American Horror Story, the long-running FX horror anthology, is known for its intricate storytelling. How does the series weave together complex characters and storylines throughout its seasons? Because often, American Horror Story characters are based on real people. Sometimes these people are the victim, other times they're the evil mastermind, and still other times they're regular people with an outlandish story to tell.

The real-life horror stories behind AHS paint an undeniably terrifying picture of American history - from recreating Columbine to recounting H.H. Holmes's real-life murder-trap hotel. Inspiration for AHS isn't just limited to real tragedies, however; it also encompasses creepy unsolved mysteries (such as Roanoke) and long-standing urban legends.

Here are the true stories American Horror Story has drawn from to tell its horrifying tales.