While many of our culture's ideas about vampires originated in Eastern Europe, the United States is home to its own terrifying true tales of voracious vampires and bloodsucking beasts. Traveling from the coasts of New England to the swamps of Louisiana and to the dramatic deserts of the Southwest, this book uncovers the hidden history of vampires in America. Readers will enjoy learning about the natural phenomena underlying local vampire legends, as well as exploring images of the vampire in American popular culture.