Meeting Steam
Washington D.C. Ghost Hunting Page
Washington, D.C.
The Capitol Building
Between dancing ghosts, ghosts of workmen and politicians and the demon cat (aka D.C.) that appears before bad events, the Capitol is pretty lively haunt-wise.
The White House
You know the address! (202)208-1631
Lincoln's ghost is said to be particularly active here and has been seen walking the hallways and knocking at the door of his former bedroom by both staff and heads of state such as Winston Churchill and Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands. Tours Tues.-Sat. Free w/timed tickets distributed starting at 7:30 a.m.
3501 M Street, NW; (202)426-6851
You can't miss this little house because it sticks out in contrast to the shops on this busy Georgetown street. A hostile male ghost and at least 3 others are said to haunt this site of the oldest standing building in D.C. Open 12-5, Wed.-Sun.; Tours given @10 on Sats. and @2 on Suns. Free.
Capital Hauntings Walking Tour (Lafayette Square Park area)
sponsored by Washington Walks; (202)484-1565
This ghost lore tour covers the area across from the White House which has had a really haunted history. Tours meet at the orange line McPherson Square station's White House exit and are led by Carolyn--who will be wearing a badge. $10 adults, $5 ages 12 & under. Fridays at 7:30 p.m. Cash only.
Foxall (private residence)
This Georgetown home was said to have been haunted by a former housekeeper.
748 Jackson Place, NW (@Lafayette Square Park); (202)842-0920
Stephen Decatur was killed in a duel at the Bladensburg Dueling Grounds. You can see the window on the H St. side that was covered as a result of many sightings of his spirit looking out of it. Acc. to D.W.Hauck of Haunted Places, it is said he slips out of the side now to go to his duel and his wife Susan can still be heard crying. Decatur House tours given. Tues.-Fri. 10-3, Sat.-Sun. 12-4. $4 adults, $2.50 students/senior citizens.
Halcyon House (private residence)
This Georgetown home is said to be haunted by both its original owner, the 1st Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Stoddert, and its eccentric later owner Albert Clemons. A woman was also seen.
The Octagon/American Institute of Architects Museum
1799 New York Avenue; (202)638-3221
The former home of First Lady Dolly Madison--whose ghost is said to be active here--it was also the site of 2 young women falling to their deaths in similar ways and a murder. $3 admission/$1.50 for students & seniors.
Hay-Adams Hotel
1 Lafayette Square; (202)638-6600
This hotel is built over the site of the Slidell House--where Marian "Clover" Adams committed suicide in 1885. She had been depressed, but her husband Henry Adams (who commissioned the unusual "Grief" statue at her grave in Rock Creek Church Cemetery) was considered suspect at the time. Especially since he never mentioned her again after her death. Her spirit is said to haunt the 4th floor--esp. in the 1st 2 weeks of Dec.--during the anniversary of her death. She is said to open & close doors, turn on/off clock radios, hug and call housekeepers by name and can be heard crying. She has also been heard asking, "What do you want?"
401 F Street, NW; (202)272-2448
I pity the security guards at this place. One went screaming from the building after seeing the ghost of a man. Another was chased by a soldier with a sword on horseback (maybe Montgomery Meigs--the building designer--himself?). Not to mention that the columns themselves--some of the tallest in the world--are said to get swirling faces in their capitals at the top.
Woodrow Wilson House Museum
2340 S Street, NW; (202)387-4062
President Wilson's cane-using spirit is said to be heard in his former home. Open Tues.-Sun., 10-4; $5 adults, $4 seniors, and $2.50 students.
Omni Shoreham Hotel
2500 Calvert Street, NW; (202)234-0700
Their $3000/night room 870 "Ghost Suite" is said to be haunted. (official statement)
Fort McNair
off 4th Street SW
The ghosts of Mary Surratt and Walter Reed have been seen on the grounds.
Renaissance Mayflower Hotel
1127 Connecticut Avenue, NW; (202)347-3000
Calvin Coolidge didn't have a chance to attend his inaugural ball in 1925, but he might still be trying every year on January 20. At 10 p.m., the lights in the Grand Ballroom dim and flicker and one elevator will not move from the 8th floor (where his holding room was) to the lobby level until 10:15 p.m.--when he would've been due to arrive.
