story—not the labyrinth of death described in popular legend. This article separates verified facts from sensationalized stories, drawing on recent reporting by the Chicago Tribune, Smithsonian Magazine, and local historians.

Last checked: 2026-09-23

Full Name: Herman Webster Mudgett, known as Dr. Henry Howard Holmes or H.H. Holmes · Notorious Property: World’s Fair Hotel, also called the ‘Murder Castle’ · Location: Chicago, Illinois, near the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition · Building Features: secret passages, trapdoors, gas vents, soundproof rooms, peepholes · Current Status: the hotel no longer exists; a post office stands on the site today · Primary Research Sources: Wikipedia, Britannica, A&E, Reddit, YouTube expert critique

Does the HH Holmes hotel still exist?

The short answer is no. The building that housed Holmes’s operations was damaged by fire in 1895 and remained standing until 1938, when it was demolished (History.com). The site at 601–603 West 63rd Street is now occupied by an Englewood branch of the United States Post Office. No structure from the original property survives above ground.

After Holmes was executed in 1896, the building changed hands and eventually fell into disrepair. Local reporting by CBS Chicago notes that the upper floors were reportedly rebuilt after the 1895 fire, but the whole was torn down four decades later (CBS Chicago). What stands today is a modern postal facility, with no marker or museum dedicated to Holmes.

The bottom line: The building is gone. The only physical remnant is a postal service building on the same block.

Timeline of the Holmes building

• Before 1892: Holmes works as a clerk in a drugstore at 63rd Street and Wallace Avenue (Chicagology).
• 1892: Construction or major development of the property (Chicagology).
• 1893: World’s Columbian Exposition opens; the building is later described as a hotel for fair visitors (History.com).
• 1895: Fire damages the building; upper floors rebuilt (CBS Chicago).
• 1896: Holmes hanged (Roadside America).
• 1938: Building demolished (History.com).
• Post-1938: Site becomes Englewood Post Office (History.com).

Where was the Holmes hotel?

The property stood in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood, near the intersection of West 63rd Street and South Wallace Avenue. The address most commonly cited is 601–603 West 63rd Street, though some historical accounts offer slightly different numbers (Chicago Tribune). It was approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) west of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition grounds.

At the time, Englewood was a growing commercial district. The building sat within walking distance of the fair’s main entrance at Jackson Park, a fact that later helped fuel the narrative that Holmes constructed the building specifically to lure World’s Fair tourists. However, historian Adam Selzer, quoted by WTTW, notes that “the castle never for one day truly functioned as a hotel” (WTTW Chicago). The ground floor contained shops, and the upper floors were used as long-term rental apartments.

The Holmes property: Layout and features

What this means: The surviving historical record is stronger for fraud and unusual architecture than for a purpose-built torture hotel. Many famous details come from sensationalized newspaper accounts.

Did they exhume HH Holmes?

Yes, Holmes’s body was exhumed in 2017. He had been buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Philadelphia after his execution in 1896. The exhumation was requested by descendants who wanted to confirm that the remains were indeed those of Herman Webster Mudgett, amid rumors that Holmes had faked his own death (Roadside America). The examination used dental records and other forensic methods to confirm his identity. Afterward, the body was reinterred in the same grave.

The exhumation did not yield dramatic new insights into his crimes, but it did fuel ongoing public fascination with his story.

Why did people think HH Holmes was Jack the Ripper?

During the Whitechapel murders in London (1888), Holmes is known to have been in the city at roughly the same time. He was working various insurance and property scams, but his presence overlapped with the Ripper killings. Later, some authors theorized that Holmes might have been the Ripper, pointing to his medical training (he had a degree from the University of Michigan) and the fact that he committed murders in multiple locations (Roadside America).

However, no solid evidence links Holmes to the Whitechapel murders. The timeline of the Ripper killings (late 1888) is well established, and Holmes does not appear in British police files. The comparison remains speculative, though it persists in popular true-crime discussions.

The catch: The theory is based on coincidental timing, not documented facts.

Where is the serial killer exhibition in Chicago?

Chicago does not have a permanent exhibition dedicated solely to serial killers, but several museums have touched on Holmes. The Museum of Science and Industry and the Chicago History Museum have previously displayed artifacts related to the 1893 World’s Fair and occasionally mention Holmes in broader crime or history exhibits. The Chicago History Museum holds some archival materials about the case (Chicago Tribune).

For visitors specifically interested in Holmes, the best resource may be the public library or online archives; no dedicated museum exists at the former site.

How is H.H. Holmes compared to Jack the Ripper?

Comparison typically focuses on three points: victim count, method, and location. Holmes confessed to 27 murders, though estimates range from 9 to 200; Jack the Ripper is definitively linked to five murders. Holmes killed indoors over a period of years; the Ripper killed outdoors in a short spree. Holmes used a building with hidden rooms; the Ripper used public streets (Roadside America).

Both figures became archetypes of urban terror, but their crimes differ significantly in scale, method, and context. The link between the two is largely a product of true-crime mythmaking.

Is there a movie about HH Holmes and his hotel?

Multiple documentaries have been made about Holmes, including episodes of History Channel’s “American Ripper” (2017) and A&E’s “H.H. Holmes: The First Serial Killer” (2020). No major theatrical Hollywood film has been released as of 2025, though several projects have been announced over the years. Popular books such as Erik Larson’s The Devil in the White City (2003) have also driven interest in a film adaptation that has yet to materialize (A&E).

The most accessible visual resource is the documentary “The Murder Castle” (2010) and various YouTube analyses from historians like Adam Selzer.

Alternatives to the original site for Holmes history enthusiasts

Since the original building no longer exists, visitors can engage with Holmes history through other means:

• Chicago History Museum (1601 N. Clark Street) – holds some archival materials related to the 1893 World’s Fair and may have Holmes-related documents.
• Englewood Post Office – standing on the site, though no exhibits are present. Can be visited as a reference point.
• Virtual resources – many historical societies, including the Chicagology site, offer detailed floor plans and period maps.
• Self-guided walking tours – some tour companies offer versions of a “Murder Castle” walking tour around Englewood, though they rely largely on legend.

The trade-off: None of these alternatives offer the physical experience of the actual building, but they provide context and archival evidence.

Our recommendation for exploring the Holmes history

Sources

• Chicago Tribune – “130 years later, was H.H. Holmes’ Englewood ‘Murder Castle’ the house of horror legends claim? It wasn’t even a hotel, experts say” (2023)
• Smithsonian Magazine – “The Enduring Mystery of H.H. Holmes, America’s First Serial Killer” (2021)
• WTTW Chicago – “The True History of H.H. Holmes Examines Life, Career of Serial Killer” (2017)
• CBS Chicago – “Chicago Hauntings: H.H. Holmes Murder Castle Post Office” (2018)
• History.com – “H.H. Holmes Murder Castle”
• A&E – “H.H. Holmes’ Murder Castle Hotel”
• Chicagology – “H.H. Holmes”
• Roadside America – “H.H. Holmes Murder Castle”
• Choose Chicago – “Chicago’s Most Haunted Places”
• Yahoo News – “130 years later, H.H. Holmes’ Murder Castle still fascinates” (2023)