There are many myths and legends rumored to be associated with Iowa State University

Iowa State University

Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...

. They celebrated with tours that are given each year at Haunted Iowa State, a week or two before Halloween.

Hortense Wind

Known to make a strange noise that sounds like a low eerie moan. She is also is blamed for many odd occurrences such as: the slamming of doors at night when nobody else is in the building.

Zodiac

It is a well known superstition that you do not step on the Zodiac in the entrance of the Memorial Union

Memorial Union (Iowa State University)

The Memorial Union, or MU, at Iowa State University opened in September 1928, the building is currently home to a number of University departments, a bowling alley, the University Book Store, and the Hotel Memorial Union.-History:...

, or you will fail your next test.

Barton Hall

Barton hall is said to be haunted by the ghost of Clara Barton

Clara Barton

Clarissa Harlowe "Clara" Barton was a pioneer American teacher, patent clerk, nurse, and humanitarian. She is best remembered for organizing the American Red Cross.-Youth, education, and family nursing:...

, the founder of the American Red Cross

American Red Cross

The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...

. She is said to be a "nice" ghost, however.

Freeman Hall

Freeman hall, much like Barton, is said to be haunted by the ghost of Alice Freeman, who is also a "nice" ghost.

Friley Hall

"Mr. Big" is said to haunt the halls of Friley through means of strange sounds and cool drafts. It is said that he was chased throughout the building by guards wearing a cape and a top hat from 1 a.m. until the guards lost his trace and were tired. They then looked through a small hole in the brick of an old, closed off incinerator room. They saw an outline of the man of his size wearing a cape and a top hat on the wall of the isolated room, and on the wall next to him "I am Big" was written.

Linden Hall

Linden Hall is haunted by the ghost of a ex-Cyclone football player. He is in his full game day gear and can be spotted the night before a home football game, prepared to play the next day.

Iowa State Cemetery

The Iowa State cemetery has had many accounts of faint outlines that look like an isolated mist in the shape of a person over the years.

Nuclear Engineering Building

The Nuclear Engineering Building is said to be haunted by the ghost of Joseph Keichel, who died of radiation poisoning in 1946, shortly after his stint working on the Manhattan Project

Manhattan Project

The Manhattan Project was a research and development program, led by the United States with participation from the United Kingdom and Canada, that produced the first atomic bomb during World War II. From 1942 to 1946, the project was under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves of the US Army...

 in the Ames Laboratory

Ames Laboratory

Ames Laboratory is a United States Department of Energy national laboratory located in Ames, Iowa. The Laboratory conducts research into various areas of national concern, including the synthesis and study of new materials, energy resources, high-speed computer design, and environmental cleanup...

. Although the actual cause of the poisoning is inconclusive, he blames graduate students and continues to haunt them by thwarting their projects in the Nuclear Engineering Building.

Farm House

Turning on and off of lights have been reported, along with rattling of dressers. There is an old legend that a ghost opened the curtains, but it has been confirmed as untrue and it was later attributed to a janitor who cleaned the Farm House at night.

Fisher Theater

Frederica Shattuck passed away in 1969 and haunted the Shattuck Theatre. Her ghost then moved to Fisher Theater

Iowa State Center

The Iowa State Center is located just southeast of Iowa State University's central campus in Ames, Iowa. It is a complex of cultural and athletic venues...

in 1973 with the theater program, along with her wheelchair and a few of her other belongings. According the the Iowa State Daily in an article in 1978, a member of the cast investigated some strange noises, and found her wheelchair mysteriously rolled to the middle of the stage as if Shattuck was about to give a monologue.