Hamilton’s Dark History

Dark History Tour – – Strange, dark (& true) stories of Hamilton!

With infamous people like Canada’s Al Capone, Rocco Perri. And the Torso Murderess, Evelyn Dick! Standing at the locations of dark events.

Also, our city’s laughable reputation for public executions. The death people wanted.  Plus, we prove Hamilton was a true mafia town, on the site of a brutal assassination.

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The Alleyway on Augusta

Beside 13 Augusta Street MAP
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Hamilton Dark History Prices

Adults . . . . . . . $15.00
Kids 13 & under . . . . $13.00

+ HST Tax / No Hidden Fees!

What people are saying about the Hamilton tours…

Excellent4.9 Based on 409 reviews fromChris WhiteChris White ★★★★★ Great value and Sir Bob’s storytelling was fantastic.Kristen RoseKristen Rose ★★★★★ Love the tours provided. Enjoyable way to learn the historyChantelle LisaChantelle Lisa ★★★★★ Went on The Ghost Walks latest tour the Dark Trolley and had a great time so informative, and interesting. Daniel kept us entertained the whole time. 10/10 recommend. We signed up for another one on the drive homeKatie FavellKatie Favell ★★★★★ We booked a private walk of downtown Hamilton. Daniel was amazing! He was very engaging and knowledgeable. The tour was definitely an experience that I will always remember!Doug MillarDoug Millar ★★★★★ Ghost Walks latest tour, The Dark Trolley tour, was fun, informative, and an enjoyable evening! Thanks Daniel for being such fantastic host!Diggity DawgDiggity Dawg ★★★★★ My wife and I were just on the Dark Trolley tour, with Daniel this past weekend. He was an exceptional guide. Full of wit, charm, and vast amounts of knowledge. I discovered things about past criminal dealings and tragic events that happened right in our own backyard! We had a blast, and highly recommend Ghost Walks events to everyone. The trolley itself, adds a nice nostalgic element to the tour. Thanks Daniel!Lisa Marie PalmerLisa Marie Palmer ★★★★★ Had a great time on the Trolley Tour of Hamilton Harbour. Daniel is a wonderful host and story teller. Looking forward to more.Heather CampeaHeather Campea ★★★★★ we had a great time on the trolley tour! our tour guide was amazing!Kathleen DKathleen D ★★★★★ Toured Armitage Ruins, guide lady with the red hair was an enjoyable story teller. (Sorry couldn't remember her name) we did a 7pm tour in Aug so it was daylight still. If you book later in fall it would have more of a spookier element. *did anyone else smell manure when crossing the threshold?? We did!Valerie ArmelliniValerie Armellini ★★★★★ What a fun evening with Daniel in downtown Hamilton. He's a real storyteller, and a truly fun guy. He made the stories so interesting! Will be going on more of these walks!Just a great evening out. Thank you Ghost Walks!!Brian DoddBrian Dodd ★★★★★ I recently went on a ghost walk and it was absolutely amazing! The tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable and engaging, and the stories she shared were both spooky and informative. I particularly enjoyed learning about the history behind some of the haunted locations we visited. Overall, I highly recommend this ghost walk to anyone looking for a fun and educational night out.Jorja MJorja M ★★★★★ Go Daniel!Your tour was excellent, informed, and well spoken!Sandra and Amelia AmosSandra and Amelia Amos ★★★★★ This tour was amazing. Daniel very personal and great storyteller!Kimberly AnnKimberly Ann ★★★★★ We went on the Hamilton's Dark History Tour yesterday. It was a fun walk through time. Daniel is a riveting storyteller. You'll find yourself engrossed in the intriguing and sometimes violent stories of the founding families of Hamilton, and the city's deep mob history. I'd recommend this to tourists and locals alike.Kimberly CabanasKimberly Cabanas ★★★★★ This was a fun walk through time. Daniel is a riveting storyteller. You'll find yourself engrossed in the intriguing and sometimes violent stories of the founding families of Hamilton, and the city's deep mob history. I'd recommend this to tourists and locals alike.Jessica JosefikJessica Josefik ★★★★★ Guide was a very enthusiastic and engaging ghost host. He is very knowledgeable about the subjects he is presenting. They draw the crowd in and holds their attention for each story and each site. I highly recommend Ghost Walks of Hamilton. I have gone multiple times & will be returning again!js_loader