1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW; (202)628-6161
This popular and respected theatre opened in 1835 is haunted by the ghost of former actor John McCullough--esp. on opening nights. A popular actor in the late 1800s, he was shot while onstage and buried in what was the cellar beneath the stage. Also haunting the theatre is Eddie--a young, would-be actor who idolized him. Thanks to Donn B. Murphy of the National Theatre.
Indonesian Embassy
2020 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
The nude spirit of Evalyn Walsh McLean is said to walk down the staircase of her former mansion. This former owner of the supposedly cursed Hope Diamond seemed to have misfortune follow her until her death in 1947.
511-10th Street, NW; (202)426-6924
President Lincoln's very active ghost is said to haunt here as well as that of his assassin John Wilkes Booth.
The Chastleton Apartments (private residence)
1701-16th St., NW
This 1920s English estate-inspired building was the former home of the Duchess of Windsor, Gen. Douglas MacArthur and countless notable people. Residents three apartments apart have seen someone standing by their beds, and one has heard a voice saying "Help" from the living room even though there was noone there.
Kerby Hall, Trinity College
off of Michigan Avenue, NE
This residential dormitory is said to be haunted by a co-ed who died in the late-1960s. She appears in the stairwell, 5th floor lounge and some rooms.
Healy Hall, Georgetown University
off of Prospect Street NW
According to school legends, the attic of this landmark building--built in 1875--is said to be haunted by a Jesuit who died while winding the Bell Tower clock.
Apartment (private residence)
Kennedy Street, NW
In Nov. 1970, a tenant heard footsteps and keys jingling and watched as the door opened--except there was noone there. In the 1960s, a husband walked in on his wife and her lover--who panicked and stabbed the husband in the doorway. The husband's spirit returns every year on the anniversary of his death.
Cogswell Hall, Gallaudet University
off of Florida Avenue, NE
This residential dorm at this historic university for the deaf, is said to be haunted by the spirit of a little girl--which one student has said they've seen--and possibly another more hostile one. Built on the site of the old Brentwood Mansion, acc. to student stories blankets have been yanked off, an unplugged alarm clock went off, papers have been moved with no draft or breeze, there are feelings of being watched, and at least one student has been tapped awake with no one there. There may be a connection to the first floor area and the dorm's site location. The latest: As of 2/2/01, this has been the site of 2 student murders in 4 months.
Marine Corps Barracks
8th Street SE
The spirit of the Marine Corps 1st commandant Capt. Samuel Nicholas returns to his former home. Papers rustling and pacing can be heard in the empty rooms.
Oak Hill Cemetery
30th & R Sts. NW
A Rock Creek Parkway motorist ran off the road after seeing the ghosts of 6 headless white horses. These horses were the favorites of John Peter Van Ness and they pulled his funeral carriage in 1846.
Dolley Madison House
Lafayette Square@Madison & H Sts., NW
The spirit of former First Lady Dolley Madison still likes to sit on the porch.
Association of American States/Pan-American Union Bldg.
17th St. & Constitution Ave., NW; (202)458-3000
The white horses of John Peter Van Ness still gallop around the former Van Ness mansion.
The Old Post Office
Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Acc. to author John Alexander, the building has always had problems with the elevators such as doors opening between floors and alarms going off with noone in the car. Also, the bells have rung on their own. It is possible it is the spirit of a former Postmaster General who fell to his death in an elevator shaft the day it opened.
Restaurant
Connecticut Ave., NW
The staff was terrified when they experienced tables flipping over for no reason, glasses would fall and crash to the floor, mirrors broke, and a woman was seen by some outside the restaurant.
Heurich House Museum
1307 New Hampshire Avenue; (202)785-2068
Built in 1894 for businessman Christian Heurich, this Victorian castle is said to still be visited by his spirit. It is now the headquarters of the Historical Society of Washington, DC. Open Mon-Sat 10-4. Guided tours: $5; Self-guided visits: $3 adults, $1.50 students/senior citizens, children 6 & under free.