Who knows how urban legends get started. But there is one in Eastern Iowa that has been around for decades. I remember hearing about it and visiting the site back when I was in high school. That legend is the Black Angel statue in Iowa City.

Where is The Black Angel Statue?

The statue can be found inside Oakland Cemetery on the north side of Iowa City. According to Only In You State, the statue was commissioned in the early 1900s by a widow who had lost both her husband and her son. The bronze statue was built in Chicago and arrived by rail in Iowa City in 1912. Almost immediately after being erected, it began to oxidize and darken, a process that continues to this day.

What Are The Urban Legends Surrounding The Statue?

According to Only In You State, the Black Angel statue is said to possess dark powers, and there are rules you have to follow if you visit. Legend says that if you kiss the statue, you die instantly. If you touch her at midnight on Halloween, you'll die within seven years. Pregnant women should avoid the statue, or they may miscarry. This is some crazy stuff!

Dare to Visit The Black Angel on Halloween Weekend?

An event on Friday, October 30th will take you up close and personal to the Black Angel. CBS2 reports that EarthMind's Hallowman's Nature Therapy is set for that Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Oakland Cemetery. The guided event will tour the cemetery, historic headstones, and, of course, the Black Angel itself.

Find more information on the event and register for the tour HERE. 

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