Book for Hamilton’s Dark History

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Upcoming

  • Dates 2023
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Tour info
Ghost Walks Type of Tour
Hamilton's Dark History Tour - parking
Mature Content on Tour - not recommended for young kids
Ghost Walks Wheelchair

group bookings for this tour
private walks information

FAQ & Interesting Info

Why we are different from other Tours?

A focus on masterful storytelling at a reasonable price (with no hidden fees!).  First, we’ve put special attention into respecting the ghost story.  Also, with a dedication to traditional styles mixed with natural (and interesting) odd history.  This is our specialty since 2003.

Reviews | What people are saying…

Excellent4.9 Based on 409 reviews fromChris WhiteChris White ★★★★★ Great value and Sir Bob’s storytelling was fantastic.Kristen RoseKristen Rose ★★★★★ Love the tours provided. Enjoyable way to learn the historyChantelle LisaChantelle Lisa ★★★★★ Went on The Ghost Walks latest tour the Dark Trolley and had a great time so informative, and interesting. Daniel kept us entertained the whole time. 10/10 recommend. We signed up for another one on the drive homeKatie FavellKatie Favell ★★★★★ We booked a private walk of downtown Hamilton. Daniel was amazing! He was very engaging and knowledgeable. The tour was definitely an experience that I will always remember!Doug MillarDoug Millar ★★★★★ Ghost Walks latest tour, The Dark Trolley tour, was fun, informative, and an enjoyable evening! Thanks Daniel for being such fantastic host!Diggity DawgDiggity Dawg ★★★★★ My wife and I were just on the Dark Trolley tour, with Daniel this past weekend. He was an exceptional guide. Full of wit, charm, and vast amounts of knowledge. I discovered things about past criminal dealings and tragic events that happened right in our own backyard! We had a blast, and highly recommend Ghost Walks events to everyone. The trolley itself, adds a nice nostalgic element to the tour. Thanks Daniel!Lisa Marie PalmerLisa Marie Palmer ★★★★★ Had a great time on the Trolley Tour of Hamilton Harbour. Daniel is a wonderful host and story teller. Looking forward to more.Heather CampeaHeather Campea ★★★★★ we had a great time on the trolley tour! our tour guide was amazing!Kathleen DKathleen D ★★★★★ Toured Armitage Ruins, guide lady with the red hair was an enjoyable story teller. (Sorry couldn't remember her name) we did a 7pm tour in Aug so it was daylight still. If you book later in fall it would have more of a spookier element. *did anyone else smell manure when crossing the threshold?? We did!Valerie ArmelliniValerie Armellini ★★★★★ What a fun evening with Daniel in downtown Hamilton. He's a real storyteller, and a truly fun guy. He made the stories so interesting! Will be going on more of these walks!Just a great evening out. Thank you Ghost Walks!!Brian DoddBrian Dodd ★★★★★ I recently went on a ghost walk and it was absolutely amazing! The tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable and engaging, and the stories she shared were both spooky and informative. I particularly enjoyed learning about the history behind some of the haunted locations we visited. Overall, I highly recommend this ghost walk to anyone looking for a fun and educational night out.Jorja MJorja M ★★★★★ Go Daniel!Your tour was excellent, informed, and well spoken!Sandra and Amelia AmosSandra and Amelia Amos ★★★★★ This tour was amazing. Daniel very personal and great storyteller!Kimberly AnnKimberly Ann ★★★★★ We went on the Hamilton's Dark History Tour yesterday. It was a fun walk through time. Daniel is a riveting storyteller. You'll find yourself engrossed in the intriguing and sometimes violent stories of the founding families of Hamilton, and the city's deep mob history. I'd recommend this to tourists and locals alike.Kimberly CabanasKimberly Cabanas ★★★★★ This was a fun walk through time. Daniel is a riveting storyteller. You'll find yourself engrossed in the intriguing and sometimes violent stories of the founding families of Hamilton, and the city's deep mob history. I'd recommend this to tourists and locals alike.Jessica JosefikJessica Josefik ★★★★★ Guide was a very enthusiastic and engaging ghost host. He is very knowledgeable about the subjects he is presenting. They draw the crowd in and holds their attention for each story and each site. I highly recommend Ghost Walks of Hamilton. I have gone multiple times & will be returning again!js_loader

Do we go into any of the buildings?

This is an outdoor tour in Hamilton’s core. Most locations are abandoned, closed at night, unable accommodate our group… or is an alleyway! Book for our indoor tours at Ruthven and Castle Kilbride

Why are dates and times missing when booking?

When a date or time slot is missing in the Booking… If a missing time, that tour time is sold out.  A missing date, means the entire night is sold out.

Info | Why Hamilton is Darker than any Canadian City

The reason Hamilton’s Dark History exists! Our archive consists of information showing off ghost stories in this very haunted city of Hamilton. 

But we’re obsessed.  Strange and dark history must be mix into these ghostly tales.

Opened up an interesting history, odd for any Canadian city. 

A New Tour Born

The Hamilton’s Dark History was born from these stories.  Vagabonds, outside the squeaky clean image of this young country, but oh so interesting.

Great example is outside the region of this tour.  A town once known as Mount Albion.  Has since been wiped off the map.  Why is it the darkest history in Canada?  Because…

Home to the Ghost of a Tragic Legend

“Alas, poor Jane Riley,

for Joseph she did die

By jumping off that dizzy brink,

full sixty cubits high” ~ Slater

Jilted by her lover.  The boy from a rich family caught with a prostitute in a near-by church.  Poor Jane Riley rushed to the precipice of Albion Falls.  

Town’s folk saw her wandering alone in the woods.  Hair disheveled, dirt smeared across her face, screaming at the sky and whispering to herself.

Downfall

It disturbed them, but nobody helped poor Jane Riley.

Days later, men working beneath the Albion Falls saw at the top two shadows appear over the sun’s glare.  Shielding their eyes and looking up, two girls balanced at the edge.

One reached out, missing, as the other leaned forward.

The men ran, splashing through the water, trying to see where she would land.

Strange Note

They watched her fall feet first, leading to an action removing all doubt this was an accident. Her dress billowed out like a parachute which slowed her descent.  Her desire to die was evident as she brushed it down and sped to the rocks below.

They stayed with her. Jane Riley barely alive, as the men reassured she would be okay.  She silently died after one hour.

Was Hamilton’s Mob Graveyard (in a true Mob town, proven on the tour)

Organized crime needs a body dumping ground. Such as a remote location far from the central city. Forests, quiet, and pitch black at night.

Like the movie scenes. The old 1920’s Ford parked just off a wooded path shining headlights into the woods. As two men in suits dig a hole. That happened in Hamilton!

Body Dumping Ground

Al Capone had one. Was a burial ground outside of Chicago (Bremen Township) known as Bachelor’s Grove.  Because it was remote, secret, and best of all, bodies already in the ground.

For Rocco Perri, it was Albion Falls (Mills).  As shown by the story of Fred and Joseph on the tour.  He was Ontario’s King of the Bootleggers. 

Most likely for other families followed.  

Where a Murderess got Infamous

In the 1940’s, some kids are playing in the Albion woods less than a mile from the Falls.   A boy noticed it.

Looked like a dead animal on the fallen leaves, but something wasn’t right.  The kids got their parents, and they knew.  This wasn’t an animal… it was wearing a shirt.

Not an Animal

It was the human torso of John Dick.  Kicking off the legend of Evelyn Dick.  These stories now famous throughout Canada and even the United States.   Her story on the tour outside of the once courthouse where she was tried, found not guilty, then found guilty again.

Want more darkness?  Join the Facebook group called Hamilton’s Darker History

Should I book in advance?

Yes.  We are limited on space for tours.  Advance bookings allows us to guarantee spots for you, and book in additional guides if needed.