H.H. Holmes' Murder Castle was a torture chamber built in the early 1900s as a way to trap and kill unsuspecting victims. The design was incredibly intricate and involved spiral stairways, secret passageways, gas chambers, fake walls, soundproof doors, and other sinister features. The building even included windows in the basement so the air-flow could be regulated as the bodies decomposed. Although the castle was eventually destroyed, it stands as a symbol of the horror that Holmes inflicted upon his victims. H.H. Holmes' Murder Castle Design
The notorious H.H. Holmes had designed a horrific hotel in the late 1800s, in which he used a complex system of partitions, false walls, and secret exits to torment and murder his victims. His hotel had been built to facilitate his scam operation, and contained some of the most diabolical architectural features known to man. Holmes designed the hotel in such a way that cane easily lure victims into his clutches and hide their bodies after they had been murdered. H.H. Holmes' Hotel Design
One of the most disturbing details about H.H. Holmes was his own custom-made crematorium. Designed to dispose of the bodies of his victims, the crematorium was vast and included an enormous chimney stack so as to conceal the smoke billowing out of it. The building was an unsuspecting sight within the home, blending in with the everyday elements of the area. As grisly as it was, the crematorium was a genius addition to the property, designed to keep the horror of what went on behind the walls a secret. H.H. Holmes' Crematorium Design
H.H. Holmes' attempt at a legitimate business venture involved his very own fake MMA school. The building was designed to look like an ordinary school, but in actuality, it served as one of his many lairs. The school was built with secret rooms and entrances, trap doors, and walls with hidden compartments where he could hide the bodies of his victims. Even today, the design of the MMA school is praised as one of the most diabolical uses of architecture on record. H.H. Holmes' Fake MMA School Design
In addition to the fake school, Holmes had also constructed a vast network of underground tunnels, which he used to transport his victims from one isolated area to another. He had designed the tunnels so well that, even if a victim managed to escape, they would often be too exhausted to reach a place of safety. The size of the tunnel system was so large that even those that didn’t know Holmes’ design could maneuver their way to safety, making it even more sinister. H.H. Holmes' Secret Tunnels Design
One of the most grotesque features of Holmes’ Murder Castle was the gas chamber. Designed with a series of connected gas-filled rooms, it was intended to kill anyone who entered it. The chamber was meant to give Holmes ultimate control over his victims, as he was able to control the gas pressure within the sealed room. The gas chamber was so well designed that, even today, it is studied as an example of diabolically macabre architecture. H.H. Holmes' Gas Chamber Design
Another architectural feature of Holmes' Murder Castle was the hidden stairwell that connected the chambers below. These secret staircases were hidden behind fake walls, an ingenious idea designed to keep anyone from escaping the building. In addition, these staircases wound around the building in multiple directions, making it even more difficult for anyone to find their way out of the castle. The hidden stairwell was so cunningly designed that even after its destruction, it continues to amaze and horrify observers to this day. H.H. Holmes' Hidden Stairwell Design
In addition to the torture chamber, H.H. Holmes had designed an elaborate system of fallproof bank safes, which were hidden around the castle. These safes were hydrostatic, and equipped with a number of intricate locks and doors, designed to prevent his victims from breaking out. The silence of the chambers would often be too much for the victims to bear, adding even more horror to the scene. Although the safes had been broken into and their contents removed, their original design still stands as a testament to Holmes’ diabolical nature.H.H. Holmes' Fallproof Bank Safe Design
Perhaps one of the most shocking features of H.H. Holmes’ designs was the torture chamber, which was contained within its walls. The chamber was made up of two rooms, the inner chamber being soundproof and filled with an array of terrifyingly crafted to inflict pain on his victims. Not only did Holmes plan out the design of the torture chamber so as to limit the ability of his victims to flee, but he alsoused it for viewing the victims’ reactions to the torture they endured. H.H. Holmes' Torture Chamber Design
H.H. Holmes’ Murder Castle had been designed as part of an intricate bank withdrawal scheme. Using a network of hidden stairs, trap doors, and rooms, Holmes had created a system of deception that allowed him to make large withdrawals from multiple banks simultaneously. His scheme was so intricate and successful that it earned him notoriety in the criminal world and also served as a warning to banks of the possibility of such scams in the future. H.H. Holmes' Bank Withdrawal Scheme Design
One of the more interesting features of H.H. Holmes’ Murder Castle was the false metal door that would open into an area of horrors within the castle. Hidden within its design were secret rooms that contained the bodies of Holmes’ victims, compartments designed for storing wealth, and even a room for Holmes himself to hide in. The horrific metal door was Holmes’ desperate attempt to conceal his violence and murder, but a short time later, his castle of horrors was discovered and he was finally brought to justice. H.H. Holmes' Metal Door Design