The kiss Our creepiness rating 💀💀💀💀💀
Travel Iowa says the statue turned black after Teresa's death in 1924, starting with the eyes, and that legend holds touching or kissing it brings instant death. Source: Travel Iowa.
Facts below are drawn from the linked sources.
Real history
Oakland Cemetery was deeded to the residents of Iowa City on February 13, 1843 (Wikipedia). Teresa Feldevert hired Chicago sculptor Mario Korbel for the angel, erected in 1913 per the city (The Gazette says 1912), over the graves of her son Eddie Dolezal, who died in 1891, and her husband Nicholas, who died in 1911 (The Gazette, 2017).
Ghost stories
These are reported legends, not verified events. The creepiness score (1–5) is Spook Atlas's own editorial rating, not a measurement.
No curse Our creepiness rating 💀💀💀💀💀
The Gazette wrote in 2017 that the stories are based more in fantasy than fact: no one was cheated or cursed, and no murder or infidelity is tied to the angel. Source: The Gazette, 2017.
The Gazette wrote in 2017 that the stories are based more in fantasy than fact: no one was cheated or cursed, and no murder or infidelity is tied to the angel. Source: The Gazette, 2017.
Then and now
Public access
Open to the public The City of Iowa City lists Oakland Cemetery grounds as open daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. (City of Iowa City). Last checked: Nov 1, 2026.
Explore more
- More places in Iowa City and Iowa
- More haunted & abandoned cemeteries
- Nearby: Edinburgh Manor (Scotch Grove, IA), Franklin Hotel (Strawberry Point, IA), Historic Iowa State Penitentiary (Fort Madison, IA), Mathias Ham House (Dubuque, IA)
⚠️ Please read: This information may be outdated and conditions change. Verify access with the owner or operator before you go. Spook Atlas does not encourage trespassing. Entering private, closed or condemned property can be illegal and dangerous. Report a correction.
Reader experiences
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