Haunted Washington DC: Haunted Places in Washington DC, Our Nation's Capital

Washington DC is our nation's beloved capital. Its streets are steeped in history dating back to the 1700s. But before Washington DC was ever settled by the white man, the Natives lived there. An Algonquin-speaking tribe known as the Nacotchtank resided along the Anacostia River and most likely inhabited a large portion of what became Washington DC.

Washington DC has seen many tragic and history-making events in its short time as a civilized city, including but not limited to the War of 1812, the establishing of the railroad, the Civil War, and the civil rights movement. In knowing that Washington DC's streets and many buildings have seen such things throughout their time, one could only imagine the energies left behind from such events. It is said that Washington DC is a haunted city...just how haunted is our nation's capital?

There have been many stories told over the years about our President's home in Washington DC being haunted. The White House is a place of great importance, a beacon of what our country stands for. It is beautiful and picturesque. Have you ever been inside of the White House? I have and it is truly something remarkable; however, I can definitely see how people believe that the White House is haunted.

One of the most famous ghost stories of the haunted White House is that of Abe Lincoln's ghost. Supposedly he has been seen peering out windows and wandering the halls on dozens of different occasions and by dozens of different people including some of our more recent Presidents and political officials. Someone very close to me worked at the White House years ago and told me one particular ghost story about Abe Lincoln's supposed ghost.

During one of Winston Churchill's stays in the White House during Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency, it is said that Churchill ran out of his bedroom, "naked as a jaybird" with a cigar hanging out of his mouth screaming "FDR! FDR! I can't sleep with that man in my room!" Apparently the ghost of Abraham Lincoln was paying a quick visit to Churchill's guest bedroom that night! My source says that Churchill was not staying in Lincoln's bedroom, but other accounts on the internet claim he was. I would believe my source over the other accounts online, as my source has a first-hand experience of the stories told inside of the haunted White House (but you can choose to believe what you want to believe).

Other accounts claim that Abe Lincoln and his wife held seances in the Green Room during Abe's presidency as they were trying to contact their dead son Willie. Willie passed away in the White House during Abe Lincoln's presidency. It is also intriguing to note that Mary Todd Lincoln supposedly held seances after Abe's death to try to contact his spirit and she claimed that she had succeeded on one particular occasion. Abe Lincoln's ghost has been seen by many different guests of the White House including the Queen of the Netherlands, FDR's personal valet, maids, and the list goes on.

Other famous White House ghosts include the ghost of Abigail Adams, who reportedly has been seen doing laundry in the East Room. Smells of soap and clean laundry have been smelled emanating from the East Room of the White House. Willie Lincoln, Abe Lincoln's long-lost son, has been seen and sensed on the second floor in the bedroom that was once Willie's while he was still alive. A British solider that people believe to be from the War of 1812 when the British lit DC on fire, has been seen at different times stomping about the front and sides of the White House with a torch at-the-ready in his hands.

The latest account of the haunted White House actually comes from the mouth of our First Lady - Michelle Obama. She recently told some school students during an interview that the White House indeed seemed haunted and that she's heard many creepy sounds coming from the hallways at night. One sound in particular sounded like someone was gnawing at their feet, trying to eat their way up. Scared yet? Yeah, me too!

Speaking again of honest Abe, Ford's Theatre is of historical fame as it was the place where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. Now, in the years following Abe Lincoln's untimely assassination, workers and guests of Ford's Theatre have heard many strange noises including gun shots and loud thumps of what they believe to be the scene of John Wilkes Booth shooting President Lincoln and then jumping from the balcony, playing out again and again.

Cold spots are felt in Ford's Theatre, and good ol' Abe's ghost as well as his wife's ghost have reportedly been seen walking the balcony of Ford's Theatre.

Does Abe Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth's ghosts still roam the premises of Ford's Theatre or is the energy left behind from Lincoln's assassination day lingering and destined to linger within the theatre's walls forever?

The Octagon House in haunted Washington DC is said to be the most haunted spot in the entire District of Columbia. The Octagon House's history dates back to its establishment in 1801 by the revered Tayloe family. A quick little history of the Octagon House shows that President James and his wife Dolley Madison lived in the Octagon House after the War of 1812 for about a year and Mr. Madison supposedly signed the Treaty of Ghent within the Octagon House's walls.

The ghost stories surrounding the haunted Octagon House are mainly about Tayloe's two daughters. Both daughters met the same fate - they angered their father for running off or marrying men they weren't supposed to and both "fell" over the railing or down the steps from the second floor. To me it seems quite ironic that both daughters "fell" over the railing and down the steps, ending in both of their deaths. Is this a coincidence or did someone have a hand in helping them over the railing? That's just my theory, but it makes me wonder.

The two daughters of Colonel Tayloe have been seen either climbing the steps with a candle in their hands or laying at the bottom of the stairs in a crumpled heap. People have also heard the arguments between a grown man and a young girl on different occasions...could this be Colonel Tayloe arguing with one of his daughters again?

In addition to the two Tayloe girls who haunt the Octagon House in haunted Washington DC, it has been said that the ghosts of past slaves haunt the Octagon House. One story tells of the incessant ringing of bells during one General's dinner at the home in the late 1800s. The slaves of the Octagon House (when they were alive) would ring bells in order to announce their presence to the Tayloe family (their masters). The bells supposedly began ringing during a quiet dinner at the Octagon House one night and when the dinner guests and family went to hold the bells to silence them, the ringing kept sounding. Pretty creepy, right?

Other stories of the haunted Octagon House tell of a slave girl who also "fell" from the third floor. People have heard her screams coming from the top level and falling to the first. Dolley Madson's ghost is said to walk around the ballroom and out into the garden area. Strange sounds can be heard a lot in the Octagon House's walls, including moans, screams, cries, and bells. Other people have died in the Octagon House in addition to the people noted above so who knows how many ghosts truly haunt this mansion in haunted Washington DC.

The Capitol building in Washington DC is filled with ghosts and paranormal activity that has been experienced by many political officials and everyday janitors and workers for many years. In addition to the stories of feeling watched or being touched or shoved randomly with no one else around, the most infamous story is the ghost story of the Demon Cat of Capitol Hill.

It's been said that the Demon Cat of Capitol Hill appears as almost an omen to warn of a President's coming assassination. The Demon Cat is said to look like a normal black cat, one that can be seen on almost any street or corner in haunted Washington DC; however, if one gets close enough to the Demon Cat, you will notice this cat has glowing eyes. While many people say the Demon Cat is a resident of the Capitol Building, others claim that he follows around congressional figures...that he's a traveling ghost of sorts.

President Garfield has been seen in the Capitol Building and so has his assassin Charles Guiteau. Vice Presidents and other government officials who have died throughout the years have been seen walking through the halls of the Capitol Building or even working at various desks.

It's also said that because the Capitol Building was built by slave labor that there are sometimes ghosts of these slaves haunting the premises. Legends of reappearing blood stains, unexplainable cold spots, and disembodied voices also make up the eerie history of the haunted Capitol Building.