Villisca Axe Murder House

Villisca Axe Murder House stands at 508 E. 2nd Street in Villisca, Iowa, where on the night of June 9–10, 1912, an unknown assailant brutally bludgeoned to death Josiah and Sarah Moore, their four children, and two visiting sisters during a sleepover—a crime that remains unsolved over a century later.

The crime scene was horrifyingly staged: mirrors were covered, victims’ heads draped with bedclothes, and the murder weapon—Josiah’s own axe—left behind in the guest room :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}. Visitors still report eerie phenomena: sudden mood swings, unexplained sensor triggers, and EVP recordings of disembodied child voices saying “Mommy” during overnight stays.

Restored to its 1912 condition by historians in the 1990s, the house now operates as a museum offering guided daytime tours and paranormal overnight experiences. It attracts true crime buffs and ghost hunters alike, with many recounting unsettling sensations and unexplained activity during their visits.