Haunted Places in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. is not part of any state; the initials stand for District of Columbia, and inside the beltway sits the seat of federal power. For history buffs it is one of the best walking cities in the country, packed with museums, historic architecture, and a night scene that runs late. It is also, by the count of its own tour guides, one of the most story-dense haunted cities in America, because power leaves ghosts.

The White House

It is said that some spirits are drawn to the power and intensity of certain rooms, and by that logic the White House tops every list. The most reliably reported presence is Abraham Lincoln: visiting dignitaries, staff, first families, and guests have described a tall, gaunt figure wandering the halls or entering a room before vanishing with a smile. Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson also appear in accounts with some regularity, walking the gardens or sitting in a parlor.

The Capitol

If the White House has the most famous ghosts, the Capitol has the strangest. Beyond the expected reports of past legislators and officials, accounts include workers who died during the building's construction and the infamous Demon Cat of Capitol Hill, a legend the guides love to unpack. We will not spoil the cat's story here; it is better told on the sidewalk at night.

Mary Surratt's Boarding House

The conspirators who plotted President Lincoln's assassination met at Mary Surratt's home, and for her part Surratt became the first woman executed by the federal government. The former boarding house on H Street now houses a restaurant and karaoke bar, but by many accounts Surratt never left: her figure has been reported in the halls, along with crying and murmurings associated with her spirit.

Lafayette Square

The seven-acre park outside the White House is a gathering place today, but it holds an ugly past: it was once the site of a slave market, where human beings were auctioned during the 1700s and 1800s. Some visitors report that cries of despair and the rattle of chains can still be heard on certain nights.

The Octagon House

Originally owned by Colonel John Tayloe, a wealthy Virginian, the Octagon House carries one of the city's saddest legends. Both of Tayloe's daughters died in falls from the house's spiral staircase before marriages their father disapproved of, whether they fell or jumped is part of the story. Apparitions of the falling girls have been reported over the years, staff have described shrieks and cries in the night, and several paranormal groups have investigated the building.

Questions people ask

What is said to be the most haunted place in Washington, D.C.?

The White House, on the strength of the Lincoln accounts alone. The Capitol and the Octagon House round out the usual top three.

Can you visit these places?

Lafayette Square is a public park, the Octagon House exterior and Surratt's former boarding house are easy walk-bys, and Capitol tours cover the building's history. The White House requires advance arrangements, which is why most ghost tours tell its stories from outside the fence.

Who was Mary Surratt?

The boarding house keeper convicted in the Lincoln assassination conspiracy and the first woman executed by the federal government. Her former home still stands on H Street.

See the stories told properly

A good guide makes these accounts land harder than any write-up. See our ranked list of the best ghost tours in Washington, D.C., then plan the rest of the trip with our guides to things to do in D.C. and where to stay in D.C., or start from our Washington, D.C. hub.