🏠A House of Mystery
"Some places are remembered for what happened there.
Others are remembered for the questions that remain."
Welcome to one of Iowa's most well-known historic landmarks.
The home before you became part of American history during the tragic events
of June 10, 1912.
The Victims
After returning from church activities, during the early morning hours of June 10, 1912, eight (8) people lost their lives while they slept inside this home.
The victims were Josiah (age 43) and Sarah (39) Moore;
their four children, Herman (11), Katherine (10), Boyd (7), and Paul (5);
and two young houseguests, Ina (11) and Lena (8)
Stillinger.
The person who committed this atrocity waited in hiding until the family fell asleep, before emerging in the dead of night. The murders shocked the nation & remain one of America's most
notorious unsolved crimes. Despite numerous investigations, interviews, & theories over the past century,
the murders that occurred here remain officially unsolved
more than a century later. No one was ever convicted of the travesty, & no definitive motive has been
established.
The mystery surrounding what happened here continues to intrigue
historians, investigators, & visitors alike. Many peculiarities remain about this case. Such as, did the perpetrator hide in the attic, or in a closet, watching? Why was the axe left behind with a pound of bacon on the floor? Why were all the mirrors within the home covered? Why wasn’t anything stolen, such as money left on a dresser? Why did the killer prepare a meal, simply to leave it uneaten on the dining room table? Was this someone local or a serial killer riding the rails?
The house has since become the subject of
historical research, documentaries, books, and countless discussions about
what really happened that night.
Since the house was restored and opened for daytime tours and overnight stays in the 1990s, hundreds of visitors & paranormal investigators have reported intense emotional shifts & physical phenomena. The property is widely cited as one of the most haunted locations in the United States.
While many visitors come because of stories surrounding paranormal activity,
this cache is not intended to make light of the tragedy that
occurred here. Instead, it is placed with permission to encourage visitors to
learn about an important piece of Iowa history while enjoying another adventure:
geocaching.
The Geocache
Your mission is considerably less dangerous than solving a century-old mystery.
Use your geosenses to locate the cache without attracting unnecessary attention.
- ✔️ Please respect the grounds by staying in publicly accessible or permitted areas only. There is no cost to tour the exterior of the property or to access the cache.
- ✔️ Remember that this is both a historic site and a place many people visit to reflect on the events that took
place here. Be respectful of the property and other visitors, obeying any posted rules or hours.
- ✔️ Share your adventure in your log—but please avoid posting spoilers.
- ✔️ You are welcome to sign the wood lining the inside of the red/orange barn (optional).
Whether you came for the history, the mystery, or simply another smiley on your map, we hope you leave with a deeper appreciation for this remarkable—& sobering—piece of Iowa history.
Placed & maintained
by an IGO Member